The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-26
ON GOOD ROADS.
MIR. Bancroft Advocates a
Novel System.
The Next Convention to Be Held In
January. What the Delegates
Accomplished.

The GOOD Roads" convention, which opeped
In the rooms OF the Produce Exchange
Thursday evening, has been somewhat of a dis
appointment as far as attendance is concerned,
there being decided falling off Of delegates
from various counties throughout the State as
compared with the meeting held last September
at Sacramento.
There were hardly two-score names in re-
spouse TO the rollcal although President Lem
mon, editor of the Santa Rosa Republican. an
nounced the convention open, and without
further delay matters Of interest were brought
up and promptly acted upon. and papers touch.
ing upon the subject at Issue were read for the
enlightenment of those who are agltating the
necessity OF system of constructing and main
tanning good tnoroughfares.
w. WeinStock Of Sacramento was down for
an opening address, but being unable TO be-
present forwarded a paper on How TO arouse
local interest In the matter OF building good
roads which was read and proved Of great
interest.
E. w. Davis Of Sonoma contributed an inter-
esllng paper on "Prott and loss TO farmers
based upon the character of our highways"
and was followed by j. Nj. FELTON, OF Reno VINO
discoulSed for some time upon the subject OF
the width OF tires,
The following committees were then ap-
pointed:
To draft bill providing for the appointment of
county road engineers-S. F. Woodworth, p K.
Davis and K. Nj. Welch. To draft bill tor the
appointments of a State road engineer. l.
Maude, Z. n. Eager and j. w. Hall. To draft a
bill to regulate the width of wagon ttres-Mrs
Merrill, l. V. Hitchcock, j. A. Filcher and Mr.
Mccullough.
There was some delay In calling the conven-
tlon TO order yesterday morning, il being nearly
II O'Clock before a quorum had gathered.
Upon motion, L. Knox, who had formerly
acted as temporary secretary, was declared 4
permanent officer.
A. L. Bancroft Of San francisco and Contra
Costa counties dlScOurSe0 10 some length IN
favor OF having the National Government con-
struct and maintain public roads. He advo-
Gated the ten block system Of numbering cOun-
Try houses.
The Improvement and extension Of roads
anord an opportunity to expend large amount
OF what might otherwise be waste or unde-
Vel0ped brain and muscular force.'
Regarding the ten block system the speaker
stated the first step TO be taken would be to
name all the county roads in each county. Then
they are TO be measured, commencing at the
county seat or the end nearest TO it and each
mile Is divided into ten equal parts OF blocks,
having frontage only. Two numbers are as
signed TO each block. one 10 each frontage, the
odd ones on the lett and the even ones upon
the right. thus making ten blocks ana twenty
numbers TO the mile.
Every house having an entrance in a block
mas NUMBER therein. The number for all
but the first house i'll the block is followed by a
distinguishing letter, thus: &c, 26A, 26B, 2GC
ETC. BY this system the distance In miles from
any commencement of the road can be learned
by dividing the even numbers by two and
pointing on one decimal.
Mr.. bancfOtCS TemakS caused considerable
discussion, tie general sentiment being ap-
parentiy opposed to the Government road
building proposition, but unanimously in favor
OF the ten-blOck system
The matter OF sprlnkllng the county rords
was then taken up, with view of formulating
plan by which the Supervisors OF the various
counties could obtain funds 10 carry on the
WorS.
1t was decided 10 petition the State Legisla-
ture To permit the County Boards of Supervl-
sOrs 10 appropriate sums with view OF aglta-
ting the subject OF good roads.
The AFTERNOON session was principally con-
sumed in liking date for the next session.
AS number OF amendments 10 the State
ROAD laws are TO be asked OF the Legislature
during the coming session, il was proposed to
have the meeting before election in order 10
have he Senators and ASSemblymen pledge
their ndellly 10 the cause. On the other haud
many of the delegates believs the best time
Tor assembling and agltating the movement
was during the session OF the Legislature and
While the movement was al Its height, appeal
for the amendments, which would undoub edlv
have more weight than otherwise, After con-
elostdDle Wrangllng the latter proposition was
carried, the dale being fixed Tor the Sd, Attn and
9th of January.
Mrs. Merrill of San Joaquin County road an
Interesting paper on wide Tires" She ure-
sehted schedule pertaining TO the weight of
loads on vehicles and the average size of lies
when should be required in order 10 protect
good rOadbed.
Some diScu sion was had on tie subject of
the appointment OF a Stale ROAD engineer 10
survey The construction and maintenance OF
COCA puouc highways. As opinion on the mat
ter widely differed, it was decided TO leave all
action over until the next meeting.
A. DockWaTd, Road Engineer Of Los Angeles
county, was Introduced and defined the SyS-
tenn In vogue in the south he said that each
district was overseen by special roaGmaSter,
ana That the Supervisors were about TO issue
bonds 10 the amount of $4,000 TO be wholly
applied IN maintaining good roads,