The morning call., 1895-02-09

vention for printing, reporting and clerical
work the reports of committees appointed
yesterday were received and read.
A resolution was introduced by J. a.
Woodson and adopted making the mem
bers of the Senate and Assembly Commit
tees on Roads and Highways members of
the convention.
1t was decided to instruct the finance
committee to confer with the Governor on
the feasibility of having the State appro-
pirate money for the printing of the pro-
ceedings of the convention. Speeches were
limited to five minutes.
General Roy Stone outlined what the
commissioners had accomplished in the
East. In Massachusetts the Highway
Commission was appointed three years
ago, with an appropriation Of 100000, to
begin the construction of good roads. This
year it was thought the commission would
receive $1,000,000. In New Jersey there
was one commissioner who superintended
the State roads. The general tendency
was toward the State supervision of road
building
Professor Soule of the State University
spoke of the difference between surveyors
and civil engineers and road engineers.
He defined a road engineer as one who
understood the principles of road construc-
ton and how to apply them in practice.
Professor Soule concluded by saying that
the State University was prepared to fur
nish free to any county in the State plans
and specifications for bridges of any size.
The convention applauded this state
ment, and appointed the following bridge
committee to confer with the university
authorities on this subject: c. f. Aver,
Professor Soule, J. A. Linscott, P. r. Davis,
J. White.
The committee on wide tires then SUBJ
mitted its report, which was adopted after
striking out a recommendation to pay a
premium on all wide tires adopted before
January 1, 1897. Supervisor Ayres in
jected one of his characteristic pieces of
sarcasm into the discussion over the
premium, saying:
81 think it would be good scheme to.
adopt this premium because times are so
good now, wheat is so high, prunes are
bringing such good prices, farmers are
making so much money, and it will only
fasten an obligation of about ten million
dollars"
Interesting reports were submitted by the
Committees on State road engineering
office, county engineers, road districts,
amendments to bond laws, width of
roads and road beds, read location and
on wide tires.
At the afternoon session of the conven-
tion spirited debate took place between
Mrs. Mary A. Merrill and J. A. Woodson.
~ ~ iy
townships to issue bonds. Mrs. Merrill
took the opportunity to express the senti-
ments which she has favored on previous
occasions and began:
81 hope the gentlemen of the convention
will not do anything by which they will
encourage the ease and facility with which
the people can run into debt. We know
that the road into debit smooth macad-
amized highway with down grade, while
the road out of debt is little like one of
our San Joaquin adobe roads and that the
grade is almost perpendicular.
Another point: A bond for 100000 to-
day, forty years from now will require
100000 worth of effort to pay it under
present con ditions. Not only that, but
our children and our children's children
will be required to pay it, and it seems to
me that in a time of general depression
and universal shrinkage of values, it is a
bad time for asking for the increase of in
debtness. | am abso lutely opposed to the
principle OF the bond system; ! do not be-
lieve it is right and proper system.
think that the people of this nation need
education,on financial reform as much as
they need education on the question of
road building, and if / were teacher in
that | would start with the head of the
nation, and come down to some of the
members of this road convention and ask
them to be members of my class.
"There are ways in which roads can be
built without issuing bonds to private in
dividuals, and as substitute to this report