The record-union., 1895-02-08
General Roy stones Remarks.

President Lennon then introduced
General Roy Stone, Special Agent and
Engineer Officer Of Road Inquiry in the
Department of Agriculture at Washing
ton, d. G.. AS the latter arose to address
the convention he was greeted with
hearty applause by the delegates.
General stone said he was happy to
say that after March 4th the people OF the
Atlantic Coast will be in the same condi-
ton the people OF California are in to-
day-a happy situation 20 be in. The
next two years may be years of good for
tune, instead of disaster
lie considered 1t great compliment to
be invited to sit in this convention, espe-
clally since he has seen some of Califor-
ma domain anu people. The country re-
MINDED MN OF France, and what the
roads are TO that country.
lie read from periodical. in which il
was stated that the wagon road system of
France has been of far greater value than
the railroad. Such roads have been of
material contribution to to the prosperity
OF the country. The prosperity OF France
Is attributed TO its good roads.
The territory of California, said Cen
eral Stone, is much larger and greater
than that OF France, and it will be more
prosperous II the plan OF building roads
IN France IS followed out in this State.
CALIFORNIA NEEDS GOOD ROADS,
And to get where France is in the matter
OF good roads the State Will have TO do as
France has done. 1t was only by the
State taking it up that the whole of
France got good roads.
Just what is necessary for the peoDIe of
California to do ne could not tell as the
various portions OF California are SO diff
ferent. He believed that when Congress-
will have finished its work we Will nave
arrived at u scheme of State control that
Will impress itself on the National Lepis-
lature, TO the end that the efforts to obtain
good results will be crowned with suc-
cess.
Great economies have developed in the
construction OF roads since the Govern
ment inquiry on road building has been
working itself out. There is no question
but by whatever method good roads are
obtained, prosperity will surely follow.
CALIFORNIA sLACKNESS.
General Stone said he had seen a great
many mudhOles in this State from the car
windows while on his travels. Califor-
mia possesses q good climate, material that
no other State in the Union has, and
everything that the people of the State
can ask for, except buslness-like methods
OF doing things.
In the fall IN the East it requires two
strong horses to haul light buggy over
some Of the roads, while in California it
only requires two horses 10 haul two tons
on good roads. The people of California
have the material for constructing roads
where it can be hauled to convenient
places, and where it is not necessary to
transport Ii up steep hills and mountains
Many railroads have volunteered to
carry road material at the bare cost-2O to
30 cents per mile. If The railroads will
not do that for anybody else, they will do
it for themselves. Good roads are feeders
to the railroads. The State authorities
should go TO the railroads and eudeavor
10 obtain low rates for the transportation
of material for the construction OF good
roads. If low rates are obtained, the
people should certainly have good roads.
Farmers would haul the material to the
site of the roads.
Referring to the use of convict labor,
General stone said such labor is gem
orally in use in North Carolina. Such
class OF work might be applied TO the
Migrants and beggars i'll this state.
NARROW ROADS THE BEST.
Referring TO the width ofroads, he said
the narrow road is not only cheaper, but
better than wide road. A road can be
constructed with only eight or nine feet
OF broken rock. a narrow road can be
constructed for ODe-half what double
track road would cost, and the cost to
keep it in repair would be only quarter
OF that of keeping a wide road in repair.
" hen it is decided to improve the roads
the people of the State need not be afraid
OF the lakes being raised.