The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-23
COUNTRY HIGHWAYS.

Connecticut has set an admirable ex-
ample in the matter of road improvement.
The State has appropriated $4,000 for this
purpose, and this is to be given in sums of
about 5000 each to towns that raise an
equal sum themselves and get third 5000
from the county. The Improvements must
be in accordance with plans and specifica-
tions that must be approved by the State
Highway Commissioners. This scheme is
excellent, as it virtually takes the making
of highways out of the hands of incompe-
tent local builders and places the work
under the charge of experts accountable to
the State.
Although the account of this plan which
we have received is meager, the inference
is that it is applicable to incorporated as
well as unincorporated towns. II SO, in
the first instance the towns will have to
raise the money by taxation, and in the
second by subscription. We assume that
in both cases, Judging particularly by the
small size of the appropriation, the i'm
provements are to be limited TO the towns
themselves, and that the country roads
leading into them are not considered. If
that be true the scheme, though excellent
so far as it goes, is imperfect.
1t will serve nevertheless. good pur-
pose as a novel and admirable suggestion.
In California we have Bureau of High
ways, but its duties are limited to the CIV
ing of advice TO town and county author
tiles, and no appropriation is made for
assisting in the construction of highways.
As our bureau is merely an advisory body
it can exercise no authority. Alongside
the Connecticut plan it appears idle and
childish. That the State at large has a
deep interest in the proper construction
and care of county roads, especially those
which constitute main arteries of traffic,
cannot be denied.
1t frequently may be observed that such
main highway traversing two or more
counties is kept well repaired in one county
and neglected in another. Take, for in
stance, the old stage road running from
San Francisco through San Mateo, Santa
Clara, Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo
counties to Santa Barbara. 1t is abom-
inally cared for in San Francisco, its most
important end. splendidly maintained in
San Mateo and Santa Clara, and but indif-
ferently kept in Santa Cruz and San Luis
Obispo. The State has a very important
interest in seeing that all such roads are
kept in the best order throughout their en-
tire length.
This can be accomplished only by some
form of State control, and the State could
hardly claim the right to exercise it with
out assisting in the cost. 1t can hardly be
doubted that neglect of the country roads
in California has operated materially to
strengthen the monopoly of rail transpor-
tation. We can well imagine what great
difference it would make to the Sacramento
and San Joaquin valleys if superbly con-
structed turnpikes traversed the length of
those plains. 1t might be advisable for
the State to designate certain main roads
as State highways and keep them in per-
feet order, paying part OF the cost and re-
quiring the counties affected to pay the re-
mainder. In any event Connecticut has
made suggestion which it is the part of
wisdom to heed.