The record-union., 1895-02-12
PLENTY OF MATERIALl FOR ROADS.
California Ought to Have the Best in
the World.
General Roy Stone Tells q Reporter
What He Saw at Folsom
Last Week.

| Yesterdays San Francisco Chronicle,
referring to the return to that city of Gen.
eral Roy Stone, Chief of the Division of
Highways, Department of Agriculture,
says:
General Stone arrived from Washing
ton, ID. c., a week ago in response to an
invitation from the Governor, to attend
the Good Roads Convention which has
| been in session at Sacramento during the
past week. He came down from Sacra-
mento yesterday, after spending a day at
| Folsom, where he went at the Governor s
request to determine the practicability
and feasibility of utilizing the labor of
the Folsom prisoners for quarrying and
crushing rock for road purposes. When
seen yesterday General Stone said that
the facilities afforded at Folsom should
make the cost Of quarrying and crushing
rock much less than at any other place in
the world.
a2s'' e, L looked over the situation at Folsom
very thoroughly" he said, land I found
that by utilizing the labor of the prison.
ers and the natural water power avail
able at that point, the State could easily
quarry and crush the rock and pay the
expenses OF the prison for 20 cents a cubic
yard. According to the estimates of
various railroad companies, the crushed
rock can be transported 100 miles for an
average of % cents a cubic yard. We will
say 30 cents in round numbers. By this
it will be seen that the rock could be de-
livered at the railway stations for 90 cents
a cubic yard.
My idea is that the State should give
the rock to the counties free of cost. and I
have made strong recommendation to
the Governor to take steps to that end.
II the State gives the rock to the counties
tree of cost the Supervisors of the coun-
ties can have 1t landed at the railway sta
tlOn nearest the point where it is needed
for road purposes at % or 80 cents cubic
yard. By carrying out this plan all the
poor roads in the State could be macada-
mized within the next few years without
tue necessity of incurring bonded in
debtedness or increasing the road taxa
ton.
1T would require 600 cubic yards to the
mile to pave road with stone uniform
Wldth OF nine teet and to a uniform depth
of four inches. When the inestimable
advantages of stone roads are taken into
consideration, this modest cost will be
generally voted wise expenditure. Cali
Iornla has poor roads, to speak in general
terms. II the State can be prevailed upon
to quarry and crush rock with prison labor
and give 1t TO the counties free of cost. in
accordance with the plan I have recon-
mended to the Governor, the prosperity
| OF the State will be given great impetus.
The advantages are not to be estimated.
Il nave found that railroad companies
generally are interested in the improve
ment OF public highways, for improve
ments of that sort assist largely in the
development and settlement OF the coun-
try. AS general rule, railroads are
willing to transport rock for road build
ing purposes at cost. l understand that
the railroad transportation problem in
California is somewhat different from
what it is in other States, but 1 think the
oh rO hp nrta
or this matter and agree to carry rock at
cost. L expect to interview the Southern
Pacific officials on this question Uo-mor-
row.