The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-27
FOB BETTER HIGHWAYS.

There is no better measure of peoples
pride, intelligence, thrift and prosperity
than the condition of it's roads and streets.
Thus at San Jose, Los Angeles, Riverside
and few other places in California, where
these qualities Of the residents are conspic-
uous in other ways, the roads and streets
are models of perfection. In San Francisco
they are disgracefully bad, being neces-
sary accompaniment Of poor architecture,
dilapidated houses, lax moral sentiment
and a corrupt City Government. That
grade Of popular intelligence which fails 70
see in the maintenance of good roads and
streets one Of the wisest and most profta-
bic investments Of public funds cannot be
expected TO conduct public business on
commendable plan or in mercantile and
industrial affairs TO pursue such policy
as will extend trade and develop local re-
sources. These matters are simple and
automatic.
Traffic is conducted over rude and bar
barous highways at an enormous expense
to production and consumption. The loss
thus suffered represents an amount in dol
lars many times exceeding the interest on
an original investment in the construction
of good highways, plus the amount re-
Quired to keep them in good order For
that matter it is more costly 70 keep Il
badly made highway in order than weE-
made one. The loss from traffic conducted
over bad highways comes in the form OF
heavier outlay to provide strong horses
and vehicles, heavier wear on both these
elements, a necessity for providing greater
traction power and the consumption Of
more time. These matters are all so obYi-
Gus that the necessity for reducing them
to mathematical form has never been
dreamed Of In addition to these might
be mentioned the severe strain on the
nerves and consequently the health of all
persons who are forced TO be in the neigh
borhood or to participate in the drawbacks
and inconvenience of bad highways.
But California in general and San Fran
cisco in particular are waking out OF the
nightmare burdened sleep of bad high
ways, for the pressure of many circum-
stances has been accommodating. A Bureau
of Highways was created by the last Legs
lature, and the men whom Governor Budd
has appointed are superior men. Only
a handful of money (S31, 000) has been set
apart for their use, and that is but trifie
when it comes to building the main coun-
try highways which the State so seriously
needs: but the Commissioners have
nobler and more arduous task to perform
than the building of roads = they can
achieve the higher task in inducing the
various counties to build roads of their
own.
That is to say, the main work of the
Commissioners must be one OF education.
AS the governing bodies of towns, cities
and counties represent the pride, intelIi-
gence and policy OF those who elect them
TO office, clearly the people must be APP
preached directly, and the best way to
accomplish that end is through the press.
Happily, the whole press OF California is
free from silurianism and is an advocate
Of good highways. The Bureau of High
ways, therefore, can do no better than fur
nish the press with appeals, suggestions
and instructions to the people, going fully
into the question of road-making and into
the one of benefits accruing from good
highways.
The Merchants Association OF San Fran
cisco has done splendid work in cleaning
the streets, and has made only beginning
which shall lead in time to decent pave
ments. The hope of the City rests as much
with these earnest and intelligent mer-
chants as with any other thing vital to the
welfare of the City. But they are uniustly
bearing an expense that should be shared
by all who are in sympathy with their
work, and it is sincerely hoped that those
among US who are blessed with public
spirit will come to their assistance.