The record-union., 1895-06-28
s.Ahout Our streats.,,

EDS. RECORD UNION: An editorial in
this mornings paper June 21th) about
Our Streets" strikes the nail fairly on
the head and should receive a hearty in
dorsement from every friend OF Sacra-
mentO. Excepting the public schools.
there is no better criterion of the iLtelli-
gence and enterprise of city than the
condition OF its streets.
There seems 10 be strange lack of in
formation on the part of large mum Der
of our citizens as 10 what is the best ma
terial for road building. The editorial
referred to should in 4 measure correct
this. There is no subject easier TO study
up; none when our knowledge can be-
come more exact
Road building is no longer an expert
ment; Il is Il science, and has been for
many years. though apparently there are
but lew who realize 1t. Europe is COW
cred with magnificent roads. Thousands
of miles in our own country are covered
with the same material, macadain, and ii
the men who harp on gravel roads,
would Inform themselves on the subject
their silence would be impressive. II
our ciUZens would look into the matter
thoroughly, they would never allow an
other rod OF gravel road 10 be built.
God roads are always the cheapest.
The repairs necessary 10 keen a mile of
gravel road III decent repair-it is never
goOd-wOuld in lew years bulId miles
OF hrSt-cIass macadam.
\ word about uacadam. Few people
Seem to know what 1t IS. a few loads
OF crushed stone spread over street is
no more n macadam road than is the
rock pile in The jail yard a monument
The first step is TO prepare the fOunda-
ton, and il is imperative that this should
be graded and as thoroughly rolled as
the layers of stone above. Three or
more layers OF trap rock are i'll turn
sprlukled with macadam dust, wet, and
thoroughly rolled. Such a road will last
for yeal-, and the cost OF repairs is as
tOnIsnlugly small.
n stone road IS occasionally spoiled by
covering with thin Oat OF gravel. Such
action shows a Iamentable ignorance Of
road building. Above all, d good en-
gineer OF experience is absolutely essen
tlal-eX perience in making this kind OF a
road. a lifetime spent as Commissioner
of ordinary roads does not qualify for
this kind OF work. 1t usually dIsQuali-
ies. 1t is us ally cheaper for d city to
own q heavy steam roller, as most cities
of this size DO their own road-making.
No rlace was ever better located in re-
spect to road material than is Sacramento
IL there IS any doubt in the minds of our
City l. athers as to the best course to pur-
sue i'll our street work, it is the easiest
thing IN the world to investigate
| VIII call attention to only one section
Of this country out of very many where
this has been thoroughly tued, namely,
New Jersey Since the advent OF good
roads the population even III the rural
districts, has increased and the taxes de-
creased. Any man can easily find many
similar facts. The public business should
be conducted on the same business prin-
ciples used in our private affairs, and no
individual would think OF investing hum
dreds oi thousands OF dollars in anything
until he had thoroughly Investigated. the
fed, and that is Just where we are lax in
oar road d-buiiding. DOCTOR.
Juua = lSQ5