The San Francisco call., 1895-10-10
Representation From All the
States Interested in the
Subject.
CALIFORNIA; CAPABILITIES.
1t Is Claimed That This State VIII
Be Able to Present
Fine Exhibit.

Maude, who has been chosen by his COL
leagues of the Bureau of Highways to
represent the State of California at the
National Road Parliament, which con-
venes at Atlanta. Ca, on October IT, IS
and 19, will probably leave Sacramento en-
route for that city tomorrow. His de-
parture depends largely upon the arrival
OF Governor Budd at the State capital in
order that his credentials may receive the
executive signature and leave be obtained
for absence from the State during the
requisite period of his attendance at the
Road Parliament.
MIR. Maude will take samples of the vari-
Gus asphalts and bituminous rock deposits
OF the State, and also samples of basalt,
trap, limestone, diuride and quartzite suit
able and in use for macadam purposes.
He will also take drafts and plans of the
State rock-crusher now in course of con-
struction at the Folsom State Prison, and
photographs of road conditions through
out the State, also several stone bridges
and culyerts which have been erected at
different points.
This parliament has been called by j.
Sterling Morton, Secretary of Agriculture,
and Will probably be presided over by
Governor Fuller of Vermont, who is presi-
dent of the National League of Good
Roads. The majority of the States which
have inaugurared bodies with the same
functions delegated to the Bureau of High
ways will all be represented and full dis
cussion OF the good road question through
out the United States will be had and
much useful knowledge disseminated
throughout the various States most deeply
interested in the subject.
The principal subjects touched upon will
be road legislation, construction, State
aid and penal labor. There will also be
the largest exhibit of road material and
machinery ever collected in the United
States, and models of roads in the various
processes of construction. Traction tests
will be made to determine the amount of
energy required to move the given weight
of wagon over various roadb beds, good,
bad and indifferent. in comparison with
varying grades.
1t is claimed by the members of the Bu-
reau Of Highways that California is cap
able of making the most exhaustive
exhibit of bodybuilding materials of any
State in the Union. Chairman Marsden
Manson, who for years has made an
exhaustive study of the subject of mineral
ogical and geological formations, states
that the asphaltum and bitumen of Cali
fornia exists in greater abundance and
wider range of variety than corresponding
deposits in any other part of the world.
Probably the most famous deposit of
asphaltum is in the Island of Trinidad,
where there is a lake OF this substance
that covers fully 100 acres it is mined by
excavating with heated shovel, and is
thrown into broad-tired carts drawn by
horses shod with kind of snowshoe
which prevents them sinking into the jelly
like substance. This lake is evidently fed
from subterraneous sources, as, after
cartful has been excavated, the depression
is refilled within few hours to the level
of the surrounding depost.
In California the principal asphaltum
bids are found along the eastern slope of
the coast range in Kern and Tulare coun-
ties, and although in much more solidi-
fed state than the Trinidad deposit after
being refined they compare favorably with
the prod uction of that island. The btu
mems which also exist in the same coun-
ties have a wider range and are also
found in a state of great variety and pure
ness in Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz
counties, while the various basalt, trap and
diorite deposits exist In great abundance
and in widelp separated localities through
out the entire State.
1t is the intention of Road Commissioner
Maude to stop at two or three points on
his return and make thorough examina-
tion of some notable instances of road
construction, which, without doubt, will
result in the acquisition of much valuable
knowledge for the benefit of the people
at large throughout the State in the
methods of bodybuilding in other COM
munities.