The record-union., 1895-02-08
farmer and not road contractor or en-
gineer, declared that engineering skill is

farmer and not road contractor or en-
gineer, declared that engineering skill is
a necessity to good road work.
y. L. Jackson, editor OF the Southern
1t03eteT, said: Il regard the whole road
problem as a financial one This over
come, how to lay out, build and main
tam roads is simply an engineering ques-
'lon, ana we have in every State men
Wen capable OF dealing with this part OF
the subject
a. 7. Wright. Secretary of the National
ue Tor Good Roads, could not see
no" Soou ROAD work could be done with
our making use OF engineering skill,
Judge =. ID. Thayer of Clinton, Ia,
propounded a lot OF questions in regard
10 bodybuilding, and concluded with the
observation, 'all this is the mission of
the engineer
=; ). Ives, President of the Burlington,
Seoaf RAPIDS and Northern Railway, in a
lettef TO Judge Thayer, after giving his
opinlon as to the course TO be pursued
III securing money with which to build
good roads, declared IAN engineer should
pe employed by the county"
Dr. McN aimee, the author of the bill
Ghaef winch the roads of Richmond
county, New York, were constructed.
sent communication in which he de-
clared:
Inc engineer is the most important
factor In the whole system.n
tosSIOAS OF tnlS character might be
multiplied Indefinitely. Every authority
on road building recognizes the waste
ana loss that come from lack of skill in
| ROAD location, road construction and road
maintenance. 1t has no antagonism ex-
GepG from those who are in position to
! uelerihlhe the taxes to be levied for road
Putposes, and then to use the road funds
as they please. Even many Of these are
ready tor the proposed change. a majority
" the supervisors Of my home county,
Sohoma, having written our Senator and
ASSemolymen asking them to support a
OliI under which a county road engineer,
not may be, but shall be employed by
Ine county Supervisors.
THE ROAD DISTRICT,
Next, let me call your attention to the
ROAD dlstrlct-the territorial unit of a road
system. In California it is now the
county Tor taxable purposes and prac-
Clcally the County Supervisor DISTRICT for
everything else. All the power has been
| leglslated out of the hands of the neonla
| ana into the hands OF the Supervisors,
The people have nothing to saw in REGARD
10 the rate OF taxation for road PURPOSES
or where or how the fund arising from
TINS lax shall be expended. All this is
determined by the Supervisors,
MS Is certainly great mistake. It is
others doing business for the people that
they should be permitted to do for them
O7' - 40 tAthCl oI Aa0u-ln0-QOWn
government that is wholly undemocratic
Nhat would be the effect on our public
schools II a like system were adopted for
their government? Who doubts that il
would be disastrous?
CITIES SHOULD BE TAXED.
1t is mistake to exempt the property
oI Incorporated towns from taxation tor
ROAD purposes. Good roads helm these
places as much as they do the surround
ing country. They increase the business
Oh che town or city and enhance the value
OF It's property. They are used as largely
by most townspeople as by the residenfs
OF the country. No good reason has aver
been advanced for not making citv nron-
erty bear It's full share of the expense re-
CURED IN building and maintaining good
highways. The tax levied by the Super
Vlsors Tor road purposes should be i'm
posed upon all property in the county,
1hree States now make all annual an
| preparation from the State treasury for
road purposes. With our widely diver
sIted interests and wonderfully VARYING
conditions, 1t is not likely that this plan
will be adopted in California-at least nor
in the near future. But the people are
ready Tor general county tax and to tax
themselves for road work in their own
neIgh borhoods ii given opportunity to do
so.
WIDE TIRE LEGISLATION,
At our first session we advised SuDer-
vlsors to pass ordinances favoring the use
oil wide wagon tires. The action of the
convention was unanimous, but | am not
informed as TO whether many Boards of
Supervisors have taken the action recon-
mended. This matter should be brought