The morning call., 1895-02-08
At the Same Time He Says Nice
Things Of the Legislature.
ALL ASSIST IN THE WORK OF REFORM.
An Address Of Vital Importance Delivered
by General Roy Stone, the
Government Engineer.

MIA and the best methods of lettering them
was begun in earnest to-day by the Cali
fornia Good Roads convention, which wa:
called to order this afternoon at the Croker
Art Gallery. Over 200 delegates we're pres
ent from all parts of the State. The mem
bers consisted of engineers, merchants
farmers, vineyardists, bankers, Supervisors
and other county officers interested in the
question of roads. The Assembly and Sen
ate Committees on Roads and Highways
were also present. The afternoon was
spent largely in organization. An address
delivered by General Roy Stone, the head
of the Federal roads department at Wash
ington, contained information that cannot
but be of immense value to every person in
the State interested in the proper building
and care of public highways.
Tonight committees are hard at work
preparing matter for the discussions that
Will ensue tomorrow. These committees
are attacking the question from different
standpoints, and will materially assist in
tightening the labors of the convention.
The convention was called to order by its
president, A. B. Lennon, who introduced
Governor Budd in few words. The Gov
ernor announced that he had not come to
offer advice. He continued: "a conven-
ton composed of men from all parts of the
State, who understand the condition OF
their roads, and men of business will, after
consultation, take such a view as the
wisdom of the convention may dictate.
Had ] desired to look into the condition
of the roads and advise anything my time
during the last few days would not have
permitted. | wish simply to assure you
that as Governor Of this State any action
that You may take calling for a reasonable
appropriation for carrying it out will receive
my hearty support. l also wish to state
that from my intercourse with the mem
bers of both houses of the Legislature I
believe that they will cooperate in the
good work. 1 do not think that at any
time in the past there has been gathered
together at the State capital so many men
of intelligence and integrity with as strong
desire as the present Legislature to do
good for the people of the entire State"
This statement evoked hearty applause
When it subsidized Mr.. Budd continued
that though he was Democrat and the
Legislature was Republican, yet it had
assisted him in every movement for re-
form. He then spoke of the trap rock at
Folsom, some of which was said to be most
valuable for road-making. He was sure
that if this could be shown to be true. the
present Legislature would provide for
working the quarrics. The present system
of road-making, he said, was faulty. He
thought it would be wise to advise the
Legislature to place the roads under the
charge of an expert engineer and adopt
some uniform system throughout the
State. II will heartily Join with this con-
vention, he concluded, sin its recon-
mendations, and am certain that the
members of both houses in the Legislature
will also do everything possible to assist
you" The Governor retired amid a storm
of applause.
Mr.. Lennon then delivered an exhaust
i've address, in which he outlined the work
TO be taken up by the convention. He
thought it would be wise to have different
committees appointed to consider the diff
ferent phases of the question. These COM
mittees could prepare their reports and by
proper consideration materially lessen the
time required for reaching conclusions.
The convention then proceeded to elect
the officers for the ensuing year. Those
chosen were: A. B. Lennon, president:
Thomas r. Knox, secretary, and Charles
+. johnson, assistant secretary. The
speaker of the day, General Roy Stone.
was introduced as soon as order was re-
stored. His address was pointed and full
of Information that could only have been
obtained by close study of the subject of
roads. He said:
Mr.. President and gentlemen of the conven-
ton: Your presidents illusions to the treat
ment of this subject expected and your warm
welcome to me, almost take my breath away.
1t is a pleasure TO be here and I am already
more than repaid for my long journey across
the continent. My visit is for the purpose of
gathering information as well as to impart it,
and l have already gathered one important
item since this meeting began which shall
carry home with me and which will delight
the people of the Atlantic Coast. It happens
that after the 4th of March next the two
branches of tAc government will be in the same
position as the California Legislature is to-day.
The item l shall carry home with me to the
Atlantic Coast is the fact that California is
prosperous, and that the next two years, in
stead of being years of disaster, may be years
of great good fortune to the United States
Now. to come to the road question. I regard it
as very great compliment to receive the in
vitation of this association, of the Governor
and of the Mayor of Sacramento and the other
gentlemen who asked me to come here. l re-
gard it as great privilege to be allowed to join
with you in anything that helps to promote
the prosperity of this great empire. ZAP
plsusel.
The country reminds me constantly, as have
seen it, of France, and what the roads are to
France are SO well expressed by one of our
Consuls to that country that viii read to YOU
a few lines of what he says: "The roads system
OF France has been of far greater value to the
country as means of raising the value of
lands and of putting the small peasant propri-
etors in easy communication with their mar
kets than have the railways. 1t is the opinion
OF well-informed Frenchmen who have made q
practical study of economic problems that the
superb roads of France have been one of the
most steady and potent contributions to the
material DEVELOPMENT and marvellous financial
elasticity of the country. The far-reaehinp
and splendidly maintained road system has
distinctly favored the success of the small
landed proprietors, and in their prosperity and
the ensuing distribution of wealth lies the kew
to the secret of the wonderful financial vital
ity and solid prosperity of the French nation },
[Applause.l
General Stone then urged that the State
was SO much more productive than France
that pood roads would he of a nro,,or+;o,,