The record-union., 1895-02-09
Changes Recommended in Laws
Governing Highways.
Resolutions FavOring the Use Of State
Power and Materials.
The State Road Convention Concludes Its
Two Days Session in This City
Some Lively Debates.

The Goods Roads Convention met yes
terday morning at the Art Gallery, Presi-
dent Lennon in the chair.
On motion of a delegate, the men,
bers of the committee of the Legislature
to which the matter of good roads have
been referred were enrolled as members
Of the convention.
District Attorney Wallace of MADEIRA
County was enrolled as a member of the
convention.
The Committee on Finance reported
that, in addition to the amount necessary
for The expenses of the convention, $50
more were needed. On motion, an assess
ment of 81 was levied on each delegate.
On motion prevailing, the Finance
Committee was directed to consult Gov
ernor Budd to ascertain if the State
Board of Examiners would permit of the
proceedings of the convention being
printed at the State Printing Office.
Considerable discussion ensued about
the time delegates should consume in
addressing the convention and the num-
Der of addresses each delegate should be
allowed to make. The convention de-
Cided to limit each delegate to five min
utes.
WIDTH OF wAGON-TIRES.
Inc COniOlLLG6 on w lutl OF llroS then
submitted its report as follows:
1t Is the sense of your committee on
wide tires that all vehicles of a carrying
capacity OF 1000 to 5000 pounds should
have tires not less than three and one-half
inches in width, and wagons of a carry
ing capacity of 5000 TO 5000 pounds
should have tires not less than four inches
in width, and tires should have an addi-
uonal width Of half an inch for each 1000
pounds additional carrying capacity, six
inches being the maximum width re-
quired. And we recommend that a law
10 carry the above suggestions into effect
should be passed by the present Legis-
lature, to go into effect January l, 1897,
ana that a penalty should be attached for
Noncompliance after the time 1t goes into
effect. (Signed), J. y. Filcher, L. \.
lager, Mary (. Merrill, A. Z. Stanton.
Henry h. Winnie"
Mcconnell OF Elk Grove said the farm
ers and others should have more time to
make the change in the width OF their
tires. He moved as an amendment that
the time be extended to lS9S.
y delegate from Santa Clara said the
matter had been discussed in the commit
tee, and II was decided that the lie of a
wheel was about three years. He thought
the time should not be extended.
The amendment was lost.
Senator William Johnston of Court
land said the wide tire would increase the
value Of the wagon.
Mcpherson OF Santa Cruz moved that
the premium be stricken from the report.
Carried.
The report as amended was then
adopted.
on motion it was decided to have all the
reports read, and TO be afterward taken
up and acted upon. They are as follows:
STATE ENGINEER.
Your committee, to which you referred
1or consideration and report the question
OF the value TO our citizens of q State road
engineering office for advisory purposes.
as established in Massachusetts, and OF
the advlsablhty OF systematic investiga-
uon OF Cahtornias wealth in material
Tor good roads, and of the best methods
OF preparing the same for use, have care
fully dehberated on the matters referred
TO II and respectfully report and recon-
mend as follows:
First-That the Office of the State En-
glneer be not established for the reason
that, IN the judgment of your committee.
q department. OF highways be admins
tered by an advisory board to three MEM
bers, TO be appointed by the Governor.
would better promote the wishes and de-
mands OF our citizens In this matter.
Secondly-Ihat the proper functions of
such advisory board should be The collec-
ton ana spreading Of all useful informa-
uon on the subject Of the construction
ana maintenance of highways, and ad-
NIslng and assisting the road authorities
IN each county OF the State, to the end
that every highway built or repaired shall
be made the best in location, plan and
construction, considering all the needs
sud circumstances OF the case. tSigned}.
Frank Soule, W. d. Lawton, Bradford
Morse, Preston K. Davis, y. ). Cooper.
COUNTY ENGINEERS,
Genttemea: We, your committee. TO
whom was referred so much OF the sub
ject before this convention as relates to
County Road Engineers, respectfully re-
port:
In ourjudGment such legislation sbould
be enacted as Will permit Boards OF Su-
perYlsors TO employ competent road en-
Elneers IN the laying out and construct
ing OF roads: such engineers to be en-
pioyed at the viii and under the imme-
date direction OF the Board OF super
YISorS.
Second, we do not believe in the pas
sage OF general law making il manda-
tory for each county TO employ a perlna-
ment county road engineer. If q law can
be framed that viii not be special legiSla-
lion, we would suggest the passage OF
measure permitting such counties as may
desire 10 provide for a permanent county
road engineer. jSIgned), a. Brown, W,
". Gray, Q. J. Hemphill, Lou q. Hare,
James NJ. Hunter.
ROAD LOCATION.
We. your Committee on the Location of
ho2ds, beg leave 10 recommend as fol-
lows:
First-That the survey of the roads
should be plainly marked and the per
manent monuments set at least every
mile, and not less than two TO each road.
Second-Ihat in procuring the right of
way the Supervisors are not to pay more
than double the assessed value OF the
land at the time the Iaud is condemned.
Ihird-That all lands taken for the
opening, widening or Strengthening of
roads be paid Tor from the county gem
eral fund. lSignedl, duncan Mcpherson,
5. y. Knight, J. II. Laugenoug, +. L.
Smith.
ROAD DISTRICTS.
lTr. Chairman: Your Committee on
Road Districts, Size. Organization, ETC..
beg leave 10 report as follows:
first-We recommend the laws gov
erning the size and organization of road
districts remain as they now exist.
Second-That road districts may vote a
special tax for road purposes, not to ex-
ceod 10 cents on each Sl0Q OF the assessed
valuation OF any one year.
Ihird-That al expenses attached to