The record-union., 1895-08-23
By WHEEL TO THE GARDEN CITY.
Sacramento Cyclists Skirting the San
Francisco Bay.
What They Saw In San Jose-some
Comparisons Between That City
and Our Own.

A group of the Capital City Wheelmen
left this city last Sunday Tor San Fran
cisco, from which point they took to their
wheels for a run around the bay TO San
Jose, thence to Santa Cruz. and back
through San Mateo County to San Fran
cisco. thence to Vallejo or Stockton and
home again.
a letter was received from one of the
party Yesterday in which he says:
We left Fruitvale In good order and
struck out for San Jose. The roads we
found good all the way except a rough
clay piece near Alvarado W G made the
forty-tWo miles between P. NJ. and p.
NJ, making eight stops.
AS is usual IN the country the natives
knew little or nothing about distances.
There is nothing that so much astOnlshes
the traveller as to find that people living
along q travelled road so widely differ as
to its distance stretches and so disagree
as to points of the compass and right dl-
rections. w found the same condition
Of things on q run in Yolo County not
long ago, when we were sent twenty-five
miles out OF our way by misdirection OF
resident
Here in Alameda and Santa Clara, as
we would approach town and inquire as
10 its distance, we would be told that it
was lust a little way" and then we
would wheel for an hour before we would
reach the village. Again we would be
told that town or settlement was seven
miles .istant and within five minutes
thereafter we would wheel right into IL
The roads down here are narrow, we'll
graded, sprinkled, and cared Tor. The
rises are cut through and the depressions
filled in. In other words. they have
found Gus that TO establish grade IS to
save money TO all hands who use the
roads and to the county in the care Of
them. There are but few bridges, aud
these have long and easy approaches.
The roads are mostly lined with gum
trees, atfording excellent shade. We
noticed particularly on this run that all
depressions aud ruts in the roadway are
kept carefully filled; evidently the work
is promptly done, as it should be, to save
money to the taxpayers. Tho ruts are
not, down here, permitted to enlarge and
engulf the road IS IS done In some Sec
lions that shall be nameless. The trees
along the route are well and nicely
trimmed up, and the fences are all IN
good repair.
The roads are mostly m2cadam or fine
creek gravel, Well-packed and hard
rolled when wetted evidently. But III a
few places a revengeful cObble or bowl
der presumptuousIy rises to protest
against easy wheeling or driving. Should
you strike some of these as we did. there
will Immediately arise rec0llecuons of
the Sacramento Board of Trustees and its
idea Of good roads and streets.
In San Jose, which we rode over crit
ically, the residence streets are about
like ours IN Sacramento, but are mar
rover and have the usual deposition OF
backyard rubbish. The business streets
are wide and we'll kept, and to the eye
there is not revealed q single cOW-shed
permanent awning, and in the whole
town business and trade are conducted
indoors. The sidewalks are, as they
should be. reserved exclusively for Pc
destrians. The cigar men rent rooms
and stores for the conduct Of their busi-
ness and they and their customers do
business on the inside, as they should,
ana do not occupy the walkWays. The
bo0tbl2cks are not ObtrUslYe, nor are
they permitted TO occupy even with the
rear of their bodies any part Of the walk
way.
The merchants and market men are
not allowed sidewalk space rent free, or
tor occupancy at all. They move their
goods IN and out in business TRANSACTIONS,
but cannos store goods on the walks or
use them TO stack up advertising piles Of
stock.
The buildings are large and apparently
we'll kept. They are trim, clean, we'll
painted and do not appear shabby. Local
pride evidently prompts every fellow TO
make his business front 81 least look well.
II our Sacramento Trustees and silurians
could be sent here on q week S vacation
they might get some good ideas as to reg
ulatiOn cleanliness aud inviting n0atness.
We think that from such a visit there
would result wonderful and costloss I'M
prOvement IN our own beautiful city. Ii
these officials did not experience q change
of policy when they discovered how lar
behind the age they are IN these matters,
they would be lit for utter annihilation
and to be blown into space by a one mile
an hour breeze.
Down here you do not see any cloth
daubed, lll-palnted and filthy draggled
beer signs hung over the walk ways to
offend decency and the eye. Such things
are not permitted at all, and very prop
erly. Il is held here that no man has the
righ. to offend III this way any more than
III any other. i ou see no sidewalks here
Uttered with filth or encumbered with
empty beer kegs. dilapidated boxes or
any other rubbish. The walks are kept
clear, as they should be everywhere. In
fact. tins is neat, clean town, with the
exception stated about ru bbish IN some OF
the residence streets. Sacramento has no
right to play second fiddle TO this place.
We have better town all the way around
If only its streets are made scrupuIOusly
clean and the business streets and walks
kept clear and free for men, women and
children 10 walk thereon.
on our way in we wheeled up to little
town and asked where we were. Before
getting an answer we were receiving
apologies and were asked to say nothing
about it; in lact, 10 never mention that
we had been in the town or anywhere
near it. 1t was the world-renOwned, lar
famed, loud-smelIIng. insignificant IN
name but supreme IN reputation Milpitas
OF old, often maligned. kicked, cussed
and abused. the existence of which is
mourned and regretted even by its in
habitants.
We have Electric Carnival cards with
US, and are doing our best 10 advertise
our coming festival, but with alI-bec0m-
ing modesty as BELTS honest and proud
Sacramentans. The newspaper men
down this way received us well and
promise to give the carnival a good send
off, Of which please inform Brother Cole
nan. " MHEELNAS.