The record-union., 1895-02-08

/ Road Convention in California was called
! by people who would get little direct
! personal benefit from the construction o.
superior highways. 1t was planned and
arranged by an organization that has
been formed for the benefit of others
than themselves-the Humane Society ol
Sacramento-and an editorial mem ber o.
that body was the moving spirit in cali
ing that convention together.
The retiring Governor of the State de.
voted considerable portion of his mes.
! sage to the present Legislature to dis.
cussion of the road question, and the
present Governor feels and shows like
lively interest in the subject.
GOOD ROAD ESSENTIALS.
| Mr.. Lennon said he doubted it being
| profitable for the convention to devote
much time to discussion of road con.
| structlon and maintenance. 1t will be
| best to give attention largely to the laws
that will be most direct. fair and effective
| fcr the accomplishment OF the desired
| purpose. Mr.. Lennon then went on to
enumerate The essentials of a good road
| as follows:
Flrst-The grade must receive careful
! consideration. 1t should be as nearly
uniform as can be secured. The maxi
mum grade now recommended by prac-
tical road engineers is 4 per cent. or not
more than four feet to every hundred feet
Travelled. a horse will trot with perfect
ease going up or down such grade, and
there will scarcely be noticeable friction
to be overcome i'll hauling a load because
OF so slight an elevation. And, as
nothing is stronger than it's weakest
point, so no road is better for general
draft purposes than its poorest portion.
| A single steep place may control the draft
capacity OF team on the entire lire.
Second-Ihe good road rec uires drain
age. 1t Will not endure long unless we'll
drained, and this is not possible except
where proper grades are established.
Third-A third essential to good road
is that it be impervious to falling water,
Another has well said that it must be a
perfect roof and not q sieve" This in
wolves the question of materials, the two
chief ones to concern us being stone and
gravel, the last of course, being least de-
sirable.
Fourth = Sentiment has materially
| changed recently in regard to the width
OF road bed that should be stoned or gray
eled. Reducing the width reduces the
expense correspondingly and brings the
improved road within the reach OF more
people. Many engineers now recon-
mend that the stone road be built only
wide enough for wagon to pass over it.
There might be occasional wider places
at which meeting teams might pass each
other. BY the side Of this permanent
highway good dirt road should be pro-
vided, over which. except when muddy,
teams without heavy loads would be
driven from choice. 1t has been sug-
gested that the trees in a highway should
be between these two tracks and not at
the sides of the road, where they con-
sumo the substance of the adjoining farm
lands. The suggestion seems worthy OF
consideration.
Fifth-It is agreed by all authorities
that large stone-crushing plants are lar
more economic than small ones, for the
preparation of road metal. Hence
such plants should be provided at county
or city expense, or communities should
unite III establishing them as an element
OF the gOod road movement.
Sixth-In construction all roads should
be puddled with water and should be
rolled by steam, not by horse rollers.
Reasons for this are that the latter kind
OF rollers are not heavy enough for the
most effective work and the hoofs or shoes
Of the horses undo in part the work o1
the roller Hence, every county should
own large steam roller, and require all
road contractors working for the county
to use 1t. Again, even the best roads re-
Qulre attention. Every break should be
repaired as quickly as possible. II this
is not done the road will go 10 ruin. This
gives rise to the question as TO the plan OF
road repair that Will be most effective
dlus dt Lll6 SdiHe lIlIlS, lllOSL ScCUOInlC.
And, with this briet statement of some
of the essentials Of a good road, we come
naturally to consideration of the legal
machinery likely to give the best results.
AS TO ROAD LEGISLATION.
Under existing laws some good roads
have been constructed. In few counties
Supervisors have shown considerable
enterprise and have worked with fairness
and Intelligence. In most counties this
is not true. With an annual expenditure
Of about SS00,0U0 on public highways in
California, we would certainly realize q
great deal better results if our system
were a good one.
In the practical operation of our present
law, each Supervisor takes the road funds
of his own district and uses them as ne
pleaSes. It is not safe or sensible policy
to put such unlimited power into the
hands OF anybody. The people of Cali
fornia have paid an enormous sum TO
learn this. In the past forty years they
have invested $50, ,0OO,O 600 in public roads,
and now have very little except expert
ence TO show for the expenditure. Such
dearly purchased experience should be
turned TO good account. Certainly no
disinterested person will insist on longer
continuance of system that makes so
poor a showing.
OPPOSITION TO CHANGE.
But there will be opposition to any
other plan Of road organization that may
be proposed. County Supervisors, like
other officials generally, enjoy power and
the privilege OF handling public funds.
y early every one OF them wants the 500
per year be Is permitted to draw from the
county treasury for looking alter the
highways OF his district. Even the most
honest, faithful aud efficient Supervisor
IS likely TO feel that he can do this WORK
) r1.1I- r. lsa "a -
person, ana therefore to insist on keeping
it in his own hands.
County supervisors have political
power. They have been known 10 make
and uunake State Senators and Assem-
blymen. The men who draw money
from the county treasury through their
/ agency are liable to recognize that it is
well 10 stand with them IN political con-
/ tests.
Thus they are able to wield great po-
| litical inhuence-to nominate or reieci
aspirauts IN conventions, or 10 elsct Oh
! ueIeat candidates al the polls. | am in
/ formed that one assem- bly, OF County Su-
/ peryisors has already agreed that there
/ shall be no change Ill the road laws this
/ winter, SO lar as their prerOgatiyes and
powers are concerned. Admit this, and
( there IS no occasion Tor immediate con.
I tlnuance OF the discussion in favor o.
! good roads.
! ENGINEERING SKILL REQUIRED.
! 1t is said of an eminent painter, tha;
! when asked how he blended his colors K
produce such enchanting effects, he re-
! piled, 'N Ith brains, sir" The same
/ agency IS essential IN the building and
/ maintenance OF good roads.
All authorities agree that road con-
| struction should proceed on a scientific
/ basis, that II requires engineering skill
anu Is not business in which every