The record-union., 1896-04-13
ALLEGED GRAVEL STREETS.
They Now Resemble the Old-FaShioned
CObble PaVementS,
The Red Earth Has Disappeared. Leav-
ing Only Rough Surface
of Stones.

There was a great relay wheel race
yesterday around San Francisco Bay.
The wheelmen had to PASS through Ala
media. The officials of that city two
days before the race had the Street Su-
perintendent out with a force OF men
making the three streets along which
the racers had to go perfect as to sur
face, filling all chuck-holes with new
macadam, carefully tamped down and
puddled, removing every possible OBJ
struction, and making the street-cross-
ings perfect.
Thus Alameda shows her interest in
the large class of citizens who are
cyclers- If a relay race were attempted
from or into Sacramento, would this
city do as much? Indeed, it is doubted
by many If with the best of intentions
Sacramento could do it, because her
streets, once graveled, are now in such
a deplorable condition that 1t is doubt
full if anything can be done OF a tempo
rary character to better them for that
purpose.
The Developments OF the past winter
in the matter of Sacramento's streets
have been remarkable.
Heretofore, with rain, we have had
mud that remained for weeks. The past
winter the "graveled streets were dry
in few hours after a rainstorm ceased.
Why? Because the mud having been
thoroughly removed for two seasons, it
Is now found that there is no more clay
to work up and we have left only a
mass of large rocks. In other words,
the people have discovered to be true
what the Record Union" years ago
contended, that save in spots gravel
never was put upon the streets, but a
sort of red clay holding small stones
and great quantity of large ones. with
many powders and cobbles.
This is now perfectly evident to every
one, and so bad have the street surfa ces
become that there is complaint on every
side. Even buggies and light driving
carriages are driven over the streets
only with discomfort to riders and con-
siderable damage to the vehicles. Yes
terday great many wheelmen actually
led their wheels along the sidewalks foI
two miles to reach Thirty-firs street
and the new wheelway, rather than ride
over the east and west streets. This is
a deplorable condition and needs irnme-
date attention.
The 'Record-Union the other day
suggested the trial Of a plan formu-
lated last year by road engineer then
in the city, namely, that a few blocks be
selected and over the streets running
along them there be sent a few men with
small hammers, mounted on long
springy handles, to she tier and level the
tops of the protruding powders. while
others follow with o water sprinkler
and hammers to puddle the ground and
ram in the debris.
1t was then stated that S25 would be
the entire cost of trying the experimen,
for half a dozen or more blocks. We be-
lieve it is worth trial, and also that il
will succeed. A well-known physician
says to us that he saw the experiment
tried in another city under similar cir
cumstances, and that 1t proved success
ful there
1t is suggested to the City Trustees at
their meeting this evening they au-
thoriZe the necessary expenditure, and
have the trial made at once. Within the
next few weeks Sacramento is to enter
tain four public bodies, bringing to us
from 5000 to 5000 visitors, who will
drive about the city and find the streets
il, condition that will be much to oul
discredit. If it is possible, therefore, al
SO small cost as 50 so or So a BLOCK
tc shatter the cobbles and level dowr
the powders it will be a most sensible
thing to do