The herald., 1896-02-07
THE BUREAU OF HIGHWAYS
The Commissioners Address at the
Chamber of Commerce
Facts and Figures Showing the Necessity Of
Good Roads to the Farmer-What
Bad Roads Cost

There was full attendance of farmers
assembly hall of the chamber of COM
merce yesterday to hear addresses from R.
c. Irvine and C. S. Maud, c. E., commits
sioners appointed by the governor in ac-
cordance with the act of the legislature
last year.
On motion, General Forman was called
upon to preside, who, in few words, said
that the object of the meeting was to have
report from the commissioners as to the
work they had accomplished and to listen
to the suggestions they might make as the
result of their inspection of California
highways. He introduced G. S. Maud, who,
in a voice scarcely audible, said in part:
About four years ago enthusiasm was
aroused all over the state on the subject of
good roads, several conventions were held
at Sacramento and other places, but no
practical work was done until after the
last convention at the state capital. the
act above referred to was passed and the
commissions were appointed, their chief
duties being 10 visit every county in the
state during each fiscal year, to inspect
the roads, to ascertain the number of
miles of highways in each county, the cost
of their maintenance, the mode in which
the money raised for that purpose was ex-
pended, to hold public meetings for the
discussion Of the subject so that they might
have accurate knowledge on which to
frame bill that would inure to the bene-
fit of the taxpayer. and to the improve
ment of the condition OF the producer of
farm products. He said that three-fourths
of the wealth of the state was in cities,
which pay no tax for the support OF the
roads.
This is not the case in Massachusetts,
where a recent law which works to the in
terest of the farmer and the dweller in
cities, fairly apportions the burden of tax
alton. In this state IL Is not easy in some
counties to ascertain the road mileage.
owing to the ignorance of supervisors, or
to sell valuable lands in consequence Q
their inaccessibility for want of GOO.
roads.
The recognition of their value has in
Santa Clara county resulted in an enor-
nous increment in the value of land in
that county. Santa Cruz county, too, has
done most excellent work.
The commissioners have visited nearly
all of the flfty-seven counties in the state
the past year. The state is spending
81 ,OO0, 900 year for roads, and it is inn
portant that we should have value for it
and that those who are engaged in the
work should be men practically acquaint-
ed with the science of road building. Bad
roads cost US $50 200. 900 annually in loss
to the farmer on haulage. Forty per cent
of the value of his products is not an ex-
aggerated estimate of his loss from this
cause.
The speaker advocated the employment
of convict labor, and that when San Quen-
tin is abolished and a new penitentary be
built south of the Tehachepi, it be used in
the dressing OF stone and crushing it for
road material.
r. G. Irvine, the other commissioner,
alluding to Macaulay's dictum that the
civilization of country could be judged by
the perfection of its roads, said that if
that were strictly applied to this state, our
condition was not desirable one. He
found that those most interested In roads,
the ones most benefited by them, were
always those who exhibited the most sell
fishness. Their property was valueless
when they step into the assessors office for
taxation purposes, but the moment little
strip was required for road-making a
princely price was demanded. Los Ange-
100000 on roads which are badly located,
and which are In many cases the old mule
trails of early settlers whose avocations
were purely pastoral. And much loss was
occasioned by supervisors constructing
roads in certain districts simply because
the land required was donated.
Then the next, and perhaps most i'm
portant leakage arose from the employ
inent of utterly ignorant roadmasters, and
the speaker gave some amusing examples
which the farmers hugely enjoyed. He adj
vocated convict labor. and the utilization
of the vast power of Folsom for which an
appropriation had been made in tie form
Of loan. He caused some laughter bv dis
cribing the constitution as Dennis Kear-
ney one, and by the statement that our
stores are filled with the product of eastern
convict labor while we are idle. Our sys-
tenn Of supervisors was quite inadequate
and must be reformed.
A short desultory discussion then ensued
the chairman especially urging the aboli-
ton of small road districts on account of
their cost. After vote Of thanks to the
commissioners had been passed the meet
ing adjourned.