The record-union., 1896-10-26
JUSTICE TO SUPERVISORS.


san positions.
JUSTICE TO SUPERVISORS.
The impression has got abroad that
criticism of road administration in this
county, to the effect that there has been
wastefulness, and that $4,000 year
has been squandered, reflects upon the
present Supervisors. 1t was assuredly
not the intention of any canvassers to
convey that idea, who are advocating
good road systems.
What they mean to say, and what
good road advocates have held all
along, and properly, is that the present
road system enforced under the law is
an uneconomic one; that so important
a business ought to be managed by ex-
pert ability; that such county as this
ought to have an Independent road ex-
pert in charge Of it's road system; that
in the last ten years our expenditure
upon roads because of the uneconomic
system, and the patchwork methods
that have been pursued and largely
forced upon the administrators of
&C unity affairs, has netted the people
great loss.
The ''Record-Union" has shown this
over and again. But the truth about
the last three year term Of the Super
visors is this. that a little over three
years ago the road fund was in debt
more than $4,000. This debt has all
been paid off and the general road fund
and all the district funds are to-day
clear Of debt. In the meantime a great
deal Of road work has been accom-
plished, some of it better work than
ever before done here, and oil that
could be expected, probably, under the
system Of the law, and the refusal Of
the districts to permit macadam roads
to be built
Moreover. tho cost of macadamizing
has been thought by the people to be
prohtbitory. Even at the old cost. we
have held, however, that 1t would be
cheaper in the end than earth and
poorly graveled roads. While this dis
charge Of the road funds from debt.
this building and improving in many
objections has been going on, there
have been more miles sprinkled than
ever before, and yet In the whole time
the road tax has not been increased.
These facts have been stated by Su-
pervisor Todd in his address to the
voters Of the Supervisor District in
which he is candidate for reelection.
The truth alone should prevail in such
matters. Mr.. Todd has, to our knowl-
edge, been the friend of the good road
movement, and stood with the late
read convention so far. that he was
willing to submit to the people the
question Of a bonded Indebtedness to
construct 159 miles of main macadam
roads and so stood in the board
The opposition is attempting to down
this faithful Supervisor on the unjust
charge that he is opposed to the good
road movement. On the contrary he is
one of it's best friends, and this we
know to be true.
William Curtis, a present incumbent
in the board is nominated upon the Re-
publican ticket for reelection. He has
been faithful Supervisor also, and
justly shares in the credit Of clearing
the road districts Of debt while pro-
noting road improvement. He is like
wise a good road advocate, and has
stood by the good road movement since
its inception. He may not have accom-
plished all in his district that he
desired, but he has probably dcne all
that could have been accomplished
hampered as he has been by the law
and the unwillingness of the people tc
engage in macadamiZing until road
metal was produced at a low rate, as Is
now being done.
We have already referred to the busi-
ness capacity, the energy and progress
iveness Of the other Republican nom
inee, Mr.. Flint, native of Sacramento.
one worthy of all confidence and stand
ing high in the esteem Of the people
He will make a good Supervisor, and
one of more than usual ability and en-
ergy.s He is a friend of good road
movements, and will do everything that
can be done to put this county in the
front rank Of good road counties.