The record-union., 1896-12-30
SCHEME OF THE HIGHWAY
BUREAU.

A road builder of PetallInna complains
Bureau of Highways is a failure be-
cause nothing has been accomplished
in his section in the way of road build
ing. He comedies that it has made good
suggestions and collected statistics, but
does not understand that these viii be
of any practical value to the State.
1t is simple justice to the law under
which that board Of inquiry was erect
ed to point out that a good many people
have supposed that the Bureau of High
ways was created to construct roads.
and because improved roads are not
built therefore the bureau Is a failure.
Such complaints we have frequently
noticed in the State press. It Is a posi-
tive wrong to permit any department
of aid to State Government to suffer
under false impressions.
The Bureau of Highways, 1t Is found
by the words creating it, was consd-
tuted to make a searching inquiry into
road conditions in the State and to as
certain what road systems have cost
each county thus far; what have been
the results of these expenditures; what
has been the reason for such poor re-
turns. and to point out as the result
Of such inquiry what ought to be done
to conserve economy and insure better
results from road expenditures.
The bureau by the law was required
to hold in the several counties of the
State one public meeting In each year
or ia in all; to discuss road matters
with the people and disseminate such
information among them as would
tend to augment the spirit Of
good road building, and favorable
consideration by the people Of more
economic plans Of building permanent
highways and of maintaining them.
The bureau was also to inquire into
the location and availability Of road
material to point out defects in Cali
fornia road construction, bridge cree
ton, drainage and care OF roads, and
q number Of other similar matters, and
to make personal inspection Of physi-
cal conditions, and submit its recon-
nIendatlons to the Legislature, and
likewise to aid In establishment of the
State rock crusher and the introduction
Of the road metal it produces, ETC. The
report OF the bureau is just out, and
II appears that all these things have
% nd
fact laid bare as to every county in
the State relating to road economies
The report shows that the meetings
have been held, the physical examina-
have been submitted. The bureau has
thsn. accomplished all it was created
to do. and will cover back into the
treasury a respectable sum unused Of
the money appropriated for its work
It Will be observed therefore, that
when people complain that no roads
have been built by 1t, that 1t had no
power 100 do so, and no means with
which to do st; that the good-road ag-
itation has been greatly promoted by
III, and InaL 1t mas pSeU the means or
ascertaining just what every one want
ed to know, and of giving the State the
information necessary for Intelligent
action. This was what was contem-
plated, as we understand 1t The re-
port shows that what has been accom-
plshed, however, has only opened the
way for a great deal more valuable
work that such a board should do
and which now lies open to 1t
The Record Union" advocated the
law creating the bureau. and has there
fore watched the working of the stat
ute with jealousy and especial critical
severity, and 1t Is satisfied that the
requirements Of the law have been met,
and a great good work accomplished
at a reasonable figure.
No great State system of doing any
thing was ever yet established, except
either through preliminary inquiry Of