The herald., 1896-08-18

Seno an einlSSary or toVeling man TO sell
these goods, then they will be shipped.
The chamber of commerce has taken
the first step to send some representative
to Japan to study the needs of the coun-
try. 1t has donated 800 to start with.
The Merchants association will donate
a like amount Japan is q wonderful
consumer of everything wy .lave here
1t is using the $3.50, ,00, 900 war indemnity
it got from China to develop the country,
so there are rich plums there for us to
get. One steamship line to San Diego
will bring others. We are going to have
cane sugar refineries right here in South
ern California, and that before long, so
we will have a line of steamers to the
Sandwich islands; ALSO to Mexican, Cen
trail American and South American
ports. The Japanese government is
making no secret of the fact that it is
purchasing 900 or 40O,0 900 acres of
land for colonial ton purposes in South
ern Mexico, and will put on a line of
steamers to ply along the west coast rs
far as Chilli. | never saw any people
more alert than these Japs, and we want
to cultivate their acquaintance and get
our just share of their trade
GOOD ROADS
This closed the steamship discussion
and the subject of good roads was taken
up.
Frank M. Coulter advocated the
building of boulevard to Santa Mon
lea as speedily as possible, not only for
the pleasure and profit it would afford
but as means of employment for many
heads of families who need it badly.
partial canvass of the city showed
that there were many men in need of
work. 1t was not question of money,
but of Willingness as to whether the
road would be built.
President Frank said: IT believe if
this association will connect it's name
with the enterprise, we can get the mon
ey to build the road. Let us have a bou-
levard to Santa Monica, built under the
direction of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' association. We can build it,
if the the board of supervisors will keep
it watered."
j. l.. Maude of the state bureau of
highways, gave some technical informa-
ton as to the cost and method of build
ing roads. He did not think much of the
scheme of building roads by popular
subscription. They tried it in Sacra-
mento county, where it proved dismal
failure. The state was operatin rock
crushers at Folsom prison with convict
labor, and had reduced the price of
crushed rock for macadamizing roads
from So to so cents per ton delivered in
Sacramento, making the cheapest road
material in the world, yet the people of
Sacramento city and county were una
BILE to raise S32,0 900 by taxation, floating
bonds and private subscriptions to build
twenty-SiX miles of good road between
Sacramento and Folsom.
President Frank at this point remind
ed the speaker that Sacramento was not
Los Angeles. I'VE do things differently
down here" he said. Los Angeles is
the only city in the state that digs up
money for fiestaS or public enterprises
when called upon to do it.
Mr.. Maude thought it would cost
about $50, 900 to grade and gravel a road
of the kind desired between Los An
geles and Santa Monica. He doubted if
this amount could be raised even in Los
Angeles by popular subscription during
the present condition of finances. He
suggested that at the next session of the
legislature law be enacted permitting
cities to tax themselves for building
such roads, in other words. extending
their streets beyond the city limits.
w. H. knight, secretary of the Mer-
chats association, said Engineer Fred
Eaton had more encouraging report to
make. Twenty-Five thousand dollars
would build boulevard forty feet wide
from Los Angeles to Santa Monica. This
would be widened to eighty and ulti-
mately to 100 feet.
H. G. Wiltshire said a man named
Plummer had maps and plans for a.
boulevard 100 feet wide from the end Of
Sixth street via the foothills and Sol
diers' home to Santa Monica, and could
give valuable informa ton as to the cost
of building such a road and raising the
money.
Supervisor E. S. Field said he had
been over the line of the proposed foot
hills boulevard, but the supervisors
Il 1@.~ tos ,l~~l,% "a
way for the entire distance was pledged
free, and this had not yet been doiU.
He was familiar with the Washington
street route and thought this could be
built for much less money than Com
missioner Maudes estimate. A portion of
the way was very good road now; part
needed grading and all needed water.
With a few thousand dollars a good
start could be made. The supervisors
could not undertake to build boulevards,
but would help to build good roads as
far as could be done with the limited
means at hand. Mr.. Field refuted the
charge that there were no good roads
in the county. He said fifty miles were
constructed last winter that were as
good as could be found anywhere. There
were three good roads leading out of
Los Angeles-to Alhambra, to Burbank
and to Hollywood. The much vaunted
good roads of Santa Clara county were
not as good as these. well give you
a good road to Santa Monica if you will
help u.s.
G. w. Burton spoke in behalf of the
foothills boulevard route.
Hugh Glassell spoke of the unsatis-
factory experience of the Bicycle Road
association in building and maintain
ing bicycle path on Washington street.
The path constructed was ruined for
lack of sprinkling.
At 10 o'clock the meeting adjourned,
but the attendants were invited ia tarry
and sample a bowl of punch.