The record-union., 1896-11-25
THE HIGHWAY REPORT.

has been published in these columns
1t proceeds upon lines in the main that
have been travelled over by the Rec
ord Union" ever since, as the pioneer
In the good roads agitation In Califor-
MIA, it declared that our people were
engaged in the task of throwing away
millions Of money In so-called road
construction without reward, when the
same expenditure wisely administered
would give them every result the most
ardent good road enthusiast could de-
sire OF hope for.
The report we expect, Judging from
the brief outline presented in our local
columns this week. will prove in I'M
deniable detail that Californians have
been wofully wasteful In their highway
system, or lack of system, and that
they will continue to be SO unless there
Is radical departure and reform
Whether the methods suggested by the
bureau as to a State system. State,
county and district highways are best
to be adopted, and whether 1t Is within
the lines of reasonable expenditure to
now adopt a State system, may be mat
tiers upon which there will be some d.
vision Of sentiment, though from the
present outlook, and the very lively in
tereSt taken in the subject It would
Seem that the recommendations Will
have very strong support We are,
however, not now considering these
matters and for all the discussion OF
them shall await the issuance Of the
full report. which 1t Is assumed will
fortify it's recommendations strongly,
and give the press and public data
and reason upon which to debate the
whole matter.
Upon one recomme ndatfon of the bu-
reau there will assuredly be no divi-
sion of opinion, namely, reduction OF
the limit Of taxation now fixed by law
for highway purposes. If the bureau
is able to show as we anticipate 1t WILL
be. that there is no necessity for the
present high maximum, and that with
smaller limit we may have permanent
highways constructed ON the line of the
more approved modern methods, as
suredly there will be no voice raised in
opposition to such economic recon-
mendation.
We are impressed with the belief also
that there will be very little, II any,
opposition to the insistence of the bu-
reau that by law the width of tires for
heavy vehicles shall be determined and
made broad. AS we the other day re-
marked, there is no reason that cam be
given for continuing to use the narrow
tire better than this, that We always
have used 1t.
That the recommendation concerning
the building Of stone bridges and Gull
verts instead Of wood as a matter OF
pure economy Will be resisted we do
not anticipate ,Napa County has given
the State such demonstration on this
point that any opposition to it will be
turned into ridicule. In that county it
has been shown in practice that stone
bridges, all things considered, with
practically no limit to their life, can be
built cheaper than those of wood. OF
apply where there Is incapacity to pro-
cure stone at reasonable cost but those
sections In this State are very few In
deed. The necessity for the use OF
wood and iron In bridge work Is not de-
MED by the bureau, but where this Or
der of material is used, 1t Is urged that
the floors should be covered with as
phaltum or bitunlinous rock, and the
structures, IL of wood, be rooted in
with iron and be kept thoroughly
coated with paint. We have just had
In Sacramento County a vivid and cost
1y illustration OF the value Of this ad-
vice.
The recommendations Of the bureau
relative to the location Of roads, in
seven cases out OF ten are faulty with
us; as to the duties Of the County Sur
veyors In road mapping, and in the
location Of roads. are in the direction
of reforms that we do not think any
one Dan antagoniZe on reasonable
grounds. In the East the people in not
a few large communities have gone be-
D
engineering supervision OF all road 10
cation and construction, and wherever
this has been done 1t has been found
to be distinct economy In the outlay for
construction, and in the results
achieved IN the permanency and fitness
OF the highways. In some quarters
this road engineering supervision is
continued indefinitely and TO all main
tenance and repairs, which are done
under skilled oversight
It Is, perhaps, too much 70 expect,
however. In California that we will at a
single bound get away from the alb
surd idea that any man is qualified who
assumes 20 ask for the place, to take
the position OF road builder, and that
because O. man IS. for political reasons,
chosen to be County Supervisor he is,
therefore, competent TO become a road
builder and superintendent and guard
Ian. In business we choose for specific
work men qualified by study and ex-
per1ence for the particular duty de-
manded OF them Some day we will
realize the wisdom OF making applica-
ton of the same rule to public duty.
We shall await with something more
than interest, indeed with a good deal
OF curiosity, the exposure that the re-
port may be expected to make of the
failure of the several counties to have
any svstern or road bookkeeping AS