The herald., 1896-12-03
They Denounce the State Bureau
of Highways
ADOPT ROAD.MAKING PLANS
Tsyiss to Find Z Way to Cenfiue the
Rivers
Streams That Persist 10 Rolling Out OF
Their Beds
one Horticultural Commissioner Il
Enough for County-To Protect
Forests-A Meeting That Should
Do Much Good.


Do Much Good.
The second days session OF the con-
vention Of the boards of supervisors OF
Southern California began at the cham
her Of commerce yesterday morning at
$50. G. r. Holbrook of San Bernardino,
chosen at the meeting Of the day before,
presided over the deliberations, and F.
e. Davis Of Ventura served as secre-
tary. The deliberations were partic!-
mated In by Supervisors G. r. Holbrook,
o. Newberg, J. w. Glover and Super
yisor-elect G. NJ. Cooley of San Bernar-
dino; s. Armour, F. P. Mickey and W.
G. Potter, Orange; A. W. Francisco, +.
s. Fields, James Hanley, James Hay
and L. Woodward, Los Angeles; F. e.
Davis. X. P. Grant. F.. Hartman. Tom
Bell. M, Finn and Emmet Crane, Ven
tura.
The real business OF the meeting began
with the discussion of a resolution, read
ting:
whereas, Under the existing statutes.
there is no remedy for the property
holders along the line Of any road. or
adjacent thereto, to make necessary i'm
provements to said road as they. in their
Judgment, may deem requisite for the
Advancement Of their interests; there
fore, be 1t
Resolved, That 1t is the sense Of this
convention that the legislature be petit
toned to enact law providing that
when majority of the property owners,
by petition in due form. requesting that
they be set aside into special district,
the board of supervisors may, in its
Judgment, form a district, con-
sisting of all property abutting upon
or contiguous thereto. along the pro-
posed line of road to be opened, con-
structed or improved, and said district
shall include all property as may be d.
rectly benefited by such improvement,
the board of supervisors shall proceed
to levy a tax, not to exceed 81 on the
$100 assessed valuation, on all property
in said special district, in addition to all
other taxes levied, and said tax shall be
collected at the time and in the same
manner as other taxes, until said i'm
provement is completed
After a spirited discussion and the Of
fering of some amendments, which were
not accepted, the resolution was adopted
Another resolution. which also evoked
some opposition and unavailing proposed
amendments. was finally adopted, read
ing as follows:
"Whereas, Many of the older states
are making rapid advancement in the
construction of roads under the super
vision of state superintendents and
state aid; therefore, be it
Resolved, That we recommend the
passage of such laws as will enable the
various boards of supervisors to classify
the roads into two classes, to-Wit: State
HIGHWAYS thOrOJ1Rhf2rPS
State roads to be built and maintained
by a tax on all the property in each
county
Mr. Newberg introduced a resolution
that the supervisors are opposed to the
taking charge of any roads of this state
by the state bureau of highways and
recommending the aboIishing of such bu-
reau of highways. This brought out
much discussion. the opinion being gen.
orally expressed that the board is use
less expense. The motion to adopt car
ried.
Resolutions were adopted that article
of section 2645 of the political code
requiring boards of supervisors to keep
roads free from growing weeds be re-
pealed and a law passed making it the
duty of the abuttng property owners
to keep roads free from weeds.
That the law allowing the semi-annual
payment of taxes be repealed and the
practical and economical for the coun-
ties.
That there should be a new law for
the vacation Of streets separate from the
law for opening the same, as in section
1851 of the political code in which the
interest Of adjoining property holders
shall be fully protected
Mr.. Newberg. of San Bernardino, caus-
ed an animated discussion on his reso-
luton that it is the sense of the conven-
ton that the law be so changed that only
one horticultural commissioner for each
county should be appointed under prop
er restrictions instead of three, as un-
der the present law, and provided that
appointments made by such horticul-
tural commissioner shall be confirmed
by the board of supervisors
Supervisor Field introduced a resolu-
ton, which was adopted, that as pro-
lection to the public health it is very i'm
portant that the United States govern
ment should establish national lazar-
etto for lepers and as more of them are
found on this coast than elsewhere it
should be located on one of the unoccu-
pied islands of the Pacific ocean; and
that copy of the resolution be sent to
Senators White and Perkins and Con-
gressmen McLachlan and Bowers.
Mr.. Francisco moved that the law
should be made to empower boards OF
supervisors to sell personal property at
private sale without the necessity of
advertising such sale. The advertising
''old horse" sales frequently costs more
than the proceeds of such distribution of
property that is useless to the county
The motion prevailed.
Just before the noon adjournment
Mr.. Abbot Kinney appeared before the
convention and made brief address
urging upon the supervisors the import
ance OF change in the government OF
counties. He cited the success following
the placing of the road overseers under
control Of the supervisors to show tbs
desirability of placing other branches
of county work under the same control
He would have all such departments
placed in charge of the supervisors. who
would then be held responsible for the
administration of the county's affairs
Mr.. Kinney also asked the supervisors
to take some action looking toward the
preservation Of forests, by authoriz-
ing the placing of warning fire notices
In the timbered lands.
Secretary Willard Of the chamber o,