The San Francisco call., 1897-02-01
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS
TO Be CONSTRUCTED
Radical Legislation Is Now
Proposed in Some
Big Bills.
Special Tax TO Be Imposed for
the Creation of a State
Road Fund.
An Elaborate Proposition for the
Creation of Department of
Highways.


most radical step forward in the way of
legislation in the history OF this State is
illustrated in Assent bly, bills 595 and 596
by Ennis of Sacramento, and 597, by
Clarke of Ale media. No. 597 provides for
the creation OF Department of Highways
which is intended to build State high
ways for the benefit of the people of the
whole Stale. Three Highway Commits
sioners are to be appointed by the Gov
ernor, one from the northern, one from
the southern and one from the central
part of the State, not more than two of
whom shall belong to the same political
party. They shall each receive the sum
of $4,000 per annum, the secretary $500 per
annum, the clerk $500 and the steno-
grapher $1,000. The term of office shall be
four years, and the Office shall be in the
Capitol building. The bill says:
The Department OF Highways shall take
possession in the name of the State, and as
rapidly as the funds provided therefor Will
permit, of all roads which have been or may
be declared State highways, and in cases
where the Legislature may define the general
direction and route of State highway, the
upon the best grades and allgnments, ana as
closely following the general lines defined by
Ine Legislature as the topography OF the cOun-
try will permit, and in consonance with the
best interests of the State; and wher-
ever the location of an existing county
81 or HRy portion thereof is such
State highway, or portion thereof, then the
location OF such county road shall be utilized
for said State highway; provided, that all
highways included within the boundaries of
the lands OF State institutions. parks, or reser-
vations now governed by bodies specified by
law, are hereby expressly excepted from the
jurisdiction of said department.
The Department of Highways shall have
charge of the locating, constructing and main
tanning OF ali State highways, aad to such
end shall let all contracts, purchase all prop
erty or supplies and employ all assistance or
labor, or incur other expenses incident thereto
and necessary therefor.
All work costing $500 or more must be
let to the lowest bidder after due adver-
tisement. The department is empowered
to condemn The right of way.
The revenue for the work is raised by
bill 595, which provides for an annual ad
valorem tax of 2h cents upon each 500
OF the assessed value of the taxable prop.
erty of the State to be paid into a separate
fund to be known as the State highway
fund. This money is to be appropriated
without reference to fiscal years for the
constru uction and maintenance of high
ways. Not more than per cent of this
fund shall be expended in any one county
OF the State in any one fiscal year.
Bill 500 provides for the Classification of
the roads within the limits of the State as
follows: First, State highways; second,
county thoroughfares; third, district
roads. The following are declared to be
OF the first class when located and taken
charge OF by the Department of Highways:
highway commencing on the State line
between California and Oregon at or near its
intersection by the road from Yreka 10 Ash
land, and extending thence southerly along
the best grades and alignments through the
counties of Siskiyou, Shasta, Tehama, Butte,
Yuba, Sutter, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanis-
laus, Merced, MADEIRA, Fresno. Tuare, Kern,
Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego 10 Tia
Juana in San Diego County.
Commencing at Crescent City, in Del Norte
County, thence south and southeasterly
through Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino,
Sonoma and Marin to the CT ty of Sausalito.
Commencing i'll San Francisco, thence
San Benito, Monterey. san Luis Obispo, Santa
Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles to the city
OF Los Angeles.
Commencing at a point upon the State high
way through Tehama County, al or near the
station OF Tehama, thence southerly through
Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, Yolo and Solano 10
the city OF Vallejo
Commencing at Martinez, thence south
easterly through Contra Costa, Alameda, San
Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced. Fresno and Kern,
to point on the state highway through Kern
County, at or near Bakersfield.
commencing at point upon the state high
way through Shasta, near the westerly base
Oi MOuHL GOdSld, InenCe SOutheaSferlV
through Sis kiyou, Shasta, Iassen, Plumas,
Sierra, Nevada, Placer. FL Dorado, Alpine
Mono, Inyo and Kern to Indian Wells in the
last-men toned county.
Commencing at Arcata, in Hum boldt Coun-
tv, thence southeasterly through the counties
of Hum boldt, Trinity and Tehama, to a point
on the State highway through Tehama Coun-
ty, at or near the city OF Red Bluff.
Commencing at point on the State high
way through Shasta, north of Redding thence
northeasterly through Shasta, Lassen and Mo-
In last
county.
From Marysville; thence northerly and east
erly through Yuba. Butte, Plumas and Lassen
TO Susanville.
From UKiah; thence southeesterly through
Mendocino Lake and Yolo to the city of Sac
ramento; thence easterly through the counties
of Sacramento and El Dorado, at the State line
between California and Nevada, near its in
tersection by the Tahoe wagon road.
From Santa Rosa southeasterly through So
mona, Napa and Solano to Suisun.
From point on the State highway north
from Sacramento, thence northeasterlv
through Sacramento. Placer, Nevada and
Sierra County, near the town of Sierra.
From Oakland easterly through Alameda
and San Joaquin counties to point on the
State highway through San Joaquin County
south of Stockton.
From Oakland northerly and easterly
through Alameda and Contra Costa to the city
From lone easterly through Amador County
to Jackson, thence southeasterly through
Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne to the city
OF Sonora.
From point in the State highway through
Santa Clara County, near the city of Gilroy
and thence northeasterly, through Santa
Clara, San Benito, Merced and Mariposa to
the westerly line of the State grant, Yosemite
Valley.
From point on the State highway through
Santa Clara County, at or near the city of
Giiroy, thence soutneasterly and easterly
through Santa Clara, San Benito ana Fresno,
to the CITY of Fresno.
Commencing al the city of odesto, thence
northeasterly. through the counties of Stenis-
laus and Tuolumne, 10 the city of Sonora
commencing at or near the city of Hollister
thence southeasterly throug hSsn Benito and
Fresno to a point the westerly highway
through the last-named county, near Huron
commencing at point on the State high
way through San Luis Obispo County al or
near San Miguel, thence easterly through San
Luis Obispo and Kern TO q point on the west
county.
Commencing at Port Hartford in San Luis
ODispo County, thence southeasterly and
northeas terly through San Luis Obispo Santa
named county.
Commencing at the City of Los Angeles,
thence easterly through Los Angeles and San
Bernardlno to the City OF San Bernardino
thence southwesterly through San Bernardino
Riverside and Orange TO the City OF Santa
Ana in Orange County.
commencing at point on the State high
way through Shasta County north of the city
OF Redding, thence northwesterly through
Shasta and Trinity counties TO WeayeryiIIe in
Commencing at Colusa, thence westerly
throngh Colusa County to a point on the State
highway through said county.
Commencing at MarkIeevi vile, thence easterly