The San Francisco call., 1897-11-25

County AMI the result of its labors will. no
doubt, bring the board he opportunity it
has longed for-that of demonstrating TO
the people OF California what the future
has in store for them in the matter of road
building.
The present board has not had the op-
portunity OF demonstra ing to the people
the possibilities which lie at the door of
its department., but with the construction
of the Folsom boulevard comes its chan ce
and that it intends to make the most of
/; goes without saying
Other States in the Union have made
great progress in the way of road-build-
ing through their Departments Of high
ways. George a. Perkins, chairman OF
the Massachusetts, Highway Com mission,
in a letter to Sacramento merchant,
said:
Road Improvement in this section OF
the United States is now an important
ac or in Safe as well as municipal cleo
non. 1t is incorporated into party plat
forms, and candidates must declare how
they stand upon this issue. This mas
| Oeen brought about by constant agiJa-
ton on the part Of those who have made
a study OF the question from an economic
standpoint and who have realized The
| immense loss resutn from the bad con-
dilion OF our ways before Massachusetts
| awoke to the necessity of doing some
| thing for the improvement OF her high
| ways"
Commissioner Ashe returned last even
| ing from the Cosumnes River district, and
| to HE CALL CORES pondent SAID:
1--WE find some opposition to the bond
question in this locality. The opponent,
Of the measure insist that the funds for
the con true ion of a road in any partcu-
lar road district should be raised bv a di-
| rect tax on the property of that district.
Now peO.le who talk that way do no.
seem TO understand that it would be an
utter impOs> >ioilty TO build the road by
| direct lax on the property of he district.
In The first place, the road Will have to be
com pleled by the time the lie islatur
convenes in 1899. Now the assessed value
of the property in the district is less than
$1,000 900, and he law provides that that
proper cannot b. taxed for road pur-
poses in excess of 40 cents on the $100.
Supposing there be 81, 000 900 worth of as
sesseu property in the district, only $28
COO could be raj Ell by direct tax, so you
see that the district coud d not possibly
hnish The road by the time the next ses-
sion of the Legislature convenes. And
then if all their funds were to lie used in
constructing this road there wouli be
nothing left for the roads In other por-
tions of the district.
Now, in answer to thosc who persist in
saying that 1t IS illegal to issue county
bonds for road purposes L desire to refer
you to section Is of article Xl OF the con-
stilution, which IS as follows:
No county, city, town, township, Board OF
Educatlon or school district shall incur any
indebtedness or LIABILITY in any manner. or
Tor any purpose, exceeding In any year the in
come and revenue provided for it for such
without
qualified electors thereof, voting at an cleo
uon 10 b. held tor that purpose; nor unless,
before or 1.-THE time of mourning such inde bt-
edness. provision shall be made for the collecr
tion of an annua tax sufficient 10 pay the in
terest on such inde btedne as it falls ne, and
also provision TO constitute sinking fund for
the payment OF the principal thereof oil or be-
fore maturity which shall not exceed toriy
years from the time OF contracting the same
ANY Indebtedness or liaoiiity incurred con-
trary to This provision snail be void.
Now, if that section does not mean
that the county may issue bonds such as
are necessary to create funds for the con-
structlon of the Folsom road, II does not
mean ANYTHING"
When asked how he :ound matters in
the country districts the Commits ioner
repl ed that he felt quite certain that as
the question was agitated the people
wouiu become more and more impressed
with the advantages offered them in The
construction OF the boulevard.
In the city everything points to a sue
cesSful ending OF the very thorough can
vass which is being made. The commit
tee in charge has arranged for meeting,
in all the wards OF the city next Friday
evening. Prominent speakers will be
called upon 10 address those who assem-
BILE, and following he addresses an or
ganization will be formed in each pre-
cinct, for the purpose OF not only making
a further canvass, but TO urge upon those
favoring The project the necessity OF vot-
ing upon the question a week from Fri
day.
There is nothing like a concerted move
ment on the part OF those who stand in