Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-04-03
CALIFORNIA ROADS.
S1s,ooo,ooo EXPENDED ON THEM IN
TEN YEARS.

No Permanent Result From This Vast Out
lay-Lack of System Causes Waste of
Money-state Bureau of Highways Offers
Suggestions For Improvement.
The bureau of highways of California
has completed very elaborate report of
Its work sii:ae it began operations in
July, 1895, and sent it in to the govern
or. The bureau has ascertained from the
auditors of the various counties the
amount of money spent on roads for the
years 1895 6, inclusive, exclusive of
than road funds and private snbscrip.
tions to encourage road work and finds
that the amount is S17,9l9. 324, that
there remains a very poor lot of roads
generally i'll this state, that the work
has been carried on withOuj method or
system, and recommends definite sys-
tenn of highway construction through
out the entire state To this eEd the
roads should be classified as state high
ways, county thoroughfares and district
roads, the first class to be constructed
by the state as main arteries, the second
by the counties under direction of the
supervisors and the third to serve the
needs of localities.
The bureau further says that there is
scarcely any permanent highway con-
struction in the state and ascrhes this
stateof affairs to work carried on without
method or system and money wastefully
and injudiciously expended. The intro
duction of definite system of highway
construction throughout the state is the
remedy prescribed
Changes and revisions of road laws
are recommended with view TO har-
moniziug conflicting sections, and also
penalties for noncompliance with the
laws; also the reduction of the limit of
taxation from 40 cents to 35 cents per
500 for county highway purposes, and
state levy of one fourth of mill per
81 of total assessed valuation for the
state highway fund. The bureau is of
the opinion that better results can be
accomplished through system and econ
omy with this lesser expenditure than
is now accomplished with the greater
tax levy.
The recommendation for wide tires is
three inches minimum width of tire for
the ordinary farm and road wagon, four
inches for wagons intended for loads
between four and six tons, five inches for
loads more than six and less than eight
tons, six inches for wagons more than
eight tons; law not to go into effect
immediately; after Jan. l, 1899, fine
for having wagons on sale not in con-
formity with the wide tire law. After
Jan. l, 1900, use of wagons not con-
fornlable to the law to be subject to H.
cense.
The bureau favors substitution of
bridges and culverts made of stone, con-
crete or brick for wooden bridges.
Where wooden, steel or combination
bridges are necessary the floors should
be protected by pavement of asphaltum
Or bituminous rock; wooden bridges to
be rooted over; iron and steel parts to be
kept free of rust and painted regularly.
Roads in valleys and rolling country,
generally located along land subdivision
lines, and i'll mountains along old Indi-
an trails, should be located along the
best grade and alignments which the
nature of the country will permit.
Tree planting along the roads is an
other subject treated, and the planting
of different kinds of trees suited to the
requirements of the locality is urged.
Construction and Maintenance of
State Highways. About 4, 500 miles of
road. varying in cost from $500 to
81, 500 per mile.
County Thoroughfare. - The main
road OF each county to serve the general
interest Of the county, constructed under
the direction of the supervisors and to
serve as feeders to the state highways.
District Roads. ds.-Constructed by peo-
pie of particular localities to serve the
immediate necessity; the people to Or
ganiZe themselves into road districts
after the manner of the organization of
school districts and to construct such
roads as they desire
The bureau is of the opinion that the
sentiment for good roads at the present
time is such that the movement must
result i'll the early adoption of definite
system, or no Improvement will be
made for several decades A definite
system must be substituted for the pres
ent haphazard methods. The plan recon-
mended is based on the experience of 9TH
er states and other countries modified by
the conditions peculiar to California.
The adoption of the plan proposed and
the inauguration of the system recon-
monded, together with the minor recon-
mendations, would make the Golden
State the ideal highway community of
thn Arn,.ll