The record-union., 1897-10-16
"Record-Union' to Mr. Lukens.
pasadena News.)

"Record-Union" to Mr.. Lukens.
pasadena News)
Ex-Mayor t. P. Lukens Of this city,
whose fondness and familiarity for the
mountains is well known, had an article
in the News" last week dealing with
the proposition of petitioning for the
building of Government road into Yo-
semitic Valley instead of the Govern
ments buying the private roads already
built. Mr.. Lukens thinks all four roads
are needed, and that the Government
can appraise and buy the roads at the
actual cost of construction. Knowing
the Sacramento Record Unions" ia
miliarity with the subject, we sent Mr..
Lukens' article to that paper and ask
ed that it be reviewed. This is done
by that paper in its usual logical forci-
BILE style in an editorial of over a col
umn's length.
Regarding the insufficiency Of one
road and the opening of the Tioga road
as outlined by Mr. Lukens, the Rec
ord-Union" says:
tAIl this is plausible, but fatally
weak Conceding, for arguments sake,
that it is true, as Mr.. Lukens asserts,
that the four roads can be purchased
for what it will cost to build new
one, it still does not present the matter
Of a good road in more economic light.
No one ever knew anything to be sold
to the Government so cheaply that too
much was not paid for it. After the
Government shall have purchased the
four roads, what then? Win we have
any better means of access to the val
ley than now?
No The idea Of the purchase pro-
moters is to put four roads into the pos
session of the Government for the ben
EFT of private purses, with the vague
hope, perhaps, that the Government will
improve four roads, and make them
what is needed, models. No one familiar
with the policy of the Federal Govern
ment viii be deceived by such a plea.
The Government is not going to con-
struct four model roads into the valley.
It is not going to build any road beyond
the bounds of its reservation. 1t is not
going to build roads for California to
open routes over the mountains for
its commerce. 1t never has done any
such thing. 1t has built outside of its
own possessions in one or two in
stances for post and military purposes.
But in these railroad days it no longer
does even that.
The Lukens argument assumes that
Hn IN,
grade and general suitableness, which
81 sadly erroneous. It assumes that if
the Government should buy the four
roads it viii have purchased something
valuable. whereas. the fact is that
within the forest reservation the roads
are on Government land, which has not
been granted away If it buys, there
fore. it buys what it already owns.
But suppose the Government buys
the four natural roads lying within its
own property boundaries, and thereafter
roads beyond and within the jurisdic-
tion of California are abandoned neg
lected, or otherwise decline, what then
has the Government better than it has
now? Wherein viii the people have
benefted?"
Regarding Mr.. Lukens position that
one road might cause some people to
go $50 miles out of their way to get in.
This, the Record Union" thinks. cuts
no figure in the matter, as what the
people want is one good, high-class
model, macadamized road, and not four
streaks OF dust and mud.
Even if these four toll roads are
bought by the Government, the Rec
ord-Union" says the Government would
hardly maintain them. The Govern
ment. of course, is not expected to build
farther than across its own reservation
that is ALL about sixty miles in length
Our Sacramento contemporary speaks
with some heat regarding any opposi-
ton to so eommendable a proposition
and says that the reason why Califor-
MIA does not get more from the Govern
ment is because there is always divis-
ion, dissension and opposition, no mat
ter how commendable a matter may
come UP. It appeals for unity Of action
in this matter.
The News" assures the Record
Union" that Mr.. Lukens' article was
neither written nor published to hinder
the advancement of the Yosemite Val
ley, but rather in a sincere desire tc
bring out the fullest discussion at this
time and arrive at safe conclusions in
the premises. We think the Record
Union" has fully maintained its posi-.
ton as being the right one to push, and
We appeal to all to sign the petition foi
the Government construction OF d
high-elass road on low grades. aocessl.
BILE TO all the people into natures mag
nifieent western wonderland
The petition is on the counter of tbs
News" Office. Let it be signed and lei
us al pull together in this matter.
The most efficacious srimulant to ex-
cite the appetite are DR.. Siegert's An
gOStura BltrerS Rnuara of counter