The herald., 1897-04-21
Evening Session

| JONAN NNN w svV ~
Evening Session
The convention reassembed at 1880
| o'clock. Chairman Field called the meet
ing to order and stated the general sub
| ject for the evenings discussion to be
Roads"
Mr.. Armour of Orange being called
| upon, under the head of County
Bridges. Culverte, and Experience With
Asphalt Covering" read an interesting
paper on the work as done in his county.
He showed the advisability and satis-
factory results. The convention was
| much interested in Mr.. Armours report
and asked many questions as to cost,
durability, etc. Further discussion was
had, remarks being made by Messrs.
McFatridge of Napa, Ayers of Santa
Clara and Enright Of Santa Cruz.
County Roads-Results Obtained by
Using Sand and Adobe" was the next
question for discussion. Mr.. Davis of
Los Angeles opened with description of
road making with alkali adobe and fine
sand, which he has found even better
for the purpose than all gravel, to say
nothing of the decreased expense by U.s.
ing the adobe and sand Eight inches
of adobe is covered lightly with sand.
J. M. Cooley of San Bernardino reported
that he had laid two miles of road with
q red clay, that had packed and re-
mained as smooth as pavement for
years. H. c. Thompson of Riverside
gave his experience with cheap road
making, using clayey soil with satisfac-
ton at the cost Of about $50 for one
fourth mile. Mr.. Hemphill of San Joa-
quin inquired about the quality of adobe
used by Mr.. Davis, claiming that ne
could not work the adobe of his county
in a like manner. The chairman re-
ferred to the necessity of under-drain-
ing to keep the water away from the
road. Mr.. Aver of Santa Clara could
not build roads without rock in his coun-
| ty. The experience of road ov5rseers
being requested. H. Hosmer Of Sierra
Madre made q few pertinent remarks
to the effect that road work varies so
greatly in different districts that 1t was
difficult, IL not impossible, to apply
general rule. He understood foothill
work, but did not pretend to understand
work in the lower valley.
The next question for discussion was
the contract system as compared with
per diem work. Mr.. jenkins of Sacra-
mento gave an account OF contract
work on the roads in his district. Mr..
Henderson of San Joaquin favored the
contract system as buGness proposi-
ton, especially under the new road law.
Mr.. Thompson of Riverside referred to
width of roads for rural districts. He
favored twenty-four feet, which could
be made for about half that of thirty
foot road. The cost was 500 per mile
Mr.. Thompson did not have any road
overseers in his district. He went out
with the workers himself and remained
with them from November until April.
Mr.. Woodward of Los Angeles gave
some account OF road work in his dis
trict. He was satisfied that his work,
done by the day, in charge of overseers,
had been large saving in expense over
| the contract system.
The subject of the best methods of
sprinkling roads was opened with pa
per by Mr.. Aver of Santa Clara, who
explained the system pursued in his
county. They have a sprinkling and
pipe outfit, valued at $150,00O. Nearly
500 miles Of road Is kept sprinkled The
water Is stored In tanks at certain dis
tances apart. The expense is consider
able, but it paye. Mr.. Jenkins Of Sacra-
mento sprinkles adobe roads with good
results and saving of water as the soil
does not require 1t. Mr.. Davis of Los
Angeles stated the method pursued in
this county in sprinkling roads. For
raising the water there is attached to
each water tank one-horse power gaso-
line engine. The time required to fill a
line engine. The time required to fill q
minutes
-"The Use Of County Roads by Electric
and Steam Cars" was the next topic, the
discussion being opened by highly in
teresting and valuable paper by Mr..
Mitchell of Alameda. He treated the
subject In all its bearings, showing the
advantage of electric suburban railways.
Even when the lines run over the county
roads The result In Alameda county
has been eminently satisfactory. The
only objection is the trolly wires in the
county and the frightening of teams, but
this objection could be overcome by
the conduit system. He referred to the
new motive power, compressed air, as
originated and successfully operated In
Berlin and Washington and said that
there were well-founded rumors that the
electric railway companies in his section
WOulu cnduSe 10 tne compressed alr SyS-
tenn If experiments now being made
prove successful Mr.. Mitchell also said
that 1t Is the opinion in his county that
1t would be much better in granting
franchises to electric lines to have the
lines run parallel to and 200 to $50 feet
distant from the public highway through
private property, which, under the laws
of the state could be condemned for the
purposes of the railroad and damages
fixed by the courts. This would not OBJ
struct or damage the highway. Steam
cars should not be permitted to uee the
public highway. Electric railways have
increased travel about four times be-
tween given points. He believed in the
announcement of electric railways with
the least possible obstruction to other
travel Where necessary to use the
highway, single track and switches
should be used II the roadway is not a
good width. He favored the plan of
paralleling the highway on private prop
erty.
An adjournment was here taken until
this morning at 8 o'clock.
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