The record-union., 1897-02-03

of Mr.. Prices county, and it makes no
showing of good roads commensurate
with it's outlay.
Mr.. Price-Well, we don't want the
lhlng to go under a bureau. These gen.
alelnen want to perpetuate themselves.
MI. Maude says he has worked seven
years in the cause and-wea, he got an
Office and is Bureau Commissioner.
Charles A. Adams. Chairman of the
California Division of the League of
american Wheelmen, said he spoke as
a San Franciscan also. San francisco
would never consent to pay more money
Tor roads to be built by counties out
side. 1t was absurd to ask II. 1t would
suffer to be taxed if the system is under
State control and worked by men OF
skilled competency in road-bulldlng
He spoke for the wheelmen. There are
In his league nearly 10000 of them, and
they are not messenger boys, nor sport
ing men, but citiZens-taxpayers-
terested in the general welfare. The
wheel interest inaugurated the road
agitation. That credit is due it. 1t has
no Quarrels with farmers; on the con-
trary, very many of Wheelmen are rural
lists and they and the farmers have
come to understand one another thor
oughly He said that the Assembly
man from SOnoma, Mr.. Price, had reaG
a letter from large taxpayer opposing
the bills before the Legislature, ana
saving that the present laws are good
enough Well. he would name large
taxpayer of Sonoma, f. K. Lippitt, Who
is in favor of the proposed system, and
voted for resolutions in a public meet
ing favoring it.
There are several groups of organized
wheelmen in Sonoma and he made bold
10 say that they do not hold with Mr..
Price Mr.. Adams dWelt at length upon
the wisdom of all the State contribut-
ing to that which viii benefit all. No
one class owns the roads. None so well
as wheelrnerI who get close down TO the
highway. know what a bad road is,
except, perhaps, Mr.. Horse" He urg-
ed dispa aSsionate consideration OF the
proposed system, and expressed his be
lief that his city, the largest taxpayer
would be favorable to the propositions
in the bills under debate. San Francisco
knows how much it means for all the
State.
Commissioner Maude of the Bureau
of Highways arose to question OF
privilege. Assemblyman Price had as
sailed his motive. The fact was that
seven years ago he began TO study
California road systems and discovered
their faults. He then began an agl-
fation for reform. He had then no idea
of ever having to fill a Bureau position.
He came up to two sessions of the Leg
isla6ure. and labored for road reform In
the interest of his county, san Bernar-
dino He paid his own expenses al
ways and asked no favOrs of any one.
In Sacramento he met worthy workers,
following on the some lines. Finally he
learned that in States that had sue
ceeded, the State had taken hold OF the
work and erected commissions TO study
and better road conditions Then ne
drew the Bureau bill. He staid a whole
session two years ago at the Degisla-
ture and served it free as a consulting
engineer along with Road Engineer
Fairmam. He paid his own expenses.
Thereafter he was given a commission
ership and he was proud of his work.
He had spent far more than he ever
received as salary. He went to the
National Road Convention on his own
account, and expense, for California.
He regretted that row he should be
charged with selfishness. As TO Sonona
County. he wished to call attention to
the fact, ais an instance of the road
system and work there, that one coun-
ty bridge has been built at a cost of
some $1,000, and there it stands as II
long has, with no road 10 or from it,
a monument of local misjudgment and
waste Yet Ire did not compton, of Se-
nona. 1t is all the result Of lack
of tnam amed men in work requiring spe-
cial knowledge abreast with experience
and discovery.
The committee at this point adjourn
ed TO 4 o'clock this afternoon.