The record-union., 1897-05-25
Weather Forecast.
Northern California-Cloudy Tuesday
resh westerly winds.
THE PROPOSED MODEL ROAD.

The prompt organization of the COM
mission for the construction of the
model road to Folsom has been the sub
ject of general and congratulary COM
ment among the people the last two
days. There is on all sides expression
of hope that there will be no unneces-
sary delay in pushing the work. OF
course that is desirable, but the great
er essential is that it shall be what
the law calls for, "A model road" a
road that is to be exhibited to the
next Legislature as a model Of road
construction"
It is not to be an ordinary county
stone road. Under the Act that could
not be accepted; it is to be a State
property and hence the law must be
complied with to the letter. Already
there has been some talk of economy
and saving cost in its construction in
various ways; that is, citizens have de-
bated How cheaply can it be built;
how cheaply can it's designs be prepar
ed and adopted?' That is well enough
in one sense, but the first questions,
those preceding all other considerations,
are How we'll can it be built? What is
a model road?"
Clearly then, while it is not expected
by the State that it will be an ideal
road. yet it is commanded that it
shall stand as an object lesson in eco
in
material used, in planning, in engineer
ing skill put upon it, in method employ
ed in each process, etc. That is what
the law demands when it requires a
report to be made to the Legislature
of each detail of work and of cost.
Hence while economy in every direction
should be conserved, it is to be kept in
mind that economy relatively is GER
tainly meant A cheap road may be a
pretty good one, but by no means a
model, an exampler, a pattern in all
details.
The State Commission, we apprehend
therefore, after it gets its preliminary
survey made so as to approximate es-
Inmates to arrive at the total sum need
ed, will study the history of the very
best roads ever built in this country
1t will naturally wish to consult the
records and experiences Of fine roads
and of builders of model roads else
where and will certainly, as it is alone
responsible for the road endeavor to
deliver to the State a genuine model
road, with the record detail of its plat
ting, grading, bridge work, culvert con-
struction, drainage, paths, varied
characters of soils treated and worked
processes in placing material, and in
rolling, and so on, that California may
have a working model of a permanent
road, one that can always be pointed to
as such.
The commission will therefore nat
urally call to it's aid experience in other
States probably from official records. 1t
will feel that 1t should have all work
done by skill and while conserving
economy it will be disposed to see to
it that the result of its guardianship
is the highest, best possible macadam
road that can be built. That was the
purpose of the law. Anything short
of tha. will be failure.
OF course this county or its people
are to furnish the money. That is a
privilege any other county would be
glad to embrace on similar terms when
1t is considered that the State bears
40 per cent. of the whole cost. That is
to say, Sacramento is to have the best
road in the State 40 per cent. cheaper
than the best that can be built. The
60 per cent, however. will be but a
very small amount after all. 1t Will
probably be somewhere near 100000,
a. sum to this county that is inconsider-
able when all the great benefits to the
whole county of the proposed construc-
ton are taken into account. and the
probable result, namely, that the State
owning it, will thereafter maintain the
road at its own cost. At present main
tenance of the county road in a very
few years costs Sacramento more than
all it is to give for the new permanent
road.