The San Francisco call., 1897-11-24
GAINING FRIENDS
FOR TIE ROAD
Result of the Campaign
for the Sacramento
Boulevard.
Sentiment in Gu lying Dis
triCtS Largely in Favor of
the Project.
Good Roads Committees Find Few
Opposed to the Model
Highway.
Special Dispatch to THE CALL


of some of the people in The vicinity of
Gait toward the Folsom boulevard project,
if correctly reported, is beyond the un-
derstanding of those who are engaged in
making this fight for progress, and, incl
Gentally, to save the good name of Sacra-
m ento. The reports from that section are
not as unanimous as they might be; in
deed, the impression now prevails that
should the vote be taken tomorrow a
bare majority would be found on the
right side No one seemed able to ac-
count for this remarkable state of affairs,
so The CALL corresp ndent sought an in
terview wi Don Ray Of the firm OF
Whitaker & Ray, who are very much in
terested i'll the affairs of the people in the
southern portion of the county Nj. Ray,
when asked how the people of his section
stood, replied:
what the feeling is. The farmers around
here have been very busy, and l do not
believe that they have gwen the matter
much thought"
When asked if it was true that his firm
was against the project lie said:
1--WE have not expire ssed ourselves to
any ono, and whatever you have heard
has been based upon nothing said by US.
The Folsom Road Comm ssioners sent
word to me and asked If l would arrange
for meeting here, and l did so. | have
attended to the posting of their notices,
and in other ways have informed the
people that the meeting was going to be
held, and for their own information and
profit they should turn out and hear what
the speakers had 10 say. If there has
been any one speaking for the people of
Gait on this matter they have done so
without authority, and have had no right
to give private opinions as public ones.
When the proposition is presented t o us
and we hear what there is to be said the
minds of our people will then be made
up, and l VIII then be able TO tell you
what the sentiment is. Until that time
comes neither myself nor any one else
can do so. l have received great many
letters from my friends in Sacramento
and | have told them all that would do
my best toward getting the people out al
the meeting they are going to hold, and
when they do come out | think you need
have no fear of the people OF Gait taking
a view different from that OF other tax
payers of Sacramento COUNTY"
Such express sions from Mr.. Ray will
have tendency to destroy the effect of
the reports heretofore circulated, and
which placed Gait IN the procession.
David Reese OF Sheriff Johnson's office,
who has for many years been a resident of
Florln and who drives our to his home
ever evening, said TO The CALL corre-
spondent:
Every day that passes brings new sup
porters 10 the Folsom road proposition
The people out my wav were not very en-
thusiastc about 1t at first, but since they
have been talking the m after over ard the
map in Sundays CALL demonstrated that
in al! probability the road would be ex-
tended through that section the sentiment
| has grown very strong, and l believe that
before election time the vote Will be all
right around Florin. | have talked to a
reat many peop.e and | find that to be
the trend OF public sc ntiment."
DR.. Mckee of Elk Grove, IN reply to a
question by IHE CALL cores poade dent, said
tDat no particular canvass had been made
in his locality, and uni. there was no one
could tell how the vote was going.
Sup "rvisor Jenkins from that locality
was outspoken in opposition to the
sch eme. He said:
''If the State wants to build road let it
60 ahead and build il, but for the county
10 contribute toward it and then give up
all control of the road is a concession |
VIII not favor nor vote for"
Mr.. Jenkins proclaimed that il the Ques-
tion was defeated in his locality he would
be pleased to take the credit for 1t. Elk
Grove Will be good battlefield for the
contention which IS now being waged in
Sacramento County between progression
and siIurianism. Last nights meeting of
the highway board was we'll attended. and
" hen the vote was taken but few were
fDV nd md : h. II
not favor OF sust aiming the fair name of
Sacramento County. This board is doing
great work.
The Evening Bee voices the sentiment
OF the people here in the following edi-
toriaI OF its last issue:
The Bee desires to make Acknowledgement
before the people OF tie entire State o. the
public spirit " hich the Department of High
ways, as represented by CoInmiss toner's Mars
den Manson, J. K. Price and w. L. Asne is
showing In the cam paign for the State high
way from this city to Folsom These gentle
men are doing telling work for this project
Ihey nave started forth to speak to the tax
payers OF the county and to show them that
their interest lies In making possible the con-
strucuon of this twenty-mile stretch of model
road. Strictly speaking, they did not need 10
turn hand in this campaign; the work which
they are performing is not set down as part of
their official duties. But with an enthusiasm
which IS refreshing TO behold in a depart
ment OF the State Government-as re-
freshing, we might add, as it is un-
usual-the HignwAy Commissioners have
jumped into the breach. and are battling for
the road night and day, regardless of weather
or personal comfort. Gne construction of the
tolsom highway is not a matter of local con-
Germ alone-1t is a movement in which the en-,
tire Stale has an interest, or we thoroughly
believe It's construction vii! mean the start of
an era OF good roads throughout the State So,
much as this county VIII owe in gratitude 10
commissioners Manson. Ashe and Price II the
road becomes reality, the debt will not be
alone on Sit will be the debt of the entire
State. The Bee commends these enthusiastic
aud intelligent gen tie men to he M ST. cordial
treatment and most though full atteulion of
those taxpayers among whom they viii move
during the next two weeks in the interest of
the Folsom highway.