The San Francisco call., 1897-11-09
Plans for a MaCadamiZed
Road and Path for. BIZ
CyCle-Riders.
The Proposition to Be Voted Upon
at a Special Bond
Election.
Special Dispatch to The CALL

Sacramento County affords her people.
at the last session of the Legislature an
act was passed which contained the fol-
lowing provision: The highway or wagon
road herein provided for shall be macad-
amiZed, and be built according to the most
approved methods of modern highway
construction" The main purpose of the
act was to demonstrate TO the people of
California what constituted the most ap-
proved method of modern highway con-
struction. To carry out this idea the
Legislature provided that the road should
be built as far as practicable from broken
or crushed rock from the rock crushers at
the Folsom State prison, and direc ed the
prison board 10 supply such crushed rock
together with the necessary granite or
stone blocks from drains, culverts or
bridges, free of cost, or charge. other than
transportation. By reason of this dona-
ton the road when constructed along the
lines provided in the act becomes the
property of the State. To carry out the
provisions of the act a commission of
three members was created TO act in con-
junction with the State Board of High
ways.
Beyond the donation OF the crushed
rock no appropriation was made, and the
cost of construction will tall upon the peo-
pie Of Sacramento County.
The estimates have been made and the
entire cost. including thousands OF shade
trees will be $75 600. To raise this amount
and 10 meet the requirements OF law the
first proposition will be submitted to the
vote OF the people. That it VIII carry by
an overwhelming majority there can be no
doubt
Just think what an opportunity is Of
tered to the people OF Sacramento" said
I. K. Price, the Commissioner of High
ways, to The CALL correspondent this
morning. Il would recommend issuing
the bonds IN denominations OF $500 each,
the payment 20 com menCe at the end of
ten years, redeeming one bond each wear
until the Indebtedness Is cancelled. The
interest CT the So 600 at per cent for the
first year Will be $4,000. That rata OF tax
alton on the taxa Dle property of the cOun-
" up to the tenth year viii be a little
more than .009 AT the end of the tenth
year The first bond viii be paid, which
Will require a tax rate of trlde more than
.03lS on the 500. After the end Of the
tenth year the tax rate will be gradually
reduced, until at the end of the twentieth
year II will be .G236.
THE cost to the county TO maintain q
road constructed on the plan Of the Fol-
som road Will be no less than $2200 allow
ing $400 for repairs and $160C for surinkling.
This amount viii De saved every year by
passing the road to the State. Therefore
1t Is fair TO deduct this from the rate OF the
assessment, for nearly all of 1t Will come
from the general fund OF the county. This
sum IN thirty years Will amount 10 $685.
600. This expenditure would require an
assessment OF two-thirds of a cent per
year on the 500. The bridges which
must be built II the road remains in the
hands OF the county VIII cost not less
than $40, 900 Tor the next few years, if con-
sIrCCted properly, but leaving this last
item out OF consideration the county can
not maintain the present road and sprinkle
IL for less than $1,000 a year. Therefore
the taxpayers, by the issuance OF bonds
will have to increase their taxes only
.0024 on the 500 instead of .O09. The
county would continue to receive the
benefit OF the reduction OF taxes TO the
amount Of $4,000 every yeat as long as the
State cares Tor the road.
This Item alone will pay the interest
on the bonds and leave balance at the
end of twenty years to the credit
OF the road, so that the man who
objects to paying interest may disabuse
his mind OF that fact when consid ering
the bond issue. Ii the county should
gravel the road bed in the next twenty
wears, provided the county refuses to vote
the bonds 1t would cost not less than
$30,OOO II properly done, and then the road
would be OF the ordinary type.
Thus it will be seen that Sacram ento
County has everything 10 gain and moth
ing to lose by building the road in this
manner. Can Sh9 afford to let the oppor-
tunlty pass? l tell you that little tax
Will be saved in blacksm tbs bills and the
wear and tear OF vehicles. l Can see no
reason why 1t IS not paying proposition
for the COUNTY"
The road as designed by the Board of
Highway Commissioners will be one of
the most practicable, beautiful and sub
stantial highways ever constructed. On
the north side, along the line of farm
fences there will be path ten feet wide
hall OF which will be devoted to the use
OF wheelme2. a row of shade trees will
add TO the attraction of this walk.
For the first twenty feet of the road on
the north side there will De a modern
macadamized thoroughfare. Beyond that.
extending TO the path line of the south
side, will be graded dirt or summer road
OF the same width as the macadam.
The advantages of this plan are many."
said Engineer Price. ''In the first place
the macadam road will save the summer
road In winter and the latter will save the
former in the summer time. For pleasure
driving the dirt road during the dry sea-
pleasant and much easier on horses and
vehicles. The grind of a macadam road
In the hot season will be averted and the
cutting up of the dirt road in winter
avoided. We have studied the situation
very carefully and believe we have sug-
gesteG the best plan possible
Ia addition TO the ATTRACTION and COM
fort good road gives there will be other
features which will distinguish this great
thoroughfare from all others in the world
At convenient intervals there viii be
placed granite watering basins, beauti-
fully carved. and so situated that q team
can DO watered without the driver getting
down from his seat. Stand pipes will he !
so placed that the bicycle path can he |
sprinkied for the entire distance. Granife
milestones, with the distances carved |
upon them, will be reared along the line |
of the boulevard. The culverts will be of
granite and the bridges constructed from
everlasting stone.
By the time the road is ready for use the |
new State law requiring wagon tires to be
OF width OF not less Than three inches |
will be iii operation, and thus will the
thoroughfare be preserved from the cut. |
ting OF narrow tires.
At some time during the construction of |
the road 1t Is very probable that a big |
good roads conVsntion will be held in |
Sacramento, and an invitation issued bv |