The herald., 1897-10-21

orchards and fields, the discomfort from
Crime and dirt is almost intolerable.
while the orchards that skirt the road
way are black with soil, and the teams
that draw the loads struggle along
against fearful odds, though drawing
hardly half the weight carried so cas-
lily along the sprlnkled highway
ECONOMY IN ROAD REPAIRING
Surely il what is worth doing at all
IL worth doing we'll, then the policy of
sprinkling our roads needs no further
argument. There is no way of keeping
our roads in first class condition other
than by use Of the sprinkling wagon, in
this arid region. The method of filling
in ruts or chuck holes. as they are aptly
termed, as soon as formed, is not only
expensive but never gives the satisfac-
tion that sprinkling insures. The sprink-
ling, as before suggested, also serves
other purposes; it precludes dust. Sc
cures clean orchards and charms the
visitors that come to study our condition
and country.
THE ACTUAL COST
1t is surprising how cheaply this work
can be done. One man can sprinkle from
four to six miles per day. l believe the
county expects man to take care Of six
miles. One team can travel from twenty
to twenty-four miles day. This last at
the six-mile space would give four wet
tings day, which properly done will
do fairly we'll. In cities they often count
days run at twenty miles, and count
four miles as the space cared. for, which
gives five wettings a day. The plant
with team and driver costs about 81. so
per day. Thus, after the water is Sc
cured, $3.50 per day will keep six miles
in good condition. This will amount to
SIS month or $500 per year Of eight
months. While this seems large sum,
it will probably give as great return
in actual money, not to speak of the
pleasure it will bring, as any similar out
lay that can be made.
THE METHOD
When wells can be secured, gasoline
engines or windmills can be used to fill
tanks along the roadsides. Often the
water system OF the locality can be made
available, where the pressure will ena-
BILE the man or boy driving the wagon to
fill his tank. The work should. always
be done IN the night. This saves much Of
the speedy evaporation, makes the roads
much pleasanter, as they are not muddy
at all, and the same amount of water
does greater execution. Done in the might
four sprinklings serve very well, and one
cart can certainly do six miles very
we'll. BY sprinkling the main thorough
fares and leading crossroads we can &C.
commodate nearly all at compare lively
small expense. This will reduce travel
and dust on other roads as all will push
for the sprinkled road. Thus all the
roads will be better, all less dusty, all
orchards cleaner.
DO WE NEED A REFORM?
In this county several roads leading
out of Los Angeles are sprinkled. Some
as far as Pasadena or even beyond San
Gabriel are kept we'll sprinkled
and the entire county pays the bills
This seems not just. Ought not each
neighborhood to vote and raise money
for all its sprinkling or else all parts
share equally in proportion to their tax?
Claremont has paid $4,000 in four years
| for road Improvements and has re-
ceived almost no benefit. One mile in
Claremont and three in Pomona would
give a splendid road, and a delightful
driveway to Pomona. Why should we
not have it? We pay for it. Let all our
clubs discuss this question and If we can
arrive at what is equity and. will all
work together we can surely secure the
right thing. Once we have sprinkled
our roads we will never go back to the
old system OF ruts and dust clouds