The record-union., 1897-03-30
THE .sMODEL ROAD BILL SIGNED.

The Governor has approved the bill
providing for model State road from
the city of Sacramento to Folsom
Prison. The measure is defensible from
a State point of view only on the
ground that it is to be an object lesson
for all the State, and for that reason it
Is fully warranted. New York took pre-
cisely the same action three years ago
in building several three emile stretches
of roadway in several different places
as models of good road building for
instruction of county officials.
In this instance the State gives no
money to the work. But the road me-
tai and all the granite for culverts and
bridges is to be contributed By the
State works at Folsom. This means
about 40 per cent. of all the cost. AS
the road will involve a total expense of
about $4,000, including the stone
bridges, one of which will have to be a
very large and secure affair, the money
to be raised by the people will be about
$50, 600
The single and only question is, how
shall this be done? Our idea is that it
should be a general county charge. 1t
is perfectly clear that there is not
section in the county that Will not be
benefited by the construction. 1t will
enhance assessable values more than
enough to equalize in taxation the cost
<~f he y = I.
possible beginning that can be made
for good roads system throughout
the county and will attract more atten-
tion 10 the county than any other work
possible to us at this time.
But if this proposition meets with any
considerable pposition-though if sub
mitted to vote we are confident it
would carry overwhelmingly-the the
money must be raised by popular sub
scription. Last spring some $1,000 was
subscribed in this city and some $4,000
outside the city for such a purpose as is
now to be achieved. But the country
subscriptions were fully two thirds in
the form of work and use of teams
Under the new conditions, only por-
ton of such subscriptions will be avail
able. The work is to be done by con-
tract, and contractors cannot handle all
volunteer labor by one day, two days,
three days work and by differ
ent people to any sort of advantage.
The correct method now is to raise all
the money and pay for the labor as
work proceeds, and of course farmers
and workers in the county who wish
employment viii be preferred
The law provides that three Commits
sioners are TO be appointed Immediately
who are to serve without salary. and
are to watch the work as it proceeds
and see to it that it is done according
to specifications; that they are to re-
port to the next Legislature what the
cost of grading comes to- what the cost
of preparing the earth superstructure
and cost of rolling; of placing first lay
err of stone and of rolling it; cost and
method of placing the second course
of stone and rolling it; cost of placing
the finish and rolling it. This includes
the methods and cost of grading, Shout.
dering, of draining. of constructing cul-
verts and of building bridges
All the facts are then to be reported
to the Legislature. so that the State
will be in possession of every item and
detail of method and cost of construct
ing a model macadam road on that
basis of information, it will be able to
act regarding other road construction.
and TO furnish all the counties with Off
cial data for economic good road build
ing.
Three things are therefore essential;
first, that dhe road shall be the very
best that can be constructed; second,
that it shall, with that end of complete
ness in view. be built at the lowest pos
sible cost; third, that K shall conform
to the highest and best experience of
man in road building.
1t will be seen, therefore, that ii must
have as a part of its outfit what every