The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-29
AN APPEAL FOR THE ROAD.

Recurring to the subject of the Yo-
built by the United States Government
through its own property into Yosemite
Valley, the Record Union has in prep
aration a petition addressed to Congress
which it will ask every bicyclist in the
State to sign and every bicycle club in
California to officially indorse.
We apprehend that there viii not be
a single declination to do this. There are
125,000 wheelmen in California, every
one of whom is deeply interested in the
good roads question, and every one of
whom is entitled to have access to the
Yosemite Valley over a good wagon road
whenever they choose to roll to the floor
Of the valley on their wheels. With such
a road built it is probable that seven
tenths of the wheelmen of the State
would visit the valley within year after
the completion of the highway.
There are no classes of men in the
State more deeply interested in good
roads than farmers and wheelmen. Such
a road as is proposed would serve them
especially, as an object lesson and a
stimulant to good road building gener-
ally. 1t is not a matter of course that
the proposed road shall be of macadam,
for it happens that true trap does not
exist in large quantities in the upper
Sierras, the formation being slate and
granite, neither of which are suitable.
But splendid permanent road can be
built at less cost than for stone, since
the ground is generally hard and of a
character especially adapted to such
work, while granite is of the best ma
terial for bridges, cuIverts and retain
ing walls.
The cost of the proposed road at
greatest will be to the Federal Govern
ment but a song. Its great national for
est reserve in the heart of the Sierras
extends longitudinally for a distance
equal to one-fourth the entire length of
the State; the Government then is a
large landed proprietor and certainly
does not expect other people to build
roads through its property. This prop
erty belongs, as we have said hereto
fore, to all the people. It is their joint
heritage, and will so forever remain.
They are entitled to have such improve
ment of it as viii conserve its highest
use and their greatest convenience.
The scheme to purchase the old toll
roads leading into the valley, we have
shown already would be uneconomic and
wasteful and should not have common
dation. What the people want and ought
to have is a fine wagon road over which
wagon, buggy or bicycle may be rolled
with comparative ease, leading from a
connection at some point with the State
greatest natural wonder, and most ma
jestic and attractive resort on the coast,
and this road should be built by the Fed
eral Government through the property
it owns.
That a petition to that end viii be
signed freely and gladly by the people
of California, the Record Union" feels
assured. and it will therefore give not
only owners of vehicles of all kinds op-
portunity to sign such petition to be
presented to Congress in December, but
il Will be laid open for the signatures of
all citizens and of organized commercial
agricultural. bicycle. driving and other
associations. We invite to the work Of
procuring such petition every friend of
good roads in the entire state