The record-union., 1897-06-25

water from the ditch to the opposite side
of the road. These under drains may be
made of terra-cotta pipe or of stone, as
the circumstances will best subserye
economy
Where the readbed rests upon a stone
foundation, the drains should be cut
into the stone and SO covered that no
earth can drop into the drain. The
drain pipes should be given such grade
as to discharge freely any sand or ma
terial that it may be desirous of passing
through them. The outlets of the drains
should be so protected as to do no dam
age TO the road bed by washing the
slope below the same. No water should
be permitted to flow past the under
drains, and each drain pipe should be
proportioned to carry all the water
safely from the roadbed.
We are convinced that should
this plan be adopted the great damage
wrought by storms would be thing of
| the past and the extra expense of in
itiating the system would soon be re-
turned by a reduction in the cost of
maintenance
crossings and foundations for bridges
has forced us to the conclusion that all of
this character of structures should when
rebuilt be constructed in stone work.
An abundant supply of stone is adjacent
to the site of nearly every culvert,
bridge and ravine crossing. This stone
should be broken and laid in dry wall
and fill upon a solid foundation. The
| length of the bridges can be materially
shortened by q proper system of rock
work which will serve as a lasting foun-
dation for wook work to rest upon.
We recognize the fact that masonry
would be the best material with which
to construct culverts, bridges and ra-
vine crossings, but the appropriation at
hand will not justify the undertaking of
| this work at the present time. Fifty
eight miles of road with no less than
sixty bridges, culverts and ravine cross
ings to repair and at the same time keep
the roadbed open to travel is no small
task, and wecannot expect to accomplish
more than is absolutely necessary to be
done with the appropriation made for
this purpose by the last Legislature.
We therefore advise you to expend as
lllllc IllOHey DIS DOSSlll1S OIl llit AAAAPioNS
ment of the roadbed for the coming fiscal
year, and to direct your attention par
ticularly to the repair of bridges, cul-
verts and raVine crossings, gradually
replacing the old structures with ma
terial as lasting and permanent as the
conditions will permit.
The rock work should be brought to
such an elevation as to permit of a
wood superstructture where the length
of the bridge is necessary for the same.
An abundance of timber is at hand TO
supply the stringers for bridges as well
as flooring where deemed necessary.
1t is to be hoped that by this proceed
ure you will be justified in expending
the amount of money appropriated for
the fiftieth fiscal year in the improve
ment of the road bed in the line of our
recommendations heretofore set forth.
We hold the members of this commits
sion ready at any time to render all the
assistance possible to the Commissioner
of the Lake Tahoe wagon road. We
regard the rOad as one of the most i'm
portant in the State and one that de-
serves the exercise of the very best of
skill in good road building. This road
above all others in California is des-
tined to be the line of travel for pleas
ure seekers who seek the cool and re-
freshing summer climate of the Sierra
Nevada Mountains. Its course is re-
plete with scenery from its beginning
to its terminus. 1t traverses a country
noted for its small valleys and verdant
pastures, where many of our thrifty
stock raisers drive their herds to feed
during the summer months 1t is the
connecting highway over which must
pass the inhabitants of the one State
to the other who travel by wagon or
other vehicles. 1t is a road over which
the bicyclist may pass without fear of
excessive grades, and possessing all
these important functions, we therefore
regard it as of sufficient Importance to
justify the State in it's maintenance.
We would particularly advise you to
replace the poorly constructed wooden
culverts with salt glazed terra Gotta
pipe where stone work cannot be used.
These pipes should be laid not less than
two and a half or three feet below the
surface of the road bed, with earth
we'll packed or tamped around the pipe
so as to insure perfect protection. The
joints should be laid in cement mortar,
consisting of one part cement and two
of sand After the pipes are in place
care should be taken that the head or
inlet of the pipe shall be open and free
from obstruction. To this your road
tender should give special attention.
Build your culverts when composed
Of rock work narrow and deep rather
than wide, thus avoiding all wood work
possible and when the conditions will
permit make the covering Of culverts
and drains of stone work well covered
with earth for a road bed.
We would advise that the pipes and
rock culverts have fall or slope of not
less than one-fourth inch to the running
foot.
We will be pleased to advise with you
regarding the best method of restoring
the old road bed to its former condi-
ton, and hold this department ready to
give you all the assistance possible. We
take pleasure in acknowledging your
kindness to US during the tour of ex-
animation and the valuable informa-
ton obtained regarding the road
through your familiarity with the same.
We have every confidence in your de-
termination to render the State good
and valuable service and trust that
your work will justify our anticipa-
tions.
Real Estate Transfers.
r-bo FoI1o11y;Do deedS have haen re-