The record-union., 1897-10-05
THE PEOPLE MUST DECIDE.
THEY WILL VOTE ON THE
ROAD BOND QUESTION.
e. e. Barry to Build the Arno
Trestle-Natoma Cross
Road Defeated.

LCSoClNAy lOl ll1ClI Oidl OSlOOCA oNo-
sion all the members were present.
George Nechie was granted permis-
sion to make necessary improvements
to the County road near his place by
enlarging a drainage ditch.
Fred Harvey appeared and asked the
board to make an inspection of his
place, with a view to improving the
road from Gait to New Hope. He rep
resented that immediate action was
necessary to make repairs to the road
and levees in his vicinity, and the
board agreed to make an inspection.
THE FOLSOM HIGHWAY.
G. A. Luhrs addressed the board in
relation to the construction of the Fol-
som highway, referring to the opinion
of District Attorney Ryan TO the ef-
feet that the city could not be compell
ed to pay taxes for it's construction. He
said that subsequently Attorney -Gener-
al Fitzgerald had rendered an opinion
to the effect that the city must pay it's
share of the construction or of bonds,
if voted by the people of the county.
He was assured that the board was
in sympathy with him in the matter,
and it was voted that the District At
torney be asked if he had any further
opinion ON file on the matter.
Mr.. Luhrs asked if, in the judgment
of the trustees, an election should be
held to vote on the question of bonds,
that he be notified, and he would prom
ise that the services of inspectors and
other officers of election be secured
free of expense.
District Attorney Ryan appeared be-
e.. I'D of t1a0 Of
and submitted the opinion of the At
torneyGeneral on the subject of the
power of the Board of Supervisors to
issue bonds for road building.
(This opinion was published in the
Record Union" some days ago.)
Mr.. Ryan, after quoting the Attor-
ney-General's opinion to the effect
that Boards of Supervisors have pow
er to issue bonds for road building, pro-
vided the people vote in favor thereof,
also that cities are liable for their pro-
portion of the debt. and added:
From the above you VIII observe
that upon the question of county bonds
the Attorney General differs with the
views heretofore expressed by me.
I'm view of this opinion, and also of
the fact that the question of the issu-
ance of bonds is one which must be
submitted to a vote of the people be-
fore the board can issue the same, and
further as the proposed work would
be a substantial improvement and of
great benefit to the county, I am not
disposed to insist upon my views as
formerly expressed, but am satisfied to
accede to the views of the Attorney
General.
THE board may submit the question
of the issuance of bonds for the amount
required to a vote of the people. A
two-third vote in favor of the bonds is
necessary. Should this be obtained, the
board can issue bonds. The State will
no doubt purchase the bonds for the
benefit Of the School fund, the Attor-
ney-Genera1 being now satisfied that
the issue would be lawful"
The communication was placed on
file.
Supervisor Morrison said he believed
public sentiment would favor a direct
tax for the building of the Folsom
macadam road. The people could de-
termine which they prefer, the issu-
ance Of bonds or the levying of direct
tax.
Further action was deferred for the
present, but it was understood that an
election will be called
NATOMA CROSS-ROAD.
A. NJ. Johnson appeared before the
board in relation to the opening of the
proposed road through the Natoma
vineyard, from the Placerville road to
Natoma Station. He said the matter
was one of great interest to the pc
titioners, and he hoped the board would
take action on their request.
Supervisor Curtis said it was time
the board took some action in the mat
ter as the petitioners We're persistent
in their request, and the matter should
be settled some way
Most Of the members Of the board
had been up and viewed the ground.
but Supervisor Mclaughlin was not on
the board at that time.
The report of the viewers was read
for the information of Supervisor Nc
Laughlin. 1t showed that the proposed
road would cost over 81 1854. and that
the vineyard company would give the
lease for a road on lines suggested by
it, if the board would pay for fencing
it. The General Manager of the COM
pany also wrote that it would oppose
by all means and to the last resort the
opening of any other road than the Que
offered by it.
Mr.. Lauritson said the road offered
was not what the citizens petitioning
wanted, which was to get to the school
house and Postoffice. AS it is, they
have to go several miles around
Mr.. johnson spoke to the same ef-
feet.
Supervisor Morrison said he was op-
posed to paying such heavy damages
as were asked by the parties to be ben
Gifted by the road asked for. AS re-
CARDS the Natoma company, it would
undoubtedly be a great damage to it,
as it will have to keep the road
''strawed'' in summer to keep the dust
off their grapes. 1t keeps the county
road sprinkled now for that purpose,
and has never asked the board to pay
for sprinkling it. He did not think the
county could afford at present to go to
the expense of opening the road.
Mr.. Johnson said that much of the
road asked for was used now by the
company.
Supervisor Morrison said that might
be true, but the company does not use
it much in grape time, when the dust
would damage the fruit
Supervisors Curtis and Dreman
thought the road would be a great con-
venience to petitioners, but that the
county could not afford at this time
to expend nearly $1,000 in damages for
a road two miles long, besides having
to build the road afterwards.
On motion of Supervisor Morrison,
the prayer Of the petitioners was de-
MED. without cost to them. Curtis voted
in the negative.