The record-union., 1897-11-08
A FEW REASONS WHY.

The Folsom road proposition is one of
exceeding simplicity when looked upon
as the economic farmer, the careful
merchant, or the provident wage Garner
would view a matter involving self in
terest.
Let us see. To gravel, maintain, re-
pair. sprinkle and keep in poor order as
has been done for the past four decades,
the road from Sacramento to Folsom,
and to keep up temporary constructions
of wood or iron or steel on said road
such as bridges, culverts and the like,
viii cost more money by far (as has been
demonstrated conclusively in many a
community, than to build a permanent
stone road, with enduring granite
bridges and culverts, with a perfect
grade and correct drainage. by borrow
ing the money on twenty years time to
meet the cost Of the work.
If a taxpayer was shown, that by pay
ing out a given sum yearly to maintain
3 necessary utility, he expends more
@i4A1AGS lAdl IL ItG DOITOA eQ the iilOiiGy
10 build the construction necessary in
proper manner and which when built
would be economic in use and save the
heavy outlay due to the incorrect con-
struction first referred to, he would dub
himself foolish if he refused to borrow
and continued TO pay his annual tribute
TO maintain a work necessary to his
business. but which under such mainte-
nance is inefficient, ancient and uneco-
nomic.
But there is still another consideration.
favor of building the model road quite
as important, namely; the construction
of the road will so enhance values and
contribute to the upbuilding and enrich
nent OF the section traversed that dis
tinct gain will be made by the whole
county since enhancement of assessable
values lowers the tax rate.
But there is still another consideration.
The State offers to pay 40 per cent. of
the cost of building the model road, and
will then take and maintain it, and
there will be just that much more
money in the treasury to devote to the
benefit of other road interests in other
parts of the county.
This Is not all; by accepting the offer
of the State to pay 40 per cent of the
cost of model road--that Is, the cost
of the stone and the granite-sacra-
n,ento Will possess the finest road on
the Pacific Coast, attracting attention
40 this county from far and wide to its
general benefit. In addition TO this fact
immediate tendency to push on good
road construction throughout the coun-
ty generally and to work the abandon
ment Of the present costly uneconomic
and observing roads
Long before the third series OF bonds
are called in the whole county win feel
the beneficial effects Of this model road
Inauguration. Since annual mainte-
nance is the heaviest cost to the county
5n supplying a poor road and keeping 1t
open, to build a highway of the high
est type. the county will save so con-
siderable a sum by the State taking the
maintenance of twenty miles of the chief
county road off of it's hands, that the
taxpayers viii Immediately feel dis
tinct relief who are now taxed to keep
in poor order a most uneconomic high
way.
But It is said that In the extreme east
ern and southern sections OF the county
the people win not favor the proposition
for the bond issue for the model road TO
Folsom. This is a mistake: when the
people in those sections understand the
proposition they win realize that what
ever benefits one section of the county
reflects its beneflcence upon all other
sections.
To say that the whole county is not
interested in the construction of the
first main or trunk road in il. and there
fore all sections not traversed by it
should oppose it, is to say that there
never shall be a good road built in the
county. Had we our way, all streets
should be built at the general cost Of the
try roads should be built ut the gen
eral cost of all the people of all the
county.
That would be justice pure and SIM
pie. We believe the district system TO
be unjust, indeed unmerciful 1t is the
equivalent of saying that the sparsely