The record-union., 1897-10-14
VOICE OF The PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSION.
State and Coast Opinions on Sub
iects of Living News
Interest.

Riverside Globe: It is hoped that Ca
nadians will cease trembling at the pare
idea Of that old wooden hulk, the yam
tic, proceeding through channels and
rivers and lakes to Detroit for the pur-
pose of becoming a training Vessei LOT
Michigan's naval militia. The 1ahIc
is one of the Oldest boats in our navy
having been built in 1864. Ihe guns
of the Yantic viii have TO be removed
in order to conform to the requirements
of the agreement between the Chlleu
States and Great Britain, limiting the
number of armed vessels on the Great
Lakes.
THE sPRINKLING SYSTEM.
San Jose Mercury: 1t is a singular
fact that Santa Clara County is the
only county in California that possesses
a general road-sprinkling system. From
one end Of the county to the other' d
distance of nearly sixty miles, one may
drive over a broad, smooth hlshWay'
every foot of which is traversed daily
from the opening of summer unth the
beginning Of winter by a sprlnkllns
cart. But this is comparatively a small
norton Of the system, which is being
gradually extended every year. The
Santa Cruz road is sprinkled daily 10
the southern county line, at the sum-
nit of the Santa Cruz range. water
carts daily pass over the most import
ant transverse roads in the valley. On
all the leading highways large water
tanks have been placed at intervals OF
a few miles, and in connection with
many of them watering troughs have
been built. each at sufficient elevation
10 enable horses to drink without being
unchecked Altogether there are about
300 miles of highways in this county
that are regularly sprinkled. Every
year more miles are added TO the sys-
tenn.
Has this system proved success? Ii
has, decidedly, in every respect. 1t is
unnecessary to speak Of the comfort
OF driving over smooth, dustless roads;
that may be taken for granted In this
county road sprinkling is no longer an
experiment The Supervisors have
demonstrated not only that the sprink-
ling system is the only efficient meth
Cd of maintaing public highways, but
that it is the most economical Under
AAASaA SACl1ls NiAC4l a lOdQ Ll<sS OlACC OCC4l
properly constructed the roadbed is
permanent The daily application of
water keeps it firm and compact It
does not have to be practically rebuilt
every year. The innumerable loads of
gravel or crushed rock formerly used
annually to keep the roads in repair
have been dispensed. with. A touch
here and there in the spring and fall
is all that is required. Through the
agency of the sprinkling cart the roads
keep themselves in repair.
RURAL MAIL DELIVERY.
San Jose Herald: The Government
proposes to extend the system of free
rural mail delivery in California. This
is due to the encouraging results of the
first experiment at Campbell in this
county There are numerous other sec
tions in Santa Clara County where the
system would work equally well. No
other county in the State is so we'll pre-
pared for such a business facility.
The reason for that is that no other
county has so dense a rural population
or roads good enough to make free de-
livery convenient the year around. In
most other country neighborhoods in
California the mail carrier would have
TO cover an extent of country altogeth-
er out Of proportion to the weight of
his mail bag, and in the winter he
would be lucky if he and his team could
escape being stalled in the mud In
Santa Clara County no such contin-
gencies have to be considered.
This simple fact that Santa Clara
County was the first place selected by
the Government to test the feasibility
of rural mail delivery is one of the best
possible advertisements for the county
The man who is looking for a place to
settle will comprehend, first, that a
mail delivery at the door is one induce
ment, and secondly, that where such a
system prevails the neighborhood prom
ises sundry conveniences of rural life
With such delivery is naturally asso-
ciated the idea of near neighbors, So
cial advantages, good schools and
churches, and good means of commu-
nication.
WOOL AND FREE TRADE.
Los Angeles Express: Last fall wool
under free trade policy was so cheap
and dull that sheep men In many in
stances did not shear the f1ocks In
July there were half a million pounds
of old wool stored for sale in Southern
California. Since then the fall clip has
been taken off the sheep, amounting tc