Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-01-28
CALIFORNIA ROADS.
s1Soaa.060 EXPENDED on THEM
N TEN YEARS.
No PERMANENT RESULT FROM THIS
VAST oI-TLAY-LACK OF SYSTEM
CAUSES WASTE OF MONEY.

I CAUSES WASTE OF MONEY.
The bareau Of highways Of California
f has c5ur.etei a very elaborate report OF
is wo-k since It began operations IN
Jz,~ 1855, std sent Il in TO the govern
- Tn bureau has ascertaiped from the
auditors q the various counties the
aro1rt 4 money spent on roads for the
wears 1855. inclusive, exclusive OF
+ many payments fer bridges out Of other
than road funds and private snbscrlp-
tens to encourage road work. and finds
that tie amount Is 81, 9le, 32i, that
there remains very poor lot OF ROADS
generally in this state. that the work
has bean carried On without method or
system. and recommends a definite sys-
tam q highway construction through
CIT the entire state. To this end the
reads should be classified as state high
WAYS. county tho-oughtares and district
roads, ,ae tr~t class TO be constructed
r. ~ size - main arteries, the second
u The counties under direction Of the
supervisors and the third TO serve the
needs Q: localities
The bureau further says that there Is
scarcely az! permanent highway CON
st-uct2cn in the state and ascrlhes this
ststeC q affairs towork carried on without
method OF svstem and money wastefully
AID In,udlciously expended. The into
cuctiou q definite system OF highway
construction throughout the state is the
remedy prescribed
Changes and revisions Of road laws
are recommended with a view to har-
uonlzlEg conflicting sections, and also
penalties 20 D0lcoI p.ianCe with the
laws: a.@o i5= redIct.Cn q the limit OF
taxation from 20 cents to So cents per
go tx ccl1-y highway purposes, and
a state levy q cDa-talrth Of mill per
s. c: to.a. ass ssed valuation for the
state highway fund The bureau is Of
the oyIu.cu that better results can be
aeon Z l5-.s. tz-Each system and econ
omy with TINS lesser expenditure than
Is now accomplished with the greater
tax levy.
Iae recommendation for wide tires j.
tbree Iurres minimum width Of tire tar
tEe u-G.uary :aru ana ROAD Wa Il, fear
inches il. wagons Intended for ioals
between t5Ir l.ad * tons. FIVE inches far
loads more taau tx and las than eight
tons, SIX laCaas fer wagons more than
eight tons: law not to g into effect
immediately; after Jan. /, 1899, fine
for having wagons on sale not III cen
formIty with the wide tire law After
Jan. /, 1900, use OF wagons not con-
l, Il, J. l,
cense.
The bureau favUrs substitution Of
bridges and culverts made OF stone, con-
crete or brick for wooden bridges
Where wooden, steel or combination
bridges are necessary the floors should
be protected by pavement Of asphsltum
or bituminaus rock; wooden bridges to
be rooted over, iron and steel parts to be
kept free Of rust and painted regularly
Roads in valleys and rolling country,
generally located along land subdivision
lines. and IN mountains along old Indi-
an trails, should be located along the
best grade and alignments which the
nature of the country will permit.
Tree planting along the roads is an
other subject treated, and the planting
Of different kinds Of trees suited TO the
requirements Of the locality is urged.
Construction and Maintenance Of
State Highways, About 4, 500 miles Of
road. varying in cost from $500 to
81. 500 per mile.
County Thoroughfare - The main
road Of each county to serve the general
interest Of the county, constructed under
the direction Of the supervisors and TO
serve as feeders TO the state highways.
District Roads. -Constructed by PEG.
pie Of particular localities to serve the
| immediate necessity; the people TO or
game themselves into road districts
after the manner of the organization OF
school districts and to construct such
roads as they desire.
The bureau Is CT the opinion that the
sentiment for good roads at the present
time is such that the movement must
result IN the early adoption Of a definite
system, or no improvement will be
made for several decades a definite
system must be substituted for the pres
ent haphazard methods. The plan recon-.
mended Is based on the experience of 9th.
er states and other countries modified BY
the conditions peculiar TO California
The adoption Of the plan proposed aud
the Inauguration Of the system recon-.
mended, together with the minor recon-
mendauons, would make the Golden
State the ideal highway community Of
the world.