The record-union., 1897-01-15

I've III uldaiy ways ut 81 WOiut1S
behind all other civilized countries In
the matter of roads. We subscribe
Iavishly to endow colleges, to erect
magnificent public buildings, and tax
ourselves without a murmur TO buy
and beautify parks; but the roads
leading TO and surrounding these evi-
dences of our public spirit are some
times well nigh untrav velable, and
hardly ever what they should be. The
report Of the commission contains
many half-tone pictures of roads good
and bad, with ample explanation in
the letter press. The book should be put
in some shape that would invite gem
eral perusal.
THE REVENUE BILL
Stockton Independent: The work of
preparing a new revenue bill proceeds
in the same old way of the conteading
representatives of various industries
advocating and opposing protective
duties. As usual, also, the dealers and
Importers are opposing in greater or
less degree the efforts of the producers.
and the Committee ON Ways and
Means must wade through the mass of
conflicting evidence and argument to
~ W SiS u utAi- = iAiSi SNASAN NAAN'efAA
stances it cannot be expected that any
tariff arranged in such haste can be
even nearly perfect The only wonder
is that those that have been made in
the interest of protection have not been
more imperfect. If producers would
call a protective tariff convention and
in 1T do the work that is now being
done before the Congressional Conn
mjttee it would probably produce a re-
port that would present a more equit-
able tariff than any that has hitherto
been made.
BEET SUGAR.
Dixon Tribune: A sugar factory With
a capacity of 1000 tons of beets daily
consuming the product of 5000 to TO-
0O0 acres, will expend annually in the
neighborflood of $700, 900 for wages and
payment for beets, fuel, etc. Such a
plant costs about half a. million dol
lars and furnishes directly or indirectly
steady employment to 800 men the year
around, exclusive of the beet-growers.-
Rural Press.
Northern Solano has an even greater
area which has been demonstrated to
be fir'st-class beet land and would re-
quire a factory of at least the capacity
of the one mentioned above. Conceive
what a benefit such an institution
would be to our languishing commu-
nifty. If those who would profit most
by the new industry would bestir them
selves to interest capital in the project
a glorious future would be assured to
this section.
THE NEWSPAPER.
Stockton Record: A newspaper is an
impersonal thing having life, thought,
emotion and design. 1t is all nerves
without corresponding structure. Every
branch of its imponderable system is
sensitive feeler that detects and tests
according to its own capacity the hu-
man thoughts and emotions that consti-
tute whatever there is of veal or woe
for humanity in everyday life. 1t
touches the mind and hearts of the peo-
pie and from the touch draws whatever
of inspiration it manages by a complex
kind of assimilation to convert into IN
fluence, prestige and confidence.
RAILROADS IN CALIFORNIA.
Kern Echo: Railroads are necessary
to the development of a country. With
out railroads California would be fiat
ON her back, meta aphorically speaking,
and so would every other State in the
Union. But probably California would
suffer more should she lose her railroads
than any other State or Territory be-
cause she produces so much more than
she can use What brings prosperity is