The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-19
THE GOOD ROADS LEAGUE.
IT ISSUES A BULLETIN OF ITS
PURPOSES.
What It Wishes to Do and Aims to
Accomplish, Reform Of the
State Road Laws.

The following communication comes
from George A. Newhall, President of
the California Goodroads League, and is
prepared by it's Press Bureau, of which
f. I. Vassault is Chairman:
The gospel of goodroads advances a
strong plea-it speaks to a mans pat
riotism and to his pocket. AS railroad
Will develop the resources of a country
through which it runs and increase the
value of the adjacent property, so good
roads will extend the area of land that
receives the benefit of the rail or water
communication. Each individual profits
by every Improvement in the facilities
for communication, and with the profit
to the individuals comes a profit to the
whole community.
1t is a part of wisdom. therefore. to
strive for improved highways. The
roads of California are not what they
should be. The money that has been
paid for the roads of this State would
have been sufficient to have secured the
best highways in the country had it
been Systematically and scientifically
expended. That this result has not been
secured is partly the result of the meth
DDS employed, and partly the result Of
the laws governing road construction.
In order that there should be an
improvement, and that the people should
receive a more adequate return for the
money paid out, it is necessary that
there should be a change in the road
laws. 1t is one of the most admirable
features of this Government that when
ever the people agree upon any desired
reform, they have but little difficulty in
securing it's enactment into law. But,
in order that there should be this agree
ment. and that it should have effective
expression, there must be organization.
Without organization the friends of a
reform act at cross-purposes and their
strength is lost.
In order to secure such agreement on
the methods by which an improved sys-
tenn of roads is to be secured, the Cali
fornia Goodroads League has been Or
gained. The headquarters of the league
have been located in San Francisco, be-
cause it is from that point that all parts
of the State can be most conveniently
reached, but it is intended that branches
shall be organized in every county and
every principal city and town in the
State. 1t is in these branch leagues that
the effective working strength Of the
league will be found.
One of the first and most important
pieces of work to be undertaken by the
league will be the drafting Of series of
bills to be introduced in the Legislature
embodying it's views as to comprehen-
sive road esystem. In order that these
bills shall be as nearly perfect as pos
sible the views of all those interested in
the subject will be invited. persons who
have made a study of road construction
and road administration will be con-
suited, the road laws of other States will
be studied, and the experience Of those
States examined. From the sinforma-
ton thus obtained bills will be formu-
lated with special reference to the re-
quirements of this particular State
These bills will be printed and widely
distributed in order that there may be
the most thorough discussion.
Supplementing this central work.
there will be what has come to be called
a cam1Gign of education. Special fea-
lures of the question will be discussed
in the columns of the press and in spe-
cial publications by those who have
made close study of them. Meetings
will be held and addresses delivered in
different parts Of the State in order that
those who have not made a study OF
the subject may become familiar with it's
merits. In every legitimate manner the
goodroads sentiment will be fostered and
encouraged.
The work of the league will necessarily
l. +,;,
will be political in the broader sense
Measures will be advocated rather than
men or parties. The league will not in
dorse individual candidates, for therein
lies the danger that its real purpose VIII
be lost and it will be prostituted to per-
sonal ends. But it will actively oppose
those who do not favor improved high
ways, and it will employ every legitl-
mate means to secure the passage ana
approval of it's measures. The league is
well aware that it is inertia rather than
opposition that it must meet, but active
work is necessary to overcome inertia
as we'll as opposition.
The active work to which the league
is now about to devote itself is the or
ganization Of branch leagues. Such
leagues have already been organized IN
Alameda, Sacramento and Sonoma
Counties, and others are in process OF
formation. One member of the Board
of Directors has been elected from each
Senatorial District in the State in order
that he may be means of communlca-
ton between the branch leagues in his
district and the central organization
Each branch league is to be indepen-
dent to determine upon it's own form or
organization, to elect it's own officers and
to conduct it's own affairs. Its connec-
ton with the central league is to be
merely for the purpose Of securing the
cooperation necessary to render the
work of all efficient. The central league,
however, will render any assistance or
furnish any information possible from
it's offices in the Mills Building.