The record-union., 1898-12-07
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions on SUBJ
jects Of Living News
Interest.

of the forests is a task that will de-
volYe upon the new Legislature, by
the enactment of strict laws and pro-
visions for executing them vigorously.
This is matter that interests the
farmers and fruit growers ever more
vitally than the owners of timber land,
for the preservation of the forests
means the conservation of California's
water supply.
RAILROAD BUILDING.
Oakland Enquirer: A sign of the
times is request made by the Illinois
Railroad and Warehouse Commission
for power to prevent the building of
unnecessary railroads. Illinois has a
greater mileage of railroads than any
other State, and the Commissioners say
the territory is so thoroughly gridiron-
ed that the construction Of more roads
is likely to be an evil rather than
benefit, and at any rate they advocate
that laws should be passed placing en-
tirely in the hands of the commission
the discretionary power to pass upon
the advisability of the construction of
any new road, thereby preventing the
speculator from playing upon the cred
ulity of the public by placing upon the
market bonds issued for the construc-
tion Of a railroad which can never pay
its operating expenses.
A POINT OF TASTE.
Portland Oregonian: It is, we think.
matter rather more than questionable
in point of taste that Colonel Roose-
yelt, Lieutenant Hobson and others,
with some claims to heroship, should
undertake to write out for publication
in popular magazines, accounts of their
doings in the Spanish war. 1t would
certainly be far more modest and be-
coming If these gentlemen were to leave
| to others the task of recording their
| acts Of special courage or distinction.
/ The fact that the articles now being
! heralded in advance by the loudest ad-
vertising methods are paid for at a
heavy price, only goes to add sordid
| touch to the matter. Admiral Dewey
| Admiral Sampson, General Wheeler
| and General Miles, we take notice, are
not doing any writing for the maga-
zines these days. If anybody has cur
| iosity to learn their estimates of re-
! cent events, reference may easily BE
had to their official reports, which have
not minced matters. Here, in his official
4
his say; and the less writing he does
| for the magazines about himself and
his doings the better will be the opinion
concerning him of all men Of sense
| Admiral Dewey, whose taste and good
sense never desert him, was asked a
short time back to contribute an article
| to magazine on the capture of Ca
| vite at q price Of 5000, and his answer
I<,,<, - Il
| tory declination.
FIRE ESCAPES.
| Alameda Argus: A gentleman sug-
gests to US, anent the Baldwin fire, that
had simple and most effective fire
| escape, in use in some foreign countries,
/ been provided, not a single life need
/ have been lost. AS lad he lived in
| Strasburg, and remembers a factory
/ fire In that city The building was full
| Of people; but they all made their es-
cape without harm or injury. through a
canvas chute, part of the firemen's s
equipment. This chute was attached,
| by appliances made and provided, to
the upper window where the terrified
inmates were gathered, and was then
stretched out at an angle of forty-five
| degrees, reaching to the ground, OF
course. Through it the people were
then shot, one after another, without
| the least harm Detailing them, and
emerging from the lower end safe and
| sound. The upper end Of this canvas
chute is generally made of asbestos or
other non -comb bustible material, so that
It will not give way prematureIy from
| the heat. 1t seems to US this is
| simple and capital contrivance, and
cheap withal. 1t might be provided by
| the landlords instead of the firemen
Canvas chutes are cheaper and much
more effective than fire escapes; be-
sides, they may be hidden from view
and thus not disfgure building so
| badly.
| THE WIDE TIRE LAW.
Marysville Democrat: There is a
law to take effect in the near future
which is intended to regulate the width
of tire to be used on wheels of vehicles
travelling the public or county roads.
The law is intended to benefit the pub
lie roads, as it is known that the mar
row tires now in general use wear out
the road grades faster and cut deep
holes or ruts in them in the we. sea-
son. All Of the contention in favor of
| are conceded, at the same time it will
take several years after the law takes
effect to educate the people up to the
necessity of causing change. All re-
forms move very slow, and this will
| not be an exception. The man who
engages in the occupation of teaming
will quite likely be required to comply
with the provisions of the new enact
ment first, because he will travel over
the public roads almost continuously
and will cause the most injury. But
| the small farmer who has only cne We
hicle and is not able to buy new one,
or TO cause his old wagon to be recon-
structed to meet the requirements of
the law, he should be treated with
leniency. There is a growing feeling
throughout the more sparsely populat-
ed counties of the State that the Act
ought to be amended during the COM
| ing session of the Legislature so as to
give the officers greater latitude in en-
forcing the law, and to permit exemp-
tions, where, in the Judgment Of the
officers, no material damage will result.
The wide tire on level road in the
valley will operate nicely and soon will
improve track that has been cut up
by narrow tire. But when the same
wide tire goes over some of the noun
tain roads where the track for the
wheels have been worn down deep and
narrow there will be work necessary
before they can be used TO haul heavy
loads. In fact. the change from mar
row to wide tires will not be accom-
plished without much trouble and ex-
pense.