The record-union., 1898-12-11


and the law properly requires him to
reside at the Capital. Also, that by the
State furnishing an executive resi-
dence poor man, or man of modest
means. can afford to be Governor, and
that the incumbent need not be
mulcted in a large part of his official
income in renting and fitting UP a
residence for comparatively tenn
porary period.
SIDEWALKS AND PATHS FOR THE
COUNTRY.
The San Jose Mercury" editorially
says:
Those bicycle paths for which the
wheelmen of California were SO eager a
few years ago have not materialized. So
far as we know, there is not one in the
State. Yet for example. a path of that
kind could be constructed around the
bay, from San Francisco to Oakland by
way of San Jose, at very little ex-
pense, and it would be a source of COM
fort and pleasure to thousands of
wheelmen.
The Mercury is in error, and its
views are too narrow on the subject.
Sacramento County has bicycle and Pc
destrian paths along country roads. The
organized wheelmen of this city nearly
three years ago built twenty-five miles
of cycle path in this county. and it is
to-day in quite as good condition as
when first laid out, due to its wise
treatment with decomposed granite.
and to the constant care of the path by
originated the Act passed by the last
Legislature authorizing Boards of Su
pervisors of counties to lay out foot
and wheel paths along country roads,
and to SO grade roadways as to leave
at least six feet free space for such
paths, and authorizing also the protec-
ton of these foot and wheel ways, by
posts at suitable intervals. The same
law protects such paths, under severe
penalties for injury to them.
The Supervisors of Sacramento Coun-
ty were the first in the State to act
under that law by dedicating space for
a path along the new macadam road
north of the American River. This
week the board ordered five miles of
foot and wheel path constructed along
what is now known as Schley avenue.
The same board three years ago grant
ed tbe organized wheelmen the privilege
of constructing path along the Upper
Stockton road, and it was done for
a distance of twenty-six miles; but,
owing to the peculiar grading of the
roadbed and the great width of cutters,
it had to be abandoned after one wet
season, but for some miles it is still
used.
The same board accepted, and pro-
tected by ordinance, prior to the pass
age of the State law, the path to Fol-
som, twenty-five miles long, though it's
maintenance and care as yet devolve
upon the organized cyclists.
Actuated by the same liberal and wise
spirit, the city authorities nearly two
years ago yielded to the petition of the
wheelmen and set apart a sideway OH
a chief street stretching entirely across
the city, something over two miles, for
the construction of a footpath and
wheelway, and expended the necessary
money for it's building. That path to-
day is the most used walk and wheel
way in the county outside of the down
town streets, and to residents along it's
line is a great convenience. twill be
seen, therefore, that bicycle paths have
"materialized' in Sacramento, if not
in Santa Clara County.
And this suggests that the subject is
by no means an inconsequential one,
but is related very closely to rural
development and general betterment Of
agricultural conditions. In this county,
when the paths were first projected they
met with violent opposition from the
farming section. This was manifest
by protests, and then by actual vio-
lence and obstructive acts. But to-day
we are witness to the remarkable fact
that these same protesting rural dis
tricts are petitioning for the construc
tion and extension of these paths, and
we. have it from official sources that it
is anticipated that the petitions for
them will early in the year relate to all
the principal highways of the county.
The reason for all this is obvious,
after moments thought. That which
appeared to the short-sighted to be in
the interest of an exclusive class has
been found precisely as the Record
Union" contended three years ago-to
be general public convenience. The
country residents find for the paths the
same uses for which sidewalks in the
cities and towns are constructed. They
no longer trudge through dust in one
season and mud in the other. Their
wives and children can go clean-shod
and dry-footed over miles of convenient
paths, smooth, inviting and saving, in
stead of taking to the highway, as
heretofore. Children now walk to the
schoolhouse who formerly had to be
transported to and fro by wagon or
carriage.
AS on nearly every farm the bicycle
is now found, the farmer or his sons
and daughters can make easy, quick
runs to town or city and return, with
saving of time and gain to health that
are universally confessed. Residents Of