The record-union., 1899-07-26
VOICE OF The PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast. Opinio1s on Sab.
jects Of Living News
Interest

SelI OF the opportunity OF putting III d
protest at Washington against the pro-
visions of the reciprocity treaty with
Jamaica which. might affect our fruit
interests injuriously. It is time the
people of this section bestirred them
selves generally in this matter. Large
interests in the East, whose promoters
care more for their own enterprises
than they do for the California fruit
industry, are very much alive and need
watching as much as the Filipino
Junta at Hongkong.
OPPOSING THE JAMAICA TREATY.
San Diego Union: The Chambers OF
Commerce of both San Diego and Los
Angeles have now entered their pro-
test against the Jamaica reciprocity
treaty, but the members of those bod
les should not let the matter rest there.
All Southern California will be injured
If this proposed trade agreement goes
into effect, and consequently nothing
should be left undone to make it very
plain at Washington that the opposi-
ton to this treaty is not confined to
few localities, but comes from all these
southern counties. Every Chamber OF
Commerce, or Board of Trade in South
ern California, should enter its protest,
and in places which are without such
organizations the fruit-growers should
get together and appoint committees
to voice their objection. It would be
desirable also to have the various
Boards of Supervisors pass resolutions
and forward them to Washington,
Moreover, Southern California should
q RI G0h Wi
the aid Of the rest of the State. Fine
citrus fruits are profitably grown in
some of the northern counties. The in
dustry there has not indeed, assumed
the proportions that it. has attained
here, but it represents considerable in
vestments of capital and is regarded
as very promising. These northern
growers should join in the protest.
ROAD PROBLEMS.
Los Angeles Times: Perhaps one of
the most effectual means of bringing
about speedy reform in the public
road system of the United States
would be to send a big delegation of
road oveIseers, County Supervisors and
others, who are charged with looking
after these matters, to Europe, where
the remarkable contrast between the
public roads and those of the United
States would certainly open their eyes,
and give rise to some feeling of shame
that country which has made such
wonderful advances in other directions
during the past quarter of a century
should still be so very far behind less
favored countries of Europe, where
roads may be seen, still in a compara-
lively good state of preservation that
were constructed by the Romans, 1000
years ago. Really good roads-that is,
roads which are in good condition all
the year round-are so exceedingly
scarce in this country that many
Americans scarcely know what good
road is. Briefly stated, good road
is hard, smooth and serviceable at all
seasons of the year. Such roads are
found in most of the European coun-
tries as commonly as they are lacking
in this country. In the publication
above referred to, writer gives an
interesting description Of the public
road system in France, which country,
whatever it's drawbacks. may be, is
the proud possessor of thousands of
miles Of public thoroughfares that will
compare favorably with any roads in
the world, as many an American who
has wheeled for mile after mile along
smooth, level French highways, be-
tween rows of tall Lombardy poplars.
will readily admit. France has solved
the bad roads problem. From one end
of the republic to the other one may
ride over roads as smooth as a floor.
passable for heavy traffic, automobiles
and bicycles alike in dry weather or
wet. From one side of the road to the
other the road surface is perfect, and
transforms do not transform it into
mud -puddles. Wheelmen may proceed
on their way Immediately after the
heaviest storms. The French system
has three important characteristics, en-
gineering superintendence, the con-
stant attendant system of maintenance,
and macadamized road surfaces.
A FAD PEST.
Oroville Mercury: Fad pests and fad
diseases seem to have an everlasting
grip on the people Of this land. Just
now it is the kissing bug, that cometh
from no man knoweth where, and the
juice Of which is deadly poison. A few
years ago la grippe took the country
by storm, but whether the disease was
new or whether it was only an old
aff1iction under new label no one
knows with possibly the exception of
the doctors. And now the wise ones
are arising to say that the kissing
bug dates back to the day of ADAM
that the name alone is new. No doubt
they are right. but that will make no
difference with the little insect and the
manner in which he wields his gimlet.
He will now be heard from in all di-
rections and the press dispatches will
tell us Of many whose lips have been
stung by the deadly bug.
So it will always be, old pests will
become more yenomous and old dis
eases more virulent. under new names.
and residents of a section where ma
lara is suspected to exist in the most
limited quantities that will attribute
every stomachache that follows an i'll
advised dinner to the malaria"
We Americans like it best so. We
are fond of fads.
SURPLUS WOMEN.
Alameda Encinal: 1t is now
ascertained beyond all doubt that
there are two millions more wo-
men than men in Great Britain and
that the ratio Of increase is growing
in favor of the female. AS this fact
becomes palmer to Englishmen even
the question of the coal supply loses
some of it's Importance. Nothing. in
Britain, as at present constituted,
than to have her supply of men dimin-
ished. Consequently very earnest in
,,,so LIT, IL - h.