The record-union., 1899-01-13
WASTE IN BRIDGE BUILDING.


Uneconomic Methods In Construct
ing Roads-Technical Skill
Needed.
Inc biennial report of the State De-
partment of Highways is a rather
lengthy document, filled with much
OF detail, and conveying to the Legis-
lature q great deal Of information and
many suggestions of profound interest
to the friends Of improved highway
conditions.
Some of the more salient features of
the report we present herewith, since
1t will be some time before it will ap-
pear in printed form, and then will be
quite voluminous. Many of the feat
ures Of the report have already been
presented in these columns from time
to time.
Certain bills, new in part and in part
amending existing laws, are recon-
mended for passage. These the Rec
ord-Union' has already printed. Con-
corning them the Commissioners say
that these bills are the result of study
OF conditions, laws and experiences in
-
country. It is added:
TEXT OF THE WHOLE SUBJECT.
If the expenditures which this State
has made for this work are to result
In anything, 1t must be in a fair and
thorough trial of these measures, and
without the crude notifications which
may be suggested by those whose du-
ties do not permit them to make a
thorough study Of the entire subject.
The measures are not radical; they do
not subvert the method Of road admin
istration in the State; but they do pre-
sent practical lines along which the
evils Of the present system may be
corrected. Minor defects may be adj
justed at future sessions of the Legis-
lature, and Improvements may be
grated upon the system herein pro-
posed, as knowledge Of road building
extends"
LEGISLATIVE FAILURES.
Concerning the history Of recent leg
islation and official Recommendation
upon the subject Of highways. the de-
partment says the former Commission
advised:
That the maximum rate Of taxation
prescribed by law for road purposes
should be lowered from 40 cents to 30
cents.
That one-half Of this reduction,
namely 21a cents. should be relieved
on all property for highways of State
Importance.
That the roads be classified accord
ing to their importance to the State, to
the various counties, and to the dis
tricts they serve
These measures, by the Legislature
of 1897. We're entirely modified. The
law classifying roads was radically
changed by the Introduction of clauses
which would permit Of making unim-
portant roads State highways, when
they could never form the essential
parts or links of a great highway sys-
TEN, and would, furthermore, place no
limit on the mileage of such additions
to the States obligation. Recognizing
the evil of these changes, the Execu-
tive wisely withheld his signature.
The recommendation to levy 211a
cents tax for the construction of State
highways was also radically changed
by extracting essential features and
Incorporating them in another bill,
practically placing So per cent of that
levy to the credit Of the counties, to
be expended under and by county au-
thorities; also providing that State off,
Gals should indorse bonds issued by
the counties, and, in default of the
counties paying the interest thereon,
that the State should collect and pay
such interest. These provisions we be-
lieve to be contrary to the plain pro-
visions of Article W, Section 81, of the
Constitution, which prohibits the grant
ing of the money or credit of the State
to political or other corporations, or to
persons.
These measures failed to become
laws, as did the previous mentioned
BILL The recommendation to reduce
the maximum rate of taxation for road
purposes from 40 cents to 30 cents was
not considered by the Legislature. and
instead Of reduction the maximum
was raised to 621h cents per 500 Of as
sessed valuation.
An Act constituting Chapter PA
of the Statutes and Amendments to
the Code, 1897, was also passed during
the last few hours of the session. It
was generally known as the CLARK
road law" and was never printed and
submitted to consideration, nor was its
existence known to the members of the
Bureau of Highways. This law came
before the Supreme Court in Davis VS..
Whidden. III Cal, p. 61S, and was de-
clared illegal.
PRINCIPLES WHICH SHOULD
GOVERN.
The radical reformations of road
laws attempted by the last Legislature
resulted only in failure and delay, and
so all the road laws passed proved
practically abortive. The Commission
ers believe the principles of the laws
recommended two years ago to be
sound, but further inquiry and study
have suggested economies that are
still more desirable.
Concerning the basic structure of
good road movements, the department
says:
1T should be recognized at the outset
that the main highways of the State
and its counties are lines along which
the travel and traffic Of an indefinite
future must move, and that it is there
fore necessary to locate these lines on
the most advantageous ground, ire
spective of the temporary private In
terests, which at most can last for only
one or two generations After roads
shall have been located upon these
lines no false economy and makeshift
methods should be allowed; the drains,
culverts and bridges should be made of
masonry, and the roadbed graded to
true lines, and a sprinkling plant pro-
vided. Finally, the surface should be
metaled with the best available rock
To attempt this upon all roads with