Amador ledger., 1904-06-10
THE lone ROAD.


Jackson and lone must convince any
unpreJudical mind that it is in de-
plorable condition. The truth is ap-
parent almost the entire length of
the thoroughfare that it is practi
cally worn out. For the greater
part of the distance the wagon way
is also the water way. 1t is dis
couraging, after the years of special
taxes levied for the main purpose of
putting this road in good condition;
after pouring out money without
stint in the vain effort of making
this artery of traffic macadamized
road that would continue in good
shape, with slight repairing, for
many years, to find that its metal
veneering has been ground into dust;
that no semblance of a turnpike
character remains. Its crown-if it
ever had any worth speaking Of
has been converted into a hollow
way, and everything tends to show
that the vast sums of money ex-
pended upon it - while admitting
that some change for the better has
resulted as compared with former
days-have fallen lamentably short of
meeting public expectations. 1t is
useless to look for its transforma-
tion into fairly good road under
the existing road system. Its con-
dition to-day is a standing protest
to the present wofully defective
road law We have not got, and we
never will get, adequate returns for
the money expended. Thousands of
dollars have been wasted in trying
to water it; large sums have been
thrown away in sprinkling it with
oil; but the one fact that faces the
casual observer to-day is that neither
water nor oil can materially aid it at
present. What it wants is road
building material of the hardest
character that can be had.
A rumor is af1oat to the effect that
a movement is contemplated in Of
fetal quarters to spend the money
in the special road fund in pouring
oil on this troublesome highway. It
will cost a couple of thousand dollars
to put sufficient oil to quiet the dust
for the summer season. And that
is the sum total of the benefit that
will accrue from the expenditure,
We have no hesitation in denouncing
any movement in this direction-as
the roadway now stands-as a reck-
less waste of money. Supervisor
Amick is reported to be opposed to
this scheme. He wants the money
devoted to permanent Improvement
something beyond the mere laying
of few clouds of dust in the sum-
mer season. And we believe his
Judgment in this respect will be sus-
tanned by ninetenths of the tax
payers. The only campaign of opera
tions that will command support is
to deal with this vital artery of
traffic with the view of keeping it in
the best travelable condition, with
the funds available, during the win
ter months, as well as the period of
traction engine traffic. This expert
ence of one season has exploded the
idea that the traction engine is an
important helper in the road-making
business. 1t is the same as any
other kind of heavy travel. It's ten
dencY is to wear out a road, not to
improve it. And the peculiar tooth
like construction of its broad tires
seems to aid in the disintegration of
the road bed. Still we do not claim
that the traction engine should be
ignored in the expenditure of road
money, but we do contend that the
tiding over the wet season with the
least possible inconvenience to the
freighting business is the vital point
to be ever kept in view in the dis
bursement of the road funds of the
three districts involved.