Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-25
Los Angeles County
in the Lead
Chamber Of Commerce Supports Pasa-
dena Board of Trade-Propose
to Expend 100000 in
This County

lnlS association met yesterday in
the assembly hall Of the Los Angeles
chamber of commerce and materially
furthered a movement looking to the
construction of good roads in Los An
an agitation which may result in a
state wide movement for the construc-
tion of good roads throughout the
great Pacific coast commonwealth.
Yesterdays meeting was the result
of a call issued by the Los Angeles
chamber of commerce, following the
agitation started by the Pasadena
board of trade, looking to the bonding
of Los Angeles county for $3,000,O0O for
the purpose of construction of roads
within this county.
Delegates were present representing
the various civic bodies of the several
cities Of the county, but by unanimous
vote the meeting resolved that every
resident of the county should consider
herself or himself member of the
body.
In Favor of Bond Issue
By another unanimous vote the meet
ing went on record as favoring the
bonding of the county for the stated
sum of $3,000,000 for the purpose named,
although it was the expressed senti-
ment of several speakers and evidently
that of the entire gathering, that vot-
ing of the bonds would be conditioned
upon the passage of a law making 1t
absolutely certain that the money will
be expended judiciously and by men
who thoroughly understand the art Of
road building.
In an effort to secure such a law the
chairman of the meeting, s. A. But
Ter, president of the Los Angeles city
and county consolidation commission,
was instructed to appoint a committee
on legislation to inquire into the good
road laws of other states, to recon-
mend legislation that would meet the
requirements of California and to re-
port at another meeting to be called
as soon as possible after the commit
tee indicates that it Is ready to make
such a report.
Chairman Butler also was instruct
ed to appoint a committee of five, of
which he and Temporary Secretary
Frank Peltret should be eX-off1cio
members, to report to the next meeting
list of permanent officers.
Enthusiastic for Good Roads
Throughout the meeting, which as
sembled at 10 o'clock and continued
until the noon hour, the gretaest en-
thusiasm was displayed over the idea
that such an excellent start had been
made in the direction of securing good
roads for Los Angeles county and the
possibility that as result of the gath
ering the good roads agitation would
extend throughout California and per-
haps in adjoining states and territories.
James w. Abbott, a civil engineer,
now located in Los Angeles, but who
for many years was the road commits
sioner for the United States govern
ment, gave the meeting the benefit of
his experience in the construction of
roads.
He declared that as a result of the
abundant supply of oil in California
the problem of road construction easily
can be solved in this state. He said
that the best roads possible of construc-
tion could be made by the use of
quartz mixed with asphaltum as a top
dressing.
Mr.. Abbott said that thirty states of
the Union have established highway
commissions and that California is far
behind the other advanced states in
this respect.
Good Roads Acts Vetoed
Two years ago, Mr.. Abbott said, sew
eral road acts were presented to the
legislature. One or two of the worst
ones We're passed and these were We
toed by the governor. He continued:
lone of the most important things
to be done is to arrange for a COM
mission at Sacramento. with plans
which will meet the approval of the
governor Improvement of the high
ways is an evolution, not a revolution
and II you can get laws which will
enable you to help yourselves you will
have made an advance.
"You cannot afford to bond the coun-
ty for money with which to make parks
and landscape effects. These beautify-
ing projects can come after you have
acquired good roads and done away
with the deplorable conditions which
now exist. A road eighteen feet wide
will give you all the results you re-
quire for practical purposes"
1t was stated that Samuel Lancaster,
government good roads commissioner,
who lectured in Los Angeles recently,
had announced that while he was in
Sacramento on his way to Los An
geles he had called upon Governor Gill
lett and that the chief executive had
declared himself thoroughly in SYM
pathy with the good roads movement
and intimated that any desirable act
would meet his approval.
State and County Boards
1t developed during the discussion
that there is a state highway commits
sioner, but according to Charles B.
Boothe, president Of the National Irri-
CATION association, who had corre-
sponded with this commissioners, his
duties consisted principally in drawing
his salary.
Mr.. Boothe also made known the fact
which many OF those present were in
ignorance that there is a highway
commission In Los Angeles county.
This commission consists of thirty
members and Mr.. Boothe said that as
one of the members he could say that
owing to the cumbersome size OF the
commission about all 1t had aeeo-
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