The San Francisco call., 1909-01-19

of engineering, Tarpey asserted that
businessmen were needed to attend to
certain details of the work Of provid-
ing the state with a general system Of
good roads. He contended that engi-
neers were not always businessmen.
'"rhe state is especially fortunate in
having a man as competent as Mr.. Ell
lery for its state engineer" asserted
Pliny E. Holt of Stockton, but the time
will come when the state will have a
man who is not so well qualified
FIRM FOR BOND ISSUE
Further discussion showed the gov
ernor still determined to carry on the
work by means of a state bond issue
for $1S,000,00e. Some expressed the
opinion that there need be no conflict
between the two measures. The gov
ernor asserted that the commercial
bodies and the people generally
scheme. but Tarpey did not agree with
him.
Governor Gillett feared that the state
would be bankrupted for the demands
for maintenance of roads accepted in
accordance with the scheme of the
good roads association.
p. ]. Beveridge of Hollywood in
formed the governor that Los Angeles
county paid $4,000 a year toward re-
Fresno county paid 5000, 900 for SINH
lar purpose. It was finally decided
that the cost Of maintaining a properly
constructed road would be 800 year.
1t was explained that this was the
estimate Of the United States govern
ment.
With the 5000 miles considered by
the governor to be necessary for a
general system of arteries for the
state, the annual cost for maintenance
would be 100000 a year. The good
roads enthusiasts place the maximum
for complete system of good roads
throughout the state at 10000 miles.
For the maintenance of this at a cost
of 500 mile a year the cost would
be s1,O0o,0oo.
NO AGREEMENT REACHED
When it developed that the governor
was willing to accept some of the sug-
gestions of the good roads people and
incorporate them in his own bill an in
vitation was extended to some of the
leaders of the association to remain in
the city for few days and help frame
the desired legislation. There was no
definite agreement, however, as to just
what concessions would be made by
each side
This afternoon the California good
roads association held it's convention.
It was at Stockton last June that the
association was organized, and it was
decided that the first biennial session
should be held in this city during the
early part of the session of the legisIa-
ture, so that it might be possible to
frame legislation that would be di-
rected toward the construction of good
roads.
President Daggett in calling the
meeting TO order in the chamber Of
about one-fourth of the 200 delegates
were present, the reasons for the small
attendance being given as the storms
interference with traffic. Daggett out
lined the work that had been done by
the association during the few months
Of its existence and dwelt on the great
volume of work that would hereafter
present itself for action at the hands
of the association.
SECRETARY's REPORT
Secretary ]. NJ. Eddy in his report
referred to the causes that led up to
the organization of the association and
to the work that had already been
done. Excerpts from his report follow:
As complete drainage is the best
basis for good highway construction
so suitable maintenance is the best
basis for highway administration Thus
the board has insisted that there must
De state provision IOT the maintenance
of the sflief highways when acceptably
improved, that such maintenance
should be under the charge of a long
lived commission and that civil service
rules should govern in the selection
and promotion of employees, and that
in justice to all interests concerned. the
cost of maintenance of the chief high
ways should be borne by the state
Nowhere in America has the state
maintenance of county highways been
offered as a premium to encourage
local construction, though the principle
has been long tested in It's application
TO city streets. and under the Vrooman
act in California we find that the prom
ise Of city maintenance of an accepted
street has had the direct effect to pro-
mote street Improvement and in conse-
quence construction has outrun proper
maintenance. In fact, the failure
of the highway systems in all
American states in the past may be
directly traced to the lack of any re-
sponssble guaranty of proper mainte-
nance On the other hand the success
of every European system of highways
may be as directly traced to the pro-
visions for proper maintenance under a
centralized system. The testimony of
every engineer and every state high
way official in America who attended
the recent international congress Of
good roads in Paris confirms the state
ment made herein.
Now. therefore, as we approach our
important convention and presumptive
action by the legislature, 1 think 1t the