Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-11
GOV. GlLLETT IS
GUEST OF HONOR
TALKS AT BANQUET OF CIVIC
LEAGUE
Chief Executive Shows How State
Highways Will Benefit Public and
FaVors Bond Issue of
$18,ooo,ooo

SANTA BARBARA, July 10.-Gover-
nor Gillett was the guest of honor this
evening of the Civic league at ban
quet at the Potter hotel
The governor was the speaker of the
evening and his address was listened
to with the closest attention by the
300 assembled guests. The state high
way, with the proposal to issue $lSOo0'-
600 i'm bonds by the state, was the SUD
ieCt of discussion.
Francis T. Underhill vice chairman
of the Civic league, presided. The am
ner was informal and more I'm the
nature of a business meeting than a
social function. the citizens of Cali
fornia meeting to discuss plans for the
betterment of the state.
Among the speakers were Judge
Jarrett, 7. Richards, Robert Cameron
Rogers of this city and Judge j. II.
Cooper of the northern division of the
appellate court.
Governor Gi1lett declared the great
est effort would be made to secure
complete system of roads throughout
the state. He explained that it was
every mans duty to stand back of the
movement and lend all possible assist
anoe. At the close of his speech he
was given grand ovation. La
Monacas band played several selec-
tons during the banquet
Governor Gillett spoke on good roads,
laying emphasis OF the prevailing need
for a perfect highwoy system in Cali
fornia.
"Of all the states in the Union" he
said, ours would be the most bene-
fitted by system of good roads. This
is and always will be a fruit producing
state. 1t is very important that the
fruit should arrive at the railroad in
good condition, and this best can be
done over good, smooth highways.
Good Highways Needed
"A system of good highways through
our great valleys and along our coast
will cause people to settle there, build
homes and cities and cultivate TO the
highest state of perfection our rich soil.
A system of connected highways rum
ming north and south through the
state, both in our valleys and along
the coost. will invite many people to
seek both homes and pleasure.
THE southern part of our state early
saw the advantage of inducing our
eastern neighbors to visit California.
To accomplish this you have made this
section of the state attractive. There
is in Southern California "A strong and
almost unanimous sentiment in favor
teristic energy and enterprise Of
Southern California you are bonding
your COuntiese and building and pre-
pairing to build network of splendid
highways. connecting important local
tiles.
For this spirit of enthusiasm you
are to be highly complimented and en-
couraged. But in this great and i'm
portant work the state should do its
share and not lpaNh the aypa,,so ta I,a
borne alone by the counties. The state
should have built and maintain a
complete system Of highways running
through the state and connecting the
several county seats and large centers
of population.
Speaks of Bonds
For this purpose the last leglsla-
ture spassed an act submitting to the
people the proposition of bonding the
state for S18000.000 to be used for the
building and maintaining of a sys-
TEN of good roads. This question will
be voted at the next general election,
and unless I mistake the signs mani
Tested everywhere it will carry by a
large majority.
1T will then be the duty of the next
legislature TO enact laws necessary to
carry out this great project so that
the best results may be secured. If
a vote bringing to this state of the
most expert road builders of the coun-
try so that the roads when built will
not be experiments merely, but will
be constructed along scientific lines, so
our people will get the best for their
money.
Where the road passes over high
ways already constructed by the
county which are up to the standard,
then the state should take it over as
state highway and refund to the
county what the road would have reas-
onably cost the state had it built it
in the first instance, and the law
passed last winter provides for this.
The increased wealth Of the state
directly caused by the construction Of
such system will pay. and more than
pay, the bonded Indebtedness incurred.
and our people will never know such
debt exists"
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