The San Francisco call., 1909-03-15
SAN JOSE DOING
GOOD ROAD WORK
Popular Garden City Organiza-
ton Enthusiastic Over Bet
terment of Highways
Capitalists and Organized Labor
Working Hand in Hand to Adj
vance interest in County
By K. K. PHommedieu

San Jose and many towns in the
neighborhood of the Garden City, in
cIuding Berryessa, Campbell. Coyote.
Cupertino, Evergreen. Gilroy. Los Gatos.
Mayfield. Milpitas, Morgan Hill. Noun
tain View. Palo Alto, San Martin, Santa
Clara. Saratoga, Smiths Creek and Sun
nyvale. have formed themselves into
what is known as the Best Roads As
sociation of Santa Clara County.
The association. with Dr. j. L. Benepe
al the head, is doing a great deal of
good work in this popular movement.
The membership of the association
numbers some 5000 and is one of the
strongest in the state The value OF
good roads Is not only recognized by
the capitalist who is a member of this
association, but by the workingman
who earns his daily bread at the trade.
At the last meeting of the associa-
ton, held Friday night. applications
for membership were made by the
plumbers union. carpet mechanics, mu-
sicians union, federated trades council,
millmep's union. two carpenters unions,
streetcarmen's union, international
steam engineers, cement workers. ma
chinists, builders exchange, "a promi
nent hotel management, water company
and 20 businessmen and firms, all of
San Jose.
The association is a live organization
and is doing a great work in putting
and keeping the roads in Santa Clara
county in good condition. Through
the courtesy Of John r. Chase. vice
president of the Santa Clara County
automobile club, who has loaned an
eight horse team to that organization,
the frightful piece OF highway from the
Gish road into San Jose is being
scraped and put into perfect condition.
Word has been received from the Los
Angeles branch OF the Auto vehicle
:. company, stating
--,.--,f that for the first
Mount Baldy Of 5ins the ,h sas ant6moSils als'ons
been driven almost to the summit OF
Mount Baldy. Recently Glen Lull. sec
Tourist up the seven miles of heavy
grade. winding and dangerous, to the
top OF the range leading to the crown
OF OF the snow capped peak II was found
Impossible to proceed further on &C
count of the deep gullies and assures
cut in the mountain by the snow.
Starting with orange groves at the
base of the mountain the road winds
into the deep canyon, where the waters
of San Antonio creek rush with such
force that they often wash the roadbed
AWAY FROM the lOliSdLS the road
winds upward, almost to the snow line,
distance of about six miles then
across rocky plateau. ending abrupt
ly in "a narrow path that leads to tho
top OF the mountain.
The driver forced the car up this
narrow trail, over rocks and through a
swirling mountain stream, from the
bed of which sharp stones had to be
removed, as they endangered the tires.
In one place the stream had>taken the
trail away and had washed a deep
furrow into the mountainside. LuH
sent the car ahead right into the face
or the mountain and on up above the
snow line. AS the mountain, so rough
and rugged. offered no traction for the
wheels of the car, it was impossible to
go farther, and 1t was impossible TO
turn around and go down. so Lull was
compelled to back for mile down the
mountainside, standing, as he did So
on the runningboard of the car.
Lull is not satisfied yet, and will
make an attempt later on TO send the
car TO the summit 1t will be impossi-
BILE to climb the mountain before July
or August, as by that time the snow
win be gone, and traction may be Sc
cured. Even then it viii be necessary
for men with picks and shovels to
continue the road from where the trail
leaves off.