Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-20
CALIFORNIA TO HAVE
BIG TRUNK HIGHWAYS
Well Defined Plan Presents
Object Lessons to
Other States.

California wants and is going to have
two trunk roads, north and SOUTH and its
well defined plan presents an object les
son to other states of great distances and
emphasizes the fact that the through
road is a modern necessity in a general
system.
''The recent report of the advisory
board Of the California highway commits
sion makes clear the difference in the
conditions on the Pacific coast and those
of the eastern and central portions of the
country comments P. ]. Walker of San
Francisco, president of the California
State Automobile Association, the A. A.
A. body of northern California
THE California law requires roads to
be built the length of the state along the
most direct and practicable routes; one
along the coast and another traverSin2
the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.
with lateral roads to such county seats as
may not be on the main lines. For con-
structing these roads $1S.O90OO0 was vot-
ed two years ago. The Automobiles nat
urally worked for this legislation, and il
is worth noting that California has more
motor cars than France.
Expedient to Build Roads.
In the eastern and central states not
only are conditions different. but the to-
Biography of the country is less severe
and lends itself more readily TO the build
ing of roads that will best serve the in
terests of the people. The great bulk of
travel on the through roads of the east is
not from one terminal to the other, but
between the important cities along the
route. and between them and either ter
minal. Consequently. it is more expe-
&c
all the important points along or near the
route. even to the extent of sacrihclng a
part of the directness, and adding some
mileage
That the comparatively few people
who travel the whole length of road
should go q few additional miles rather
than compel IA large NUMBER OF snort
distance travellers to go addltionaI as
tances is self-eyident. For every ten
persons who travel across d state there
are probably ninety who travel from
one point to another wlthin the state,
SO that as a matter OF convenience TO
the great ma jority route across
state should touch all of the important
cities within reasonable reach
Economy Is Necessary.
In California it is impossible 10 do
this without excessive sacrifice of dis
lance and grade. Along the coast and
the valleys Of the rivers fairly lever
roads can De constructed, lStti AIS ci.h-
ing county seats and important POINTS
off the line usually will go over inoun-
tain ranges. and through regions where
grades are heavy and construction diff
ficult To so build the main lines as TO
reach the outlying cities would be to
subject all of the travel except that
Focusing at those points 10 the ad-
iiitional mileage and grade.
with the amount of money provided.
fhe utmost economy must be practiced
and shortest possible routes followed to
comply with the law. To build roads
that will stand the strain of much motor
travel the state highway commission has
adonted concrete for almost the entire
svsfem. In building the road the grade
is prepared and drained so as to leave
the subgrade dry, that it will not freeze
and heave with frost 1t is then thor
oughly rolled. On this is placed four
inches of rich concrete, which is sur
faced with a coat of heavy asphaltic
oil and sand about three-eighths of an
inch thick This surfacing, according
To the commission. costs cents per
square yard. and can. If necessary. he
renewed every year or two under the
head of maintenance. This method of
construction is likely to recommend it
self in localities where a good road is
required and funds are limited"