The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-09-21
Volume l3-N umber l8,

The fortunate bidder understands that
he is to do the work with as little
labor and material as possible to en-
sure his receiving his pay, which is
all that he cares for. 1t is on nc
count OF this loose manner of con.
Quoting this branch of county bus
iness that we have so much temporary
work done every year, and our mon.
.ey Is worse than wasted, and our
roads difficult 70 travel on, and many
OF our bridges are unsafe to CROSS
| presume that we pay as heavy a
road and bridge tax as any county
in the State in proportion to our
wealth, but | have seen no county
that has such poor bridges as ours.
A case occurs to my mind which is
fair sample of the manner in which
our Commissioners discharge their du
ties: About ayear ago, they stated
in proper for II that they had about
S7OO or $500 to expend on the road
South of Findlay about Eagle Creek.
We were all pleased to hear it, as il
is one of the worst roads in the coun
ty call the year round" attended
the sale of the job. When | arrived,
hr. Cooper, the man who runs the
machine most of the time, had stuck
up rotten stake or limbin the road.
where the first wagon that came along
would probably knock it down
l"There, gentlemen" said he, 1--WE
want piece Of road built here about
rs high as that stake, from that bridge
to that high place in the road yonder
about fifteen feet wide on the top. -
That was all that was said about it o.
nothing said as to time OF completion,
whether the sides should be pcrpcn.
dicular, or certain amount of base
to foot in hight, and il it had been
done Mt all according TO the under
standing nj the time, the embankment
would have.bcen as nearly perpe ndic-
ular as they could have made them.
But, unfortunately, nothing has been
done TO the road, except few weeks
since the contractor hauled few
loads of dirt and left IL as 1t t,ropp, d
from his wagon, which has made the
road almost impassable.
On the same day the above men
toned job was sold, another contract
was let on about as specific terms
FIAT job was completed, but the
Commissioners were told that the
bank was not high enough-that the
water would get over it and wash il
away, but they knew best, IS usual
But contrary to their expectations
during time of high water the banl
took French leave A few days sine,
they sold this same job over agar
and now pay Sl,35 per rod to hav,
it up again, when by proper attention
TO it last year, one.half that sun
would have put it Above high waite
and it would have remained in it
place.
! To show their ignorance of sucI
matters, | would state that in tin
above mentioned case, they allowe,
the dirt for the embankment to be Ia
ken out on the west side next the cree
consequently the water washc,
down two feet where il had neve
washed before, and if the sane lin
of conduct is continued, in less thar
five years they will have the creek il
the road.
Another job let at the same time o
grading and stoning on the North sid
of Eagle Creek bridge, was finished
aud L presume was done rs per con
tract. The stone was put on AM
left nearly rs large as when takel
from the quarry, and for long tn
J road was nearly impossible. 1t i
r now very difficult travelling over it,.
Thus the work ofspending the pee
pies money goes bravely on,and thcs
same men, or others Of like stamp ar
elected to office from year to yeai
One of them, Mr.. Taylor, who may b
a good. citizen, an upright, honest ial
mer, but whose lack OF qualification
for the position is well known l.
every body who has had any busincs
before the Board, is asking the SUP
port Of the people for another tern
We should be careful who we seleC
for this position as it is one of vita
Importance 10 our tax payers. w
should have men Of good, soun
, Judgment, good ilnanciers, goo
judges of bridges roads, bitches
and work generally. Last, but nj
least, they should be men who woul
g properly attend To their business
. which neither oi the present incun
bents seems 10 do.
A FARMER.