The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-10-06

ity. In place of the original estimate
for its construction (s28, 0O0) the total
cost of the structure. with all the
engineering, patchwork, rebuilding
of abutments. etc., amounted to Over
fifty thousand dollars an gold!
The building of the bridge across
Pigeon Creek at Cody's Mill, by the
Democratic County Board. had much
the same history. After it had been
completed, as was alleged in a most
substantial manner, the abutments
and wing walls gave way, and the
whole structure became a wreck, and
had to be rebuilt at almost the orl-
ginal cost.
So. also, the bridge over Pigeon
Creek at the old LinxWeiler Ferry,
followed the fate of the other Demo
cratic structures, and tumbled into
the creek a mass of shapeless ruins.
At Martin Stinson's in the lower
Bayou, in the first instance, a bridge
was built, which. despite the skill OF
of our able Democratic managers,
tumbled down aftea the Commission
ers had received it. So it was deter
mined to erect a substantial stone cul-
vert at heavy expense to the County.
But not long after its completion, it
also ''caved in" and completely OBJ
structed the water course; and was
left as Democratic legacy to the Re-
publican Board to Gle an out and re-
pair.
Take one other case. The Locust
Greek cul7ert was erected during the
last six years Of Democratic rule re-
ferred to at a large expense to the
County. Before it was finished it
threatened to tumble in, and an ad-
ditional wing we'll was built, and then
after it was completed it became
necessary to put up new abutments to
make the contract safe and secure
beyond a peradventure, and hold UP
the wall. But Notwithstanding these
precautions, very soon after the work
was received by the county the wall
sprung, the arch Of the culveri
cracked, and but for the subsequent
expenditures made by the Republican
officials, the whole structure would
have bee1 long ago in the bottom Of
the creek.
Such is a part of the record which
the Democratic administration made
in the matter of public Improvement
while that party was in power. Moth
ing contributed so much to drive thai
party out of power, in Vanderburgh
County, in 1860, as their laundering
extravagance in the construction Of
bridges.
On the other hand, what is the
record which the Republican Board
and county officials have made on this
subject? ALI contracts have been
honestly and faithfully executed. The
original estimates have rarely been
exceeded, and then only to a very linn
tied extent. We have heard nothing
of laundering management, fallen
bridges, sliding abutments and caving
culverts. The bridges and roads of
the county were never IN anything
like the strong and good condi-
ton which they are to-day. The
only charge brought against the Re-
publican Board is for the erection of
the Salt Well bridge, and that has
been completely answered by the &C.
knoWledged facts that every promi-
nent taxpayer and Democrat in the
county urgently asked for its construc-
ton, and that the contract was let by
Democratic Board of Commission
ers; and the subsequent Republican
Board, which superintended its erec-
ton, present it to the people as the
best, safest and cheapest built bridge
in the county, and at about half the
cost of the franklin Street bridge.
With these facts before the people,
will they again entrust the work Of
public improvement and the general
management of County affairs to the
reckless and extravagant Democracy?
IF the old Democratic administration
Of Vanderburgh County is not a sufi e
cient warning. let the taxpayers look
at the City Tax Assessment, Water
Works Contract, &C., of the Democ-
racy in the present City Aadministra-
ton. Certainly they do not want that
duplicated in the County!