Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-08

The bridge commissioners held q meeting
yesterday morning at the county auditors of
nee. There were present Commissioners Daw-
son, Llndeke, Knapheide and Cochran, and
Engineer Sewell.
Inc minutes of the previous meeting were
read and approved, when the chairman. VIM.
lawson, said that the bridge commissioners
would not hold themselves responsible for an
ecipse OF the sun or the moon, or any other
Phenomena. 1t was enough for them to be re-
sponslble for their own acts He wished to
say IN reference to the publication in the
GLOBE of the bond sale, that the
bridge commissioners had nothing to do
with that transaction-the county commission
ers and the county auditor were the responsible
persons, and he knew that they as we'll as the
bridge commission acted for the best interests
OF the county As chairman of the bridge
COMMISSION he protested against being held re-
spol sib]e.
MIR. Lindeke wished to know if it would not
De Well to stop right here and say why the
commission held private meetings. It was in
tho interest Of tho tax payers of the
county that the board did not wish
certain matters to get into the papers.
The private ,zeetings, he said, arose because a
certain letter addressed by the government en-
gineer to MIR. sewall, which the press was re-
quested not to publish. appeared the next day
published against the direct request of the
board and to the deriment of the county He
did not care one w.y the other personally:
ne did not mind if he had to pay $l0 or $50,
more or less, but as commissioner, he was de-
sirous of saving all the expense to
working in the interest Of the CON
tractor rather than for the county.
and II by any peradventure the board should
have law snit with the contractor, he had no
doubt tie press would sympathize with the
contractor. He was told by Minneapolis man
that some years ago, when it was contemplated
building bridge, that soundings were made
on the fort side of the river and it was found
that bed rock was not less than seventy feet
down. 1t would be absurd to 60 down that
depth. 1t would take so long that if Washburn
was cleo. ed he would have time to prevent the
appropriation which he would be certain to do
and have the money applied to the private
mills interest at the falls
Mr.. Dawson said he had been in puhlic office
long enough to know that when man does his
best he gets most abused. The county COM
mlssioners ordered the bonds advertised and
Inadvertently specified their date, Sept (Sun-
day. This was an oversight. Bids were re
celved from several parties-one, the Boston
hrm' for the whole $4,000, being trif1e the
highest, except Vests bid fo1
$4,000. These were allotted ia
him but the Boston firm demanded
condition that the date be changed to the I'd.
But MIR. Uphan claimed the sale as the highest
unconditional bid, and the bonds were given
him. The difference on the whole sale only
amounted to 1886, and the cost OF changing
would be considerable. Mr.. Upham afterwards
brought the bonds back to have the date
changed at his expense.
MIR. Sewall-As it appears that explanations
are in order T.
Mr.. Cochran (interrupting excitedly)-It
seems to me. gentlemen, that you make mis-
take in offering any explanation, shall make
no explanation.
MIR. Dawson-If thought the statements in
the papers were intended to reflect on us
would make no explanation, but do not think
so.
Mr.. Cochran-The papers might take it 70,
granted that the board was constituted of five
honorable gentlemen; they might take il fo,
granted that we held secret sessions for homes,
purposes. What annoys the press is that an,
man Or set of men should have the arrogance
to hold the news from them. I would not like
70 De newspaper man at the judgment day
think their chances will be as
Mr. Knapheide-Perhaps Mr.. SewalI won]o
like to say word.
Mr.. Sewall-Well I don't think it is worth
while, as the editors of the papers have the
opinion of me they have-the less have to 90,
the better.
The commissioners then transacted what
business they had. as follows:
Engineers estimate of work and material
was passed: 1t showed.
Gross estimate. &651e 7C
Less Is per cent. ......... 977 az
5,53s IS
PREVIOUS est1mate. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ITO 2t
1co .c