Salt River herald., 1878-11-09

| Nttl S HOtAOO iits' btSAi gsiNtLi " lipStAil5 notices, When the bids were opened ]. II. Pierson was the only bidder for building the Wickenburg road who offered to build q good wagon road, suitable for large and heavy teams to travel, for fifteen hundred dollars in bonds. This bid was accepted, but 10 contract or bond was required of AIr. Pierson for the faithful perform ance of the same. In his bid, or pro posal, he offered to build a good wagon road; brush to be cut out for a distance of twenty-five feet from the center of the road on either side; that the grades should be good, and that the width of the same should be if teen feet, and in solid earth.
 From all the evidence we have had it appears that he has utterly failed to comply with his part of the contract By parties who have been over the road since it has been received by the commissioners, it is claimed that but little work has been done; that the route is an impracticablo one; thatno teams have been or can travel the road, and. in short, that it is an utter | ly worthless piece of property, and the fifteen hundred dollars in bonds paid him, for which we as tax payers are obliged to pay, is of no benefit whatever and a total loss to the coun- ". This road was examined, and re ported on, by Commissioner Smith, and a motion was made by him, as appears ny Inc minutes of the com missionCrs, to accept, as completed according to proposal, and that pay ment of the same was made by issu- ing him Picrson) bonds to the amount of fifteen hundred dollars. These bids appear to have been received for the building of the Black Canyon road:
 One from V. D. Renter, for $1, 400 in bonds.
 One from John Mullen, for 91,44O in bonds.
 One from Martin Thompson, for ! $1,4C0 in bonds.
 The hid of Martin Thompson was accepted. From Thompson, who ap- ! pcared before our committee, it ap- pears that he was induced by one of the commissioners to put in his bid {; in fact that the said commissioner made the bid for him, although as he himself states he had no knowledge oi the amount of work required on the road. CThis, to say the least, is very irregular and reprehensible on the part of a commissioner He also states that AIr. Barton. one of the commissioners, informed him how he wanted the work done. No contract was made or bond required in this case either. Alter reporting the road as completed, as per agreement, Com missioners Smith and Miller passed over the road, and decided the work had not been completed and that the road could not be received. It after wards appears that the road .cas ac- cepted, yet it does not appear that either of the commissioners again ex. amined the road prior to the receiv- ing or issuing of the bonds therefor.
 From all the evidence that can be obtained, from parties who have been over the road beth prior and since, il appears this contract was also a failure; that but little improvement has been made on the old road; that the amount paid for the work done was exorbitant in the extreme, and that tte county is again called upon 70 shoulder an indebtedness of four teen hundred dollars, being payment for more than double the amount oi work done, and all owing to the neg ligent and reprehensible manner ol doing business by the commissioners
 About this time, NIT. Winchester Miller, one Of the commissioners be coming dissatisfied with the irregular and careless manner of doing bushes: by the board of commissioners, re signed his position as such and rctir cd from the board.
 Little or no evidence has been haC as to the progress made on the rcaC to Globe City. It appears that th, work is being carried on in a pri- vate manner, under the supervision O one of the commissioners, Mr. JeromC B. Barton. From MT. Smith we have learned that the fund has been nearly exhausted, when we presume th, work will be discontinued, unless ou next legislature may again pass al act authorizing another loan on tn, , faith and credit of Naricopa count, Tor the continuation of the work.
 This concludes about all the infol nation or evidence the committc have had on thc subject, and, as committee, have no suggestions {, make, and will only state that in ou opinion the money appropriated ha been iniudiciously expended by th