The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-09-25
SEEKING THE AUTHOR.
superintendent Farley Denies Certain
Charges.

.
The Oregonian yesterday contained a
letter from the Cascade Locks signed by
''One Who Knows" purporting to give
inside facts as to'why the lower incline
of the Cascades portage has not been
completed. Governor Pennoyer was
asked about the statement, but would
say nothing beyond that ''there was no
truth in it." The governor, Secretary
Mcbride and Treasurer Metcshan went
to the Cascades yesterday to investigate
the work.
6. ]. Farley, superintendent of con-
struction of the portage, felt consider
ably put out on account of the article,
inasmuch as the allegations made affect
him directly. He has obtained informa-
tion which gives him clue to the au-
thor of the article, and is on the war
path. In an interview at the Perkins
last night he denied the charges in toto.
"We are finishing the work as fast as
possible" said the superintendent, after
reading the article over. ''We are work
ing day and night, and have funds
enough to complete the work within the
time specified. The incline at this end
is on foundation of cement gravel, in
which it is exceedingly difficult to drive
piling, and PROCESS is necessarily slow.
"The author of the article in question
says it is well known that the. superin-
tendence of the work has cost nearly 81
day for each man employed. That is
absolutely and unqualifiedly false. He
says again that none but disrated rail-
road men could procure employment in
such superintendence, some of whom
have been discharged from former en-
ploy for incompetency and some for
worse. That also is false. The master
mechanic is G.. G.. Hobart, formerly mas
ter mechanic of the Union Pacific shops
at The Dalles, and i defy any one to
produce better mechanic on the Pa
cific coast. Hei an honorable, upright
man. The bridge and carpenter fore
man is T.. H. Walsh, formerly bridge
superintendent of the Union Pacific.
Neither was ever discharged from the
employ of the Union Pacific for incom-
potency. Mr.. Hobart may have been
asked to resign on account of change
of management, but Mr.. Walsh resigned
of his own accord. do not know that
a single one of my foremen was ever dis
charged from any employment for in
competency. As evidence of good faith,
invite any one to inspect the portage,
and if a better piece of work can be
found i will confess conviction; s{
again, the correspondents alleges that
time and money which should have been
spent upon the main line and the lower
incline have peen spent upon land to
which the state has no title and in build
ingaa dwelling for the uperintendent.
The main line cannot be completed as
rapidly as other portions on account of
the difficult pile-driving. AS far as inn
proyements on land to which the state
has no title are concernedy that muchcis
true. However, the state has instituted
suit for the condemnation of. this land,
being unable to agree with the owners
regarding prices. The land was needed
for terminal buildings, and L have put
them up. All this have done by di-
rection of the .attorney-general. It is
totally false that dwelling has been
built for the superintendent. AS far as
1 am concerned, my residence is in The
Dalled and / intend it to stay there.
That was the understanding l had with
the commission when l was employed.
The building where the Office is located
was purchased of Borthwick & Frame.
1t contains two large rooms and the rear
portion was partitioned so that a family
could live there. No one occupies the
place. positively refused to live there.
sit is also Charged that large commits
sions have been received by the, purch-
asing officer. / have done all the spur-
chasing, except few items, made by
the secretary, Mr.. Lowell, and i defy
anyone to show where l received one
cent for commission. We have no mon
eyito waste, and must be economical in
orderto build the road for $50, 900. The
assertion that one officer and his rela-
tions are drawing $16 per day, none of
whom are qualified, the majority being
boys of Is or 16 years, is too absurd to
answer. So far as am concerned /
have not one relative on the works. No
boys have been employed except water
boy wv ho was paid 81 per day, and a boy
on the pipe line who received 81 rs per
day. 1t is not true that 25 per cent of
the money expended has been wasted in
mistakes. Trifling mistakes have been
made, it is true, but they amount to
nothing. In reference to the lower in
cline, the people must bear in mind that
we began work when the water was high,
and that trestles cannot be built econ
omicalIy in high water.
High salaries are not; paid on the
portage. Mr.. Walsh, the bridge fore
man, received $3.50 per month from the
Union Pacific, and is getting $3.50 now.
Master Mechanic Hobart Is getting $125
new, and the Union Pacific paid him
$125. My salary is $3.50, and does not
begin to pay expenses. I accepted the
position more to please people than for
any other purpose, and could have made
more by staying at The Dalles and at
tending to my business.
The portage will be finished October
], and Within the appropriation made