The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-05
THAT ROADCONTRACT
Another Campaign Roorback
Promptly Exploded.
rowNsLey WIRES A DENIAL.
The Story About the Cedar Lake Road
Meets Ready Answer-Ai
Business Proposition.

ssers Got Rid of Obnoxious Voters" that
would be unworthy of notice were il not
for the fact that some show OF truth IS
injected into the tissue of m;sstatements
that might prove misleading TO those
who are not thoroughly familiar
with that papers methods OF political
warfare. Ii takes the paper over
three columns of space TO say that the
county commissioners, the Republican
county and state central committees. and
''every member of the Republican ring" in
the election of two years ago, were inter-
ested in a scheme TO build q wagon road
from North Bend to Cedar Lake, dis
lance of little over eighteen miles. for
the purpose of taking men out
of the city, who would otherwise
vote the Democratic ticket. and
keep them at work in the woods until the
election was over and thus deprive that
party Of the benefit of the votes. 7. f.
Townsley, we'll known in this city. IS
named as the contractor for the building
of the road, and what purporss 10 be q
statement from him, exposing the scheme,
is printed. Harry Whites name figures
prominently In the article and II is stated
on good authority that he IS the author Of
the whole story as published. The Teie-
graph has waited until Mr.. Townsley leftthe
city before springing the story. no doubt
hoping thereby that the day of election
would pass without the SANDER being con-
tradicted, and now falsely insinuates that
Townsley was bought off for 81 500 from
giving IT away. In this the paper has
been fooled, for Mr.. Townsiey. who is in
San Francisco with his family. aud whose
address is we'll known TO many of his
acquaintance in this city. was yesterday
notified by wire concerning the puhiica-
ton OF the rory, and last evening the fol-
loving reply was received by the Posr-IN-
rELLIGENcER. which is itself explanatory:
SAN Francisco, CAL. Nov. 4. 1885,
About the time I began work on the road
I had talk with the county commission
ers and they agreed that at any time
brought In petition signed by the major
ity of the residents in that district they
would consider the matter and might
purchase any road ] had built. At
that time I was anxious for the road and
work ed hard for the petition and brought it
into them some time in January. Then
they made the contract The second con-
tract was made under protest by me.
Their reason for making the second con-
tract was lack of money in the road fund
of that district. l did not know Ruther-
ford until about the time of making the
second contract and never had any dis
agreement or trouble with him. The COM
missioners told me some time during
AnriI. 1898, to stop work and l
did so. l have not had any CONVERSE
ton with the ommissioners since that
time about the work that / remember.
An order for all warrants to be paid me on
the contract vas assigned TO Harry White,
as money borrowed on bis Endorsement OF
a s., 500 warrant made to him, was used To
pay part of said notes. Some notes with
orders attached were paid afterwards oy the
commissioners. The whole matter IS oil
record In King county. The political part
OF the story originated with two
Democrats at North Bend, Mr.. Jose and
Mr. King. sent about twenty men up TO
work on the road about November l, 1897
1t was known by many OF my friends that
/ came down 10 San Francisco both on
business and on account of the health of
nv family. Seattle Is still my home. 1
will be back there in few months end
will be ready at all times to testify to
these matters. am not in the biaekmail-
ing business and never spoke word TO
any one of the commissioners about pay
ing me 81, 500 or any amount: II 1 did
want il made known by them. have
not been in the commissioners Office this
year. and never had, IN the last six
months. any conversation with any of
them EXCEPT TO speak or say good day.
rhe insinuation made by the Telegraph
that nv visit TO this city was on money
obtained from them rs worthy OF that
sheet and some of It's connections.
The 81. 500 story Is a pure lie all the way
through. and seems 10 spring from the
brain of one of the political copsrtners
of one of the owners OF the Telegraph, who
met me on the street few days before the
Democratic convention and limited very
strongly that / might make a good sized
amount by swearing 10 story that would
help defeat the Republican ticket If the
convention went the right way. l said
some parties were interested enough TO go
apy length or spend any amount 10 ac-
compilsh the defeat of the Republican
ticket. can give the name when neces-
sary. Ny answer was:
81 know of no story worth any amount
and am not swearing lies for anybody
or any gain.
the commissioners are matters OF record
and open 10 the public, and not BY any
means what the Telegraph Mats st.
The county has gotten q good deal more
road than it paid for. These gentlemen in
the different banks who loaned me money
did so as a matter Of business on what
they thought satisfactory security. This
whole business is q contemplate at
tempt to throw dirt AZ the Repub-
Hcan party over my shoulders and
il il unworthy OF notice. The public has
nothing 10 do with ray private affairs. but,
il necessary. / can readily prove bow
much money had when lett Seattle last
month aud that IL was honestly obtained.
T. +. TowNsLEY.
The building Of the Cedar Lake road
was business proposition pure and sim
ple and any attempt 70 make political
capital out of it is simply preposterous,
and last evening caused citizen, who is
thoroughly familiar with the whole tran
saction. 10 remark that the Democrats
must be getting hard up for
thunder" The facts OF the
case are that Mr.. Townsisy
and other. we're interested in gold aud ssi-
yer mines near the head of Cedar lake. and
were anxious 10 get good road 80 North
bend In order that the ore eonid be
shipped out The route Of the road ira
yersel an nnsurveyed section OF coan-
try. thickly timbered, but which would
open up q vast amount Of mining prop
critics owned By various people living
a. Seattle. North Bend and other places
uishin the road district Mr.. Townsley
appeared before the board 81 county CON-
nissioners and proposed that be build ths
road, and the county then pay him
for the work, The commissioners to prop
eriy view il and estimate the cost
lie represented that his mining prop
erty was rich in both % the precious
metals and THAI II only there vas an out
set 20 market the proposition would be
OF greas seneAt - the county At large as
well a. to himself and large NUMBER Of
people within khs uireeG vicinity through
= hsrh fhs road wguaa uzss AZ further