Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-04-06
THE STATE WAGONROADS.
The State Supreme Court Gives
Us VctOry all Alomg
the Line.

| tuF L9Ncs
The case of AN. Ingram vs.State
Wagon Road Commission was
heard in the supreme court at
Lewiston last Wednesday and, as
I announced in our extra of last
Friday, was decided in favor of
plaintiff. Ingram had bid to build
certain miles of the Salmon river
wagon road for specified sum.
The Commission accepted his bid
and notified him thereof. But the
Commission refused to sign the
contract on the ground that the
law, as they interpreted it, required
the entire road to be completed
for its entire length for the amount
of the appropriation. Therefore
plaintiff petitioned the supreme
court for writ of mandate, COM
manding the Commission to exc
cute their contract. The court
issued the writ, and defendants
were given time to show cause why
a peremptory writ should not be
issued against them. The case
was argued last week, attorney
general Parsons appearing for the
defendants, and Hon. J. w. Reid,
Of Lewiston, and F. E. Fogg, of
Grangeville, representing plaintiff.
AS result of the argument a
mandatory writ was issued, COM
manding the State Wagon Road
Commission to execute it's contract.
This assures the completion of the
following contracts for the dist
ances and prices specified as follows:
John Mathison, 1st mile, $500;
End mile, 81 200; 9th mile, 81 400;
7th mile, 5000; Sth mile, 500.
Peter Smith, miles 3, 4, 5, 81, 800.
A. N. Ingram, miles 9, 10, II,
-, 13, IA, $500.
Frank Shissler, miles 15, 16, II,
IS, 10, 20, $4,000.
The contract for the balance of
the Salmon river road from the
Goth mile stake to the Salmon Mea-
dows end, distance of 331 miles,
was awarded to Cameron & Lynch,
Of Spokane, for $1,000. Their bid,
however, was based on the condi-
tion that Idaho county pay them
$40, 600, which is not at all likely
to be done unless the legisla ture
next winter fails to make the ap-
preparations to complete it.
On the Elk City branch there
were there were three bids, viz:
IA. +. Parker and S. W. Smith
to build Is miles on the west end
of the road for $1,000.
2.-Cameron & Lynch to build
10 miles for $4,000.
3.-Cameron & Lynch to build
the entire Elk City road for So, 900,
upon the condition that Idaho
county paid the contractors the
sum of $4,000.
The third bid was accepted, but
as there was a string to it the con-
tractor may default on it.
In that event we take it for
granted that the Commission would
have to fall back on the specific
bids, one and two. The question
then arises: which 19 miles did
Mr.. Cameron bid on? If on the
west end his bid is four miles bet
ter than ours, and we have no kick.
But if Mr.. Cameron's bid is on the
other or eastern end of the road,
then ours is the best and lowest
bid, because it covers the hasdest
part of the road, and we have so
advised the Commission.
But whoever gets the contract
we are earnestly in favor of the
County Commissioners of Idaho
County taking hold of the Elk
City branch where the State Com
mission lets go, and completing it
this very summer. The Salmon
river division is State road and
it can wait another nine months
until the Legislature appropriates
State funds to complete it. But it
is a frozen fact that no Legislature
will ever appropriate another dol
lar for the Elk City road, and as it
will be useless unless completed we
favor its immediate completion at
the expense of this county. And
it will not cost the county $4,000
either. We ask our county fathers
to investigate this matter at their
session next week and take such
steps as may be necessary to have
the Elk City road completed this
very summer. The Legislature
meets next January, and the fact
that the county has completed the
Elk City road at its own cost will
be potent argument to get the
appropriations necessary to COM
plete the Salmon river division
next year.
The attorneys in the case have
covered themselves with glory.
1t will be remembered that Mr..
Telcher employed Hon. J. w. Reid
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