The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-15
HUGE POLITICAL JOB.
Thousands of Dollars Going Ont
for the Campaign.
A FINE NEW STREET RUINED.
Ward Politicians Gives Fat Places -
Foremen and rimekespers-Only
Democrats Need Apply.

A few weeks ago large delegation of
prominent business men appeared before
tie board of public works and earnestly
requested that body 10 contine the i'm
mediate construction of sewers TO those
parts of the city where there would be the
least Inconvenience They represented
that the rainy season was far from over
and that 10 attempt the digging of trenches
IN business districts at such time would
be iraught with great inconvenience and
followed by damage. Their representa-
tons seemed to convince the board and
by as clear an agreement as men ever
made. the board expressed ITS willingness
to POSTPONE work on Front street until
May. Among other reasons given by the
board was that brick could not be obtained
In sufficient quantities to follow up all the
projected excavations, and that for the
more important sewer work very hard
and durable brick vas needed. By some
means it became currently believed tina.
much OF tbs brick must be brought from
Pontiac. Mich, although that was not
mentioned at the meeting.
By some means the delegation had
barely withdrawn before the wires were
pulled and letter was addressed to
the council by the authority of the
board. going squarely back on the
promises made TO the merchants and
other citizens, and recommending that the
work be done Immediately. 1t was already
on file when J. w. Van Brockln. one Of
the members of the board. caused it to be
withdrawn. and another letter to the
same effect was sent in. but considerably
modified.
HunA-sds Of man wa-e vuShaI into ,ba
work. Trenches were begun on the Yesler
avenue sewer. on Front street. Brook
street and elsewhere bitches many
blocks in length were opened. when the
usual heavy fail of rain began, only that it
was heavier than usual.
Immediately hundreds of dollars had to
be spent in snoring; the loose earth fell in
by hundreds of tons, necessitating much
OF the work being done over again. and
finally on Saturday night much of the
work had to be abandoned.
The contract for brick was no sooner let
at IS per thousand, than il was discovered
by the contractor that great quantity of
brick lying at South Seattle, and which
could be had for $3.50 per thousand, was
quite good enough.
The caving of the earth has not been so
a fine new street. recently graded and
sidewa.ked at a cost of several Thousand
dollars has caved in and looks as if il
would soon slide into Lake Union. The
danger became evident on Friday. and
several members of the city council paid
visit to the scene. They advised cessa-
ton of the work. but were laughed at by
the authorities, who called them cranks.
81 - At -.
lowest estimate of damage Is $3.50, and
those who are likely to suffer consider
that 1t cannot be replaced for less than
5000.
The sole motive of the political CLIQUE
which is now running the board of pubic
works Is to put men to work who will vote
the Democratic ticket in March. ANY
man on sewer or street work who Is
spotted" as other than hidebound DEM
ocrat is promptly removed. Men who
have been citizens for years have been
''tired" because they were suspected OF be-
ing Popuiists or Republicans.
A fragrant case of the kind was brought
10 Mayor Ronald's attention. The man in
question is near neighnor OF his, and Mr..
Ronald knows hlm TO be citizen and
taxpayer, and that he had a family de-
HShdSut mayor hbNaiu
PLANTATION was that the time keeper who
tred the man must be Republican in
disguise who had crept into position and
was discharging Republicans in order to
put up joO' on the Democrats
Nothing more absurd conld be imagined.
The army of foremen and iimekeepers are
all well-known ward workers, who are
having perfect picnic just now. Every
dlsgruntled subordinate, sore at past
neglect, or so notoriousy incompetent
that he could not be trusted with posi-
ton before, is now on the city pay roll;
aad the gangs of laborers are selected,
drilled and organized as thoroughly as uu-
sernpulous po!itieal bossism can suggest.
A grea; and much needed public work .
taken advantage OF to pour out thousands
OF dollars for political manipul alton. and
the result will be seen at the primaries