Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-06-29
ROASTS HIM.
Fair mont Index Takes Senator
Elkins to Task.

W 4 dohs
New Dominion Interview with Major
Powell the Theme Elkins is Polish
ed off to Finish Absolute Disre-
gard of Constituents is the Burden
Of the Article.
We publish elsewhere an inter
view had By a representative of the
Morgantown NEW DOMINION with
Major Powell, the United States
Engineer in charge of the construc-
tion of the locks and dams between
here and Morgantown says the In
dex in the last issue. There is a
very significant statement or two
made by Maj. Powell in this inter
view. Everybody is familiar with
the exasperating delay that has
marked the construction OF this inn
provement, but few have been aware
OF the fact that this delay has not
only had the distinct appreciation
but the active support of our Sena
tors and Representative in Congress.
1t has been five years since it was
announced with flourish Of trump
cts and the hlare of red fire. that
our very able representative in Con
gress, assisted by Senator Elkins
had at last succeeded in securing
sufficient governmental appropria
tions to slack the Monongahela riv.
er to this point Our people were
in high expectation at that time OF
the immediate contamination Of this
great work, but months and years
have rolled by since and nothing
has been done except to complete,
partially, the lock and dam near
Morgantown, for which large part
of the Appropriation had been sc
cured by Mr. Wilson while he was
in Congress. So IN recent years the
matter has passed from their minds,
and it is only when some reference
is made to it like the item from the
NEW DOMINION that they even won
der why this improvement has never
been pushed to a conclusion. BE
hind this delay, there is said TO be
a story story which shows how
great public improvement are saeri
feed to the self interest of those
high in authority. The story goes
that Mcdonald, the contractor for
the locks and dams, early found that
the work could not oe done at the
price he had bid for their eonstruc
tion. 1t is also said that his bonds
man on the contract was Pittsburg
Trust Company whose President is
an influential Congressman from the
Allegheny district, and that when it
was found that necessarily there
would be heavy loss at the price
Mcdonald was to receive for the
work which would have to he met
by the Trust Company, his bonds
mans high influences were invoked
to delay construction until limita-
ton would exonerate the bondsman
from liability. Thanks to the kind
ly assistance Of our Senator, as told
by Maj. Powell, and the lack of in
terest by our representative in push
ing the work, the needed delay has
probably been secured, Mr. Nc
Donald can step out OF the contract,
the bondsman is free, and everybody
is happy except the general public
which has been cheated out of three
or four years use of the improve
ment and now has no better or more
hopeful prospects OF the completion
of the work than it had five years
ago.
But 50 long as the public is con-
tent to elect people to look after its
interests who will barter those in
terests for political or personal in
fuences for self, it has but little
right to complain of such gross bar
gains as have probably delayed the
contamination Of this work for five