The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-16
FROM MR.. sRADBURN.

The County Surveyor Answers the he-
port OF the Road Superintendent
To the Editor of The Post.
Houston, Texas, February 14.-To the late
term Of the commissioners court of Harris
county Mr.. John ". Maxcy (signinG himself
as Superintendent Of County Roads'D
makes a report purportins TO contain his
findings as to the condition, past and pres
ent, Of the county roads and the finances
relating thereto TO this report ask space
in your paper for reply because same re.
tccts upon me as o citizen aud MS an officer
Of the county. Concerning specifications
for road work heretofore used Mr Maxcy
says.
II lind the present specifications, under
which several contracts have been let, con.
hicting unsatisfactory, irrelevant In places,
and woefully incomplete in other places
strict and impartial Interpretation Of them
would result IN trouble and dispute, besides
working unnecessary hardship on the con.
tractors as we'll MS on the county"
To this ] reply that the specifications 10
which he so strenuously objects are the
result Of the combined wisdom Of road.
makers IN jurisdictions in which the most
good has been accomplished and are now
I'm use I'm an counties and States which are
abreast of III" tunes Again Mr. Mazcv
says:
Upon investigation ind everything in
confusion, and this manifest want Of svs-
ten aud organization has infected tho con
tractors aud their forces TO such an extent
| that they, work to o disadvantage while
| Harris county has had forced upon II som.
very soveUly construction
And again answer. That while confus-
ion may, and probably docs rule now, at the
| time of my forced retirement from tho
active supervision Of county road work tbore
was not the slightest confusion Immcdi
| ately upon the signing Of a contract the con
| tractor was furnished with the water levels
and profile and grade stake were driven
as the work progressed. The work pro
crossed under the supervision Of competent
inspectors appointed by me, VINO made daily
minutes which were afterward incorporated
into weekly report made by me. and after
wards verified by me through personal In
spectiou and test. Once each month csti
mates were made from this record which
were given to the contractor interested. az
! ter having been copied by me in an impress
| sion hook kept for that purpose I'm my 81
| nce Had Mr. Maxcy asked me for informa.
| tloh (which he has never done | would have.
| been glad TO have shown him that there was
| no confusion but that on the contrary there
| was a perfect record Of every road show.
| Ing Its then condition and every detail Of
| construction since the beginning Of tho
! work, and today I am ready and WILLING
! 10 furnish any data which / have and which
| the gentleman would condescend to use, and
| ! say this because l still have an abiding
| interest In the welfare or Harris county
and its roads, notwithstanding the fsrr tbat
| after having been elected by the voters nud
| taxpayers ms county surveyor In tho belinf
| that as such officer would be--as is custom
| ary-placed In charge Of the road work, the
| commissioners court dispensed with NV eor
| vices tor political reasonsl without notice
! 10 me and without having deigned to rive
| me any reason for such removal TrHder
the head OF Repair Work Mr.. Maxcy
says
on the Harrisburg road the contractors
claim TO have used all the material CON.
| tempiated for 4,69 miles OF repairs on abont
20 miles completed work | can nor sccont
this without Investigation"
believe this statement 10 be sccproto
hthough the contracts contained nroviso
that | should have the employment ~ r.
Inspectors and notwithstanding the fact
that had three competent ana Trained ,ss.
In charge Of the work, the new con,rnissjnn
ers court saw At to dispace these men and
appoint In their places feur new inspectors
a!l o. whom were political appointees. I
am informed by the contractors Tor mt
work that the new and Jealous lnspectors
!disreGarding the estimate MAJ
b., tor,. me q the quantity mace ~
sisted upon the placing Of ali the nator IN !
Intended for the entire length Of IN" ra "a,
upon the nrst $50 miles. Now, Mr. Edjt ySu
nave answered those sections Of Mr.. MAJ,
cFs report which I believe 10 hsvs 49,
aimed at me- and as a taxpaver : crpeen
, Few more lines In which to discuss tbs Nv ". a
ter OF road building under the present 'T Se.
Ellne hecQuse II has an absorbing interest =.
those who pay the freight" TO
We pay monthly now for road buud,nc
- t"'tuWN' 20 Judge and commissio,n,!ss
about $40 four inspectors $500 laliho,,,t
long time There has been hut ono nieo, =" ~
work uudcr way. hire ~ wagon TO- r'v s,,,. or
,msGI1asnt Sl",; sgpcrlptcndents salary sISo
SllSso per year. 10 which must t S'ol or
nc 800 per month allowed by the spnrorai
81 MI MaSey's report. smOantipg ~ p,.o "
Yea o ,S me sum OF $500 hich added 'p ~
SlaSsp per wear spent and not ono ~ p,
rpao attained, because not one cent ~ M
shove goes into. either the material y, me ~
,i hS N'IN mon me r0ads In the above es.
, Gttsnt g MI harer, which viii NO. n az
sAO0' pS annus to the above total, t ps,