The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-05-17
THAT TERRA GOTTA.
Enlightening Letter From the Agent
Through Whom il Was Purchased.

The following letter from MIR, u, g.,
Rayer, of Portland. the agent of the firm
at Lincoln. Cal. from whom the County
OF ClatSop bought 100000 worth of
terra Gotta, upon the order Of Judge
Trenchard and his colleagues, is pub
lished in these columns with pleasure,
for two very essential reasons, Because
it cnlightcns the public of this county
on the primary fact that there is II
reputable firm behind the delivery Of
the goods purchased, and that the whole
transaction stands TO bc closed salts.
factorily for the county and all con
ccrned, facts that were unknown of rec
ord here before. But this paper has
pothing to retnct Of what it said rs to
the manner of doing twenty thousand
dollar piece of public business with the
reckless inattention to business detail
that marked the course of that transac.
tion ut the hands Of Judge Trenchard
and his colleagues. II did not include
Mr. Bayer in its structures. except as
they incidentally involved him. and il
has no apologies to make in any direc'
ton. What il said about the business
was absolutely true in every detail as to
the inadequacy of business regularity
and it has nothing whatever to take
back.
Mr. Bayer's letter is in word, and
figures as follows, to.wit:
Portland, Or. May Is, 1906.
Editor Morning Astorian, Astoria,
Oregon.
"Dar Sir:-My attention IA just
been called to an article published in
your issue of March sth regarding the
terra Gotta from the Clatsop county
court house. which seems to be a re.
HtclioH ON ilt anu buC Hiii VI 'tahuihE'
Mclean & Company, whom | represent.
You insinuate that it is probable that
this terra Gotta is not made and that
the county has nothing tangible showing
that il will ever receive the goods, and
ask why the goods were not delivered.
For the benefit OF the taxpayers Of
Clatsop county wish 10 state that the
terra Gotta for the court house was
made and was ready to ship sixteen
months ago, and was personally com
PEELED to advance several thousand dol
lars to the manufacturers to hold it for
this building. While Gladdng, Mclean
L Company have held me liable for the
full amount of the contract, succeeded
in having them make reduction to me
which enabled me to offer il at saving
to the county, which was accepted. We
acted in good faith all through and it
was through no fault of ours that the
building was stopped and the goods
thrown back on our hands.
when l made the proposition to sell
it to the county, it was on the under
standing that we could ship it at once,
so as to get it out Of our way at the
factory, and Gladding, Mclean & Co.
were much disappointed when | signed
an agreement to hold it for -ix months.
This contract has been considerable
loss to Gladding. Mclean & Co., and my
self, not only in the rebate we have Civ.
Ell. but in being out our money for such
a length of time, and also the fact OF
having had to handle it so many times
at the factory instead OF being able to
ship as soon as made, which may neces-
state the remaking of some Of the
work, for which they will receive no
compensation.
Il recently received an order to ship
it and it will begin to arrive shortly.
There will be delay of probably two
weeks as they will have to remark the
pieces as the old marks have become
partly oblterated. Also they have to
sort out any broken pieces and re-make
them. It can readily be seen that the
only party who has made anything by
the transaction is Clatsop county. This
terra Gotta could not be replaced today
for less than $4,000 more than Clatsop
county paid for it.
"The firm Of Gladding, Mclean & Co.
have nearly million dollars invested in
their works and the talk of either they,
Or myself, playing 'bunco' game for
the amount obtained from Clatsop
county, is ridiculous
"Will you kindly publish this letter
so that / may be put right in the mat
ter. Yours very truly,
-. c. BAYER."