The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1908-11-02
SQUARE DEALERS
PUT To ROUT
Continued from Page ~

been fearfully misrepresented. The
bridge at Peshastin creek, which
happens to be near the land owned
by Mr.. Otis, was located by the three
commissioners. 1t was located for
the reason that it opened up new
territory, and was SO located be-
cause it was the most practical site
that could be found. With the
county engineer we three commits
sioners went over the sites suggested
and found the one at Peshastin the
most desirable, and there should be
no criticism against Mr.. Otis simply
because his land happened to be near
the bridge site.
1.-THE history of the location of
the bridge at Sherman creek is this:
Last year Mr.. Otis suggested that in
as-much as the road on the south side
of the river was in a miserable con-
dition and could never be made a
good road that it might be good
idea to locate a bridge at the Sher-
man mill and thus open new terri
tory on the north side. There was
I also another consideration. There
was some state aid money coming
to this county, and by the location
of bridge at Sherman mill we could
get aid on road along the north
side of the river. However, at the
time this bridge was first suggested
we had no money to build the bridge.
This spring We discovered that
we had money to go ahead with this
bridge, and before taking it up in
the session of the board I talked it
over with Commissioner Darnell and
then we brought it up in the gen.
eral session of the board. Commits
sioner Otis did not take the initiative
in this matter, but / was the one to
take it up. The cost of this bridge
will be but $7,343 instead of $4,000,
as is erroneonusly stated in the cir
cular.
Then it has been stated that Mr..
Otis located a bridge on his Mason
creek land. This is false, because
the bridge was located in the spring
by myself and County Engineer Ma
varre, and Mr.. Otis did not buy his
Mason creek property until the fall.
This disposes very fully of the
charge os the Square Dealers.
"These people also charge that
$500 was spent on a county road
leading to Mr.. Otis place. This is
also false. The money was expenl-
ed on the regular stage road, lead
ing from Chiwaukum to Lake Wenat-
chez, and is fully six miles from Mr..
Otis property. There was a general
kick to have this appropriation made.
The road badly needed it, and the
Lake Wenatchee people generally
made a kick to get the appropriation.
"The charge is also made that the
Chumstick road is and has been in
horrible condition and the commits
sioners were fully cognizant of the
fact. The size Of the matter is that
of road, eight miles of which was
constructed by the state. With me
was Engineer Navarro, and we re-
marked at the time that there was
not a single chuckhole nor rock in
the entire road. We made the round
trip of 50 miles in one day, and know
that the road that the Square Deal
ers are kicking so much over was
and is in good shape. and no criticism
should be attached to Mr.. Otis on
this road matter.
II could go all through the f1imsy
! criticisms that have been directed
against Mr.. Otis and tear them to
pieces, as I have the above. 1t is
absolutely impossible for any man to
handle the road and bridge matters
of district to the entire satisfaction
of everybody. I know this, and |
firmly believe that Mr. Otis has given
as general satisfaction in his district
as any man could. I know that he
is q good, conscientious officer and
for the good of the district should be
given a large majority tomorrow.