Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1908-10-22
Cattail creek, near Winona.

Cattail creek, near Winona.
The Law was violated in two par.
ticulars-
| First There was no petition for
the location of the two bridges.
Second There were no published
proposals for bids. the Hennepin
Bridge Company being given the job.
and a job Of repairing. the whole
amounting to the considerable sum Of
four thousand. six hundred and
twelve dollars. with no chance what.
ever being given to anyone else to
bid on the work
Now. let Us see what follows:
The Record editor learned Of the
Cattail bridges when. before the pri.
mary election. during a visit BY him
to the winona country. he found the
people up in arms against the build
ing Of two bridges they had not
asked for-the same being built In
the wfong place, wholly unnecessary,
q third bridge being required to
make the two Of any practical use:
and the purchase or condemnation Of
hundred dollars worth OF land
along the creek furnishing a good
highway without building the
bridges. At that time the editor
did not ascertain that the bridges
had been built without calling
for bids After he came home
he proceeded to investigate the mat
ter and learned Of the startling con-
dition Of affairs surrounding the
building Of the BRIDGES condition
which makes it appear that for long
time there has been . desire on the
part Of the members Of the board to
seek for opportunities for building
iron bridges-all such jobs to be
given to the Hennepin Bridge Com
pany-whether such bridges were or
we're not necessary. and whether or
not wooden or a combination bridge
would not as well fill the bill and
at a much cheaper price.
Then. after the Record did its duty
IS = newspaper by making the facts
public, what was the course of the
commissioners! They began to grab
at excuses as drowning men grab 1t
straws. The boss OF the county build
ing. Mr.. Herolz, appeared in print to
the effect that he knew nothing about
the matter and that the commits
sioners alone were responsible. But.
in private-when he can get . man
ON by himself"-he has roasted the
Record editor and made all sorts OF
excuses for the deal. He knows, and
the commissioners that he has misled
know that, had the Record kept still,
the taxpayers Of this county would
not have known of the rotten meth
DDS that have long been practiced in
letting county jobs Mr.. Herolz's or
gan, the Advocate. published by his
political friend. Mr. Patterson, has
not had single line in regard to
the illegal building OF the bridges;
and the editors OF the Hazelton Re
publican and the Braddock News, be-
ing distant from the county seat,
could hardly be expected to know
what was doing here, especially %
the members of the board and the
auditor and treasurer, who belong to
the same political combine, took
mighty good care that nothing was
given out regarding It, However, the
editors Of the News and the Repub-
lican were quick to take up the cause
Of the taxpayers as soon as they I'M
derstood what had been done.
But the only newspaper in the
county that is supporting Mr. Heroic
for the legislature said never word.
Well, the Record having made the
matter public in July. showing that
the material for the two bridges H.
legally let had been shipped to Pol
lock. the taxpayers began to sit up
and take notice.
First the county auditor tried to
square matters by publishing .
notice for bids. This too was illegal.
in that 1t was not published the
length Of time required by law. and
did not give the specifications.
1t is almost impossible to believe
but It Is absolutely true, that, al
though one Of the bridges illegally
let had been built, this same bridge
was included In tn auditors call
for bids.
Just think Of It. Bids ILLEGALLY