The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-07-29
Crack On North Third.

J ~---~-~-~---'
street committee, accompanied by
! Mayor Eugene Tausick and the city
engineer this morning inspected the
concrete base that was laid on North
! Third street this week, with the result
| that crack about eight feet in length
| was discovered at the intersection of
Sumach street Mr.. Whiteman evil
IDENTIFY took the matter under advise
| ment, though it was shown that the
| break came over a water pipe that
| had recently been put in, and was
| caused by the settling of the SOIL
After making this inspection the
engineers force requested the city Of
| ficers to accompany him to North
Second street, where test of the grav-
| el was to be made The test, as made,
! showed the mixture to contain more
sand than gravel, but Mayor Tausick
and Chairman Whiteman argued that
| the companys overseers were instruc-
ting the men to mix additional gravel
enough to make it mixture as called
| for in the specifications. While the test
| was being made on North Second
street, Engineer L. w. Loehr and
Chairman Whiteman had little argu-
ment relative to authority, but neither
seemed to have gained any victory.
| IT know your contention is proven"
| said Mr.. Whiteman to the city engi-
| neer, "but the street committee is
watching this work and capable of
| judging when the specifications are
/ being violated
| 81 do not believe retorted Mr..
| Loehr that the street committee is
| competent to judge as against actual
| facts and figures
"It looks as though no one has any
right around here any more" came
| back Mr. Whiteman, except your
self"
1--WE will see about that later fol-
lowed Loehr, and dug his toe into the
rock pile to show how much sand
really was beneath the upper crust of
Umatilla gravel.
Friction Is Noticeable.
That the question of authority is
neighborhood of the city hall is quite
apparent, even to a casual observer,
and complications may be expected to
develop. Mr.. Loehr claims he is work.
ing to the best advantage of the prop
erty owners, while Mr.. Whiteman and
members of the street committee are
they say, with more of a give and
take" disposition. Mr.. Whiteman, ac-
cording to report, has spent much of
his time on the ground where work.
men were carrying on paving opera
tions, and ne is satisfied that the Rich
& Harris people are doing their best
in living up to the specifications.
THE report was current a few days
ago that the company was using pine
instead of fir in some of the work"
said he this morning, land l investi-
gated AS soon as l cut off a piece of
the wood I could see at glance that
it was the finest fir that ever was run
through a MILL
One of the reasons why the Rich &
Harris company entered an abnor-
mally high bid at the meeting Of the
council last Tuesday evening, it is said, !
is because of the friction, and the diff
ficulty in carrying on operations
here in a pleasant manner.
1--WE can get contracts IN other
Cities one of the representatives is
quoted as saying, where there is no
the deal.''
Meanwhile there seems to be ground
for argument as to where the weight
of authority lies along the line of
street improvements, and until that is
settled, things will be uncomfortable
! and not home-like in the city CAPT.
absolutely refused to allow the Rich
& Harris company to complete the
paving on West Main street; the street
committee ordered worl. done, and it is
being done. The city engineer now says
he refused to take any of the respon-
sibility for poor pavement.
MnnOrARru tn Dlhur