The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-08-24
SEEKING To HASTEN
BRIDGE WORK
CITIZENS CONFER WITH COUNTY
COMMISSIONER AND THE
ENGINEER.

Protesting against the slow progress
/ that has been made In the construc-
/ ton of the Higgins avenue bridge. a
number of business men and property
owners called upon the county COM
missipners yesterday afternoon and
conferred with them and Supervising
Engineer White regarding the matter.
John Fl. Toole, president of the Big
Biackfoot Milling company: e. II.
Mcleod, president of the Missoula
Mercantile company: ]. Fl. 7. Ryman.
cashier Of the Western Montana Ma
/ tional bank: Colonel r. c. Marshall,
f.. G. Mulroney.> county attorney, AMI
others were in the party that talked
over the bridge question with the
commissioners and Engineer White.
Mr.. Taoie and Colonel Marshall were
the principal Spokesman They said
that there is no disposition on the
part Of citizens generally to do any
body an injustice or to he unreason
able in the demands that are made
as Ia the bridge work. But" said
Mr.. Toolo. Il feel and | know that
many others feel. that the entire job
has been badly managed Recently
there had been better progress made
until Saturday. when the steel work
came to standstill. and we think
that we should know what the situa-
ton is and If there is any prospect
of an improvement"
County Commissioners Wnrden and
Nelson were not able to answer any
further than to say that they had
la
and that they had been able TO get
little satisfaction. Al this juncture
of the proceedings Engineer Whit"
arrived and was able to enlighten the
inquirers to some extent.
Up tn last Friday" said Mr.. White.
there had been no delays in the con-
struction work that were not account
cd for by good reasons. 1t is true
that the work on the piers was slow.
but 1t was at all times. and ii is now.
ahead of the steel work and will not
cause any delay. The cause of the
delay In the steel construction, which
occurred last Friday and has contin-
ucd since. lay in the illness of Super
intendent Joseph, who was in charge
Of the contract of McCreary & Will
was compelled to go tn Il hospital IN
Spokane for treatment. He left a
man here whom | supposed was in
charge of the work. When it came to
swinging the long girders Friday aft
crnoon, everything being ready. this
man said il was not what he was
sent here for. Then | sought out the
foreman and he said he had quit;
that he was expected Ia do a supcrin-
t"ndent's work for "A forcmans pay.
and he would not do il. This lcft the
work with nobody In charge and all
! could do was tn telegraph to the
Rurrell people in Seattle: since then
| have had considerable correspond
ence with the company and have just
received a message to the effect that
Mr.. Mccreary has left Seattle to
come here himself"
Mr.. White described the situation in
detail. giving the facts which were
published in The Missoulian Satur-
day morning. He added that the ac
ton nf the foreman placed the con-
tractors practically in the situation of
n strike. lie believed that the arrival
of MIR. Mccreary would bring about d
of operations ana that
there would be little more delay.
In answer to questions. Mr. White
said he was certain that tn" bridge /
ran be completed now in 10 days. All !
IF the material Is here and the con-
crete work IL at last in charge Of II
competent superintendent: all of the
early delays having been the result
IF incompetency and Of lack of equip
ment There liz nothing lacking now
In the way of material and the bridge
ran he finished If the steel contractors I.
will do their work promptly,
After hearing the statement of the
engineer, Commissioner Worden
showed letter from the Hurreu peo- /
Pile. written after the commissioners !.
had refused la grant an extension of !
time. in which the charge is made /.
that the failure Of the engineers to
furnish the shop drawings for the
steel MAS responsible for the delas.
Mr. White will take up this matter
with his firm. Waddell 4 Harrington, !
Al the conclusion IF tn" discussion
MIR Tnolc renewed his statement thae !.
there is no disposition to be unjust
or unreasonable. but that hr would
he in favor nj taking the work a1ay
from III" contractors il the bridge is
not finished by November /. nr II
Their" Is nnt due diligence on the part
Of thu contractors prior to THAT time.
Mir. Mcleod said: Damages from the
are no good Ia us. Ne
want bridge. ana we want It now. i
There has been delay for which can
see no excuse" This ended the con- !
ference.