Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-19
ENGINEER SHOWS
SAVING ON ROAD
A. E. L0DER ANSWERS HARSH
CRITICISM
PRE.ELECTloN ESTIMATES ARE
BEATEN BY is PER CENT
Open Letter Written y'chief of Corps
Demonstrates That Highway
Commission Is Doing
Well on Work

Piqued at uncalled for criticism and
desirous of reassuring citizens VINO
have been needlesslY alarmed by mis-
leading assertions A. e. Loder. chief
engineer of the good roads commission,
has suddenly come out into the open
with a vastly interesting statement,
Mr.. Loder says in substance that, thus
far, his department has beaten the es-
timated cost of the roads under way
by more than 10 per cent
In a frank and comprehensive open
letter Mr. Loder calls attention to the
fact that any person can gain easy
access to all the books of the high
way commission and that Z erroneous
statements are therefore ineXcusable.
The letter. which should put all dis
quieting rumors to rest. is as follows:
1.-THE recent discussion of the good
roads project by parties who have not
informed themselves of actual condt-
tions or come near the office of the
highway commission, has convinced me
that the public is entitled to facts.
Contrary, to the assertions which
have been made, not one contract thus
far let in the good roads system has
indicated in the slightest degree that
the good roads fund will fall short of
building the entire system of roads
"The following statement is made FOR
the purpose of putting at ease the
minds of those who might be misled
by the statements of critics who talk
in round figures of $4,000 and 100000
prices a. mile without ascertaining facts
in the case. and will clearly show that
the entire system of roads will be built,
and well within the appropriation.
Work Is Well Started
"Six contracts have been awarded for
construction work, amounting to SILL
407. S. Work is now in progress on five
of these contracts, one of which is
practically completed.
preceding the bond election. prelim-
mary surveys were made on the roads
to be improved and separate estimates
made on each road or section thereof,
taking into consideration all local con-
ditions and items of expense. The esti-
mates made previous to the bond cleo
ton We're sufficient to cover all con-
tingencies and unforeseen conditions
which might arise during construction,
running over a period of three or four
years from the time the estimates were
prepared. An engineer who has the in
terests of the people at heart and whose
reputation is at stake will not rlsE
making estimates which will disap-
point the taxpayers in any respect at
the end of the work.
''While the entire 307 miles were esti-
correct to say that the cost of each
mile will be S11, ,40O65, which happens to
be the average per mile.
THE preliminary estimates preceding
the bond election show the then esti-
mated cost of each section of highway
to be improved. and the cost per mile
varies largely in each section. These
estimates are a matter of record in
the office of the highways commission
and open to the inspection of the
public.
Makes Comprehensive Summary
1.-THE following table covers the con
tracts to date. In the column headed
Bond Estimate" is given the total
estimated cost of the work as deter
mined before the bond election. includ
ing the engineering, supervision and all
expenses to the county. In the column
headed Contract Price" is given the
low bid or the price for which the con
tract has been awarded. on contracts
calling for paving the asphaltic oil is
furnished by the county, the cost Of
which is accounted for as shown.