Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-20
WILL PAY CASH
TO SAFEGUARD
WORK. ON ROADS
ENGINEER WILL BE EMPL0YE
BY ADVISORY BOARD
APPOINTMENT OF E. A. DE CAMP
NOT ACTED ON
Sidney A. Butler Declares That Work
to Be Paid for at 5000 Month
Belongs to the COM
mission

To guard the peoples interests in
connection with the good roads in
thorough and scientific manner the ad-
visory committee yesterday took steps
to employ a competent engineer.
s. A. Butler, William Mulholland and
Homer Hamlin, city engineer, were
appointed a special committee at the
meeting of the advisory committee
held yesterday afternoon to select this
engineer.
The engineer will be paid well for
his services and will be expected to
give a large part of his time to the
work of the advisory committee. 1t
will be his duty to examine the plans
and specifications and make estimates
of the probable cost of work to be done
on the new highways. The advisory
committee is determined that the con-
tracts awarded shall not be much in
excess of what the work reasonably
should cost. This engineer also will be
called on to figure on the partial pay
ment plans Part of the contract
price is paid over to a contractor
when a certain amount of work has
been done, and in this way contrac-
tor easily may be overpaid.
Free Service offered
1--WE had a number of offers of free
services by engineers" said Philo j.
Beveridge, acting secretary of the ad-
visory committee, yesterday, "but we
concluded it would be more satisfac-
tory to employ a good engineer at
good salary. We also expect to have
inspectors on the work, but this mat
ter will be left to the discretion of the
special committee which will select
the engineer"
While Mondays appointment by the
board of supervisors of Edgar A. De
Camp as right-of-way man was dis
cussed, no determination as to what
action shall be taken in regard to that
appointment was reached. The senti-
ment of those present at the meeting
was that the appointment was unnec-
essary and that the work of securing
rights of way for the new system of
good roads should be handled by men,
bers of the highway commission
Supervisor Eldridge took exception
yesterday to the criticism that fol-
lowed De Camps selection.
EIdridee Denies Responsibility
Unfortunately, De Camp lives in my
district, and I am accused of distribut-
ing patronage" said Eldridge.' "De
Camps appointment was not5made by
the solid three He was picked by
Supervisor Manning, and he is want
ed, not to secure a right of way for Il
portion of Long Beach boulevard or
any other part Of the good roads sys-
tenn, but to get options on a quarry
site and a right of way for q railroad
to the quarry. Supervisor Pridham
realized later that he was laboring un-
der a misapprehension when he OBJ
jected to De Camps appointment, and
said So"
Mr.. Eldridge added that De Camp
had been employed in connection with
the quarry option several weeks, work.
ing under instructions from Captain
Manning.
Chairman Bixby of the highway COM
mission stated. however, that, while
De Camp was employed to secure an
option on quarry, he would also be
called upon to arrange for rights of
way for the new system of roads in
different parts of the county.
Pertinent Suggestion Made
Asked why the highway commission
ers could not make these arrangements,
Mr. Bixby replied that a man expert
enced in the work was needed and that
De Camp had proved himself to be
such a person.
1t was suggested by one of the per-
sons attending the advisory commit
tee meeting that If this contention is
true it would be we'll to relieve one of
the highway commissioners and ap-
point in his place a man having De
Camps alleged qualifications, and in
this way quiet some, at least, of the
criticisms justly aimed at the super
visors.
"It makes little difference whether
De Camp was appointed by the solid
three or the whole board" said S. A.
Butler before the advisory committee
met yesterday. "To my mind his ap
pontment was unnecessary. Rights of
way, if needed, should have been Sc
cured long ago. and If they are to be
secured now 1 believe it is the duty of
the highway commission to do the
work"