Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-28
ADVISORY BOARD
ROASTS ENGINEER
Blanchard BIames Loder with lg-
noranCe of the Details of
Highway Work
THE SOLID THREE MAY SPLIT
Battle Royal Expected on Friday
When Supervisors Hear
Road Controversy
THE SOLID THREE MAY SPLIT

Members of the advisory committee,
which has attacked the work and meth
cd in the construction of Los Angeles
county highways, held a meeting in the
offices of A. p. Fleming, Chamber
of Commerce building, yesterday after
noon, and after a long session severely
criticized Chief Engineer Loder, in
charge of the road construction.
Just what decision was reached at
this meeting, none of the members OF
the advisory committee would state,
but all seemed confident in their posi-
ton, and maintained their charges
would be sustained.
F. W. Blanchard, after the meeting
yesterday, said:
"Chief Engineer Loder confirmed our
statements when it became necessary
for him to go out along the supposed
to-be completed roads to ascertain II
our charges were correct.
He virtually admitted he was not IN
touch with the details of the work,
and knew nothing about the business
over which he has had direct super
vision, when ne went out on his tour
of inspection yesterday. This trip was
made in company with a newspaper
man, who had to show Mr.. Loder the
points indicated in our report, and who
showed him the defective work OF
which We complained.
AS engineer in charge of this work,
Mr. Loder should have been thorough
w acquainted with every detail OF its
progress, with every plan, speciiica-
tion, contract and act connected with
the building of the highways for which
the citizens of Los Angeles county
shouldered this additional burden Of
taxation.
LAS members of the advisory COM
mittee, appointed to see that this
money is spent judiciously and eco
nomically, it became our duty to keep
an eye on the road d-building, and when
we found what was going on we re-
ported accordingly.
''There is nothing now that we can
do except to advise the public of the
true conditions and it is now in the
hands of the board of supervisors. We
will make our final report tomorrow
Thursday and await the results at
the hearing Fri. ""
EASY TO CONFIRM
Another memb-r of the advisory
committee, in the discussion yesterday
said:
ANY citizen Of Los Angeles easily
can confirm what we have said of the
work on the county highways. The
progress that has been made speaks
for itself; it is not at all the progress
that should have been made by this
date. The work also speaks for it.
self. It Is not the work for which Los
Angeles county taxpayers have paid,
il is not the work the citizens expected.
THE people are tired of this cry
from the men in charge of the road
construction, who have been saying
for many months We are just about 10
do this or do that They want some
thing done. They have paid for good
roads. and they want them
There was much speculation yester-
day as to whether the solid three on
the board of supervisors will be di-
vided at the hearing 1t was hinted at
the courthouse that Supervisors Mel
lis and McCabe would refuse longer tc
stand by 5. r. Eldridge. who has de
cared himself as opposed TO recogniz-
ing the advisory committee,
In speaking of the charges made by
the advisory committee against him
Chief Engineer LOder of the highway
commission said;
In regard to the one strip of de
fective roadway on Prospect avenue,
admit it is not what il should be anC
will not accept it, This piece of worl
was done by contract. man named
White. living in Hollywood, having th'
contract. | told White that we CoulC
not accept the last two hundred fee
of the road he put down as finished
roadway, and we will not. He Will b'
given an opportunity to make his worl
there satisfactory, however. Thi'
means only a little while longer unit
the road is in acceptable condition