The daily sentinel. [volume] (Grand Junction, Colo.) 1893-current, 1910-09-26
DISCREPANCY BETWEEN SECOR'S
STATEMENT ANOSHAFROTH'S LETTER
Where Is the Responsibility for Delay in Build
ing Bridge at Foot of Main Street?

John p. Secor. chairman OF the
board OF county commissioners of
Mesa county was interviewed Satur-
day evening with regard to the prob
abilities that the Main Street bridge
proposition would be satisfactorily
settled in the near future.
In speaking of the matter, Mr.. Sc
cor said practically the following:
According to the state engineers
tentative estimates, the cost of the
bridge might run as high as Sl20,-
600, which is prohibitive figure.
THE best estimates thus far place
the cost of the substructure at S63,-
600. OF this amount the county has
appropriated S25, 900 and the states
share is S6,4SO, making a total of
but $31, 4SO. To this may be added
several Thousand dollars, which | un-
derstand has been subscribed by prop
erty owners across the river, and n
smaller list made up by property
owners on this sido Of the river.
The state engineer requires that
he draw the plans and specifications
and make the necessary estimates.
His figures thus far have been too
high, in my opinion.
"Of course, the governor can exert
considerable influence in the matter.
Governor Shafroth could, if he would,
secure a special state appropriation
for our bridge; but | have had little
encouragement from that source.
IF the state engineer would per-
NIT us to receive plans from other
engineers, | believe the bridge could
be constructed at a much lower cost
than his estimates indicate; but he
has definitely stated his position in
that regard. and | see no help for it..
AS to the utilizing of convict la
Dor, it would be a good proposition;
but there seems to be little hope from
that source. except in the distant flu
ture. There was strong hope that
we might be able to secure some of
the eonvicts for this section; but, APP
| parently, there is plenty of places on
the eastern slope to occupy them for
a long time.
Il am going over to Denver again
shortly and see if there is not some
way of securing the states share of
| the money now and make a good
start ON the bridge, anyhow; ana
then trust to the future for further
progress with its construr tion."
Subsequent to the foregoing inter-
view L ne otullHtl WIS bfIlullltu 10
! peruse and publish the following let
ter from Governor Shafroth, received
by Attorney Henry X. Rhone a month
ago, in which the governor makes
specific declarations regarding the at
titude of the state engineers office
| toward the bridge proposition. which
are decidedly at variance with the
statements of Commissioner Secor
The governors letter speaks for itself
in that particular.
Tire letter from Governor Shafroth,
II will be noticed, also goes into the
matter of the use of state convicts in
this part of the state.
Since receiving the letter Mr.
Rhone had an interview with War
den lyman of the state penitentiary
during which the letter stated that
he believed that he would be able to
furnish some convicts for work in
this county, either bridge or road,
within very short time; and that
he would make special efforts to see
that arrangements to that end were
made. Ii appears that there is room
for explanation for the discrepancies
between the local and state officials
The governors letter is as follows: