The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-07-13
CRITICIzES METHODS
ROAD CONSTRUCTION

To the residents of Hood River County
| wish to call attention to the |
method Of conducting the work Of re-
construction Of the roads IN the Barrett
District, under contract between the |
County and the Seaton Construction |
Co. This road work eonprehends a
complete reconstruction of about two
miles of an important highway leading
from the point at which work was
stopped last season, westward along
the Barrett Road to Jerieo Lane and
thence southwark to the Oak Grove
Road.
The specifications and contract for
this work appear TO be ample and il
properly enforced, would secure for
the County a strictly modern and ade-
ouate highway, but as the work will
surely be of small value unless some
steps are Immediately taken either by
the County Court or by the citizens
themselves, to Change the method of
procedure. Under the Specifications
the contractor is required to grade and
surface with macadam central strip
of sixteen feet, together with the nee
essary side bitches for drainage. Every
item in the contract is paid under the
unit price system. Apparently under
direction of the County Court, the
contractor has been required to finish
his roadway without attention being
given to the vital question of drainage.
Within the last few days due to heavy
rains, a large part of the finished,
though unaccepted work of the con-
tractor has been subjected to wash,
following the neglect of the County to
provide the necessary drainage and in
places active destruction of the road
way has commenced. 1t maybe con-
tended that this is the contractors
concern and that he should take meas
ures to protect himself bat doubt if
court would so interpret the con-
tract. If other hard rains come the
damage will become progressive and
unusual burdens will be imposed upon
contractor who has apparently been
endeavoring to conduct his operations
in full accord with the spirit and letter
of the specifications. 1t is a short
sighted policy for any corporation to
| impose upon contractors unreasonable
burdens for in subsequent biddings
allowance will surely be made to cover
| Just such contingencies. A contractor
has as much right to expect fair and
reasonable treatment as any corpora
tion.
In addition to this the County Court
appears to have eliminated from the
work the aid of the County Surveyor,
by appointment of superintendent
reporting directly to the Court. 1t is
not contended that the employment of
outside aid is of no value but that in
the interest of harmony and uniformity
all road work should be under the gen
eral supervision and control of the
chief technical adviser of the County.
the County Surveyor. During con-
struction great changes have been
made in the plans for the work, some
of which may of course have been ex-
pedient, yet If adequate plans had been
at first provided, much inconsequential
and inferior work would have been
avoided. In parts of the road the
finished surface is constructed below
the level of the surrounding lands, so
that it is impossible to drain the work
without bitches. 1t is evident that the
work was let with very meagre infor-
nation as to condition and that the
changes ordered by the County have
been such as seriously to modify the
contract, both as to extent OF the con-
struction and as to character. 1t is
here fitting opportunity to point out
the lnadequacy and imperfection of the
work of county road construction
Hood River County with all its claim
to strictly modern methods of conduct
ing its major industry of fruit growing
certainly has demonstrated in its roaC
work that it is not a modern or a pro-
gressive community. 1t leaves to the
tender mercies of its road supervisors
the expenditure of its road funds anC
works from no definite plan. The
matter would be the subject of laugh
ter were it not for. the fact that the
property owners are called upon tC
bear the expense. The rational method
of procedure would be the preparation
of a full plan for development of the
roads of the entire section with esti.
mates of cost, etc., so that the County
Court might be adequately informed as
to the work undertaken and might not
not lay itself open to actions for dam
ages or sharp criticism.
My complaint is registered as ar
interested person, for in part the ex-
penses are being borne by me. 1t is 9
positive shame to see the public money
being wasted through ignorance. In
justice to the contractor, it ought tC
be said that his work has the appear
ance of worth and that as far as might
be judged from my inspection was in
full conformity with the specifications.