The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1912-07-05
WHO PAYS THE FREIGHT,

In the suit or the Ol1Ver Bridge COM
many against the county for money
Alleged to be due for the construction
n the bridge across the Okanogan
riyer at Omak, threshed out In the su-
perior court last week, jury brought
IN a verdict in favor of the plaintiff
IN the sum of $4,000. This is much
less than the amount claimed by the
company, but 1t Is sufficient to reim-
Nurse the company for the balance due
an the contract. Here is verdict
that goes to prove that jury Is not
always prejudiced against q corpora
ton holding a just claim growing out
of a stipulated contract, and that a
Jury will not always be Influenced in a
case where the jurors are indirectly
interested in the verdict. for in this
instance every juror was a property
holder In the county and must in the
course OF events contribute toward
the payment of the Judgment. If there
had been merit in the contention of
the defense the county would not have
lost the case. 1t is hardly to be ex-
pected that the case will be appealed,
for there was some testimony that 1t
Is 1ust as we'll should not be given any
more publicity than what 1t has al
ready received.
This suit was the OutgrOwth of the
celebrated Omak bridge case, and
thereby hangs a tale. 1t Is not
pleasant tale to narrate, and while
Il should be handled without gloves,
yet out OF consideration to officials
whom the editor has personally very
LA fao13Mn no
constrained, although by so doing it
ID felt that many taxpayers will feel
disappointed. This position is not
taken to shield any officer. 1t is not
felt that anything of criminal ma
ture has been uncovered by the trial,
but II the reports of the testimony
reaching this Office are correct in
every detail there has been stupid ig-
notance displayed in the matter OF
Inspecting the work as 1t progressed
on the bridge, and carelessness bor-
dering upon criminality. A public Of
6cer Is always more open to caustic
critism, whether he deserves 1t or not,
than q private citizen, and too often
that criticism Is made by those not full
y conversant with facts, but II the
evidence brought out in the trial was
what report makes 1t then those ut
iault can hardly plead for mercy at
The bar Of public opinion.
The Omak bridge construction from
tAe,yefy 1rst movement to secure that
Z touch Of scandal. Whether the con-
dltions were ripe for bridge at that
point when the building Of the bridge
was ordered is doubtful question.
However. the settling up Of the sur
rounding country, with the certainty
Of railroad across the river. would
have made 1t necessity In the course
Of time. But that Is neither here or
there. The bridge was ordered and
constructed. 1t Is the plan OF pro-
cedure, and subsequent developments
% the wreck Of the bridge, that fault
to be found. Chiefly the location
OF the bridge Is q matter for more
thorough explanation than has ever
been made, and which has left sore
spots IN the community that is
beneficiary through the construction
Of the bridge.
At Omak the river makes a bend, or
curve, flowing into the fiat upon which
su~ sVWA IN OullJ IA oOuNn " GOV NA
rection. then swinging slightly to the
southeast. Where the fiat and ridge
meet, to the north. the banks are high,
and the river flows for considerable
distance In a straight course. The
east side of the river Is quite low in
places. 0verfOwing in extreme high
water. Originally 1t was the intention
70 build the bridge across the river
Just where the ridge and fiat meets.
Here Is high bank ON the west side.
and comparatively high ground on
Me opposite bank. with almost
Mraight course beth up and down the
river for boats to follow the channel
curing the season when navigation is
open. More important than all else.
especially in figuring cost, 1t Is the
aarrowest point along the stream
wnere Q bridge Is practicable. And,
wnat might be considered as a great
9! recommendation for the site than
ai other considerations, If the great
est good to the greatest numbers
snouid figure In a consideration. the
onelhal route and site was far shorter
tne prospective railroad for the ma
Nrity Of the residents of the fruit dis
tnct surrounding the town than any
Wner crossing that could be selected.
.ae principal argument in favor OF
ae bridge, by-the-way, being that 1t
vas Z necessary convenience to or
sastaists In order that they could
,eacn the railroad. Now, when 1t was
secIoed to build. the property owners
wong the route originally selected
or : crossing subscribed a sufficient
.Mount to meet the cost Of building
approaches to the bridge on both sides
he river, and 1t was supposed that
%e site had been definitely decided.
so1 some reason, for which there has
s ueser been any satisfactory explana-
o1, and around which there seems
nang mystery, 1t was decided to
saanse the bridge site to the fiat. near
tae center of town, and several
s.aoled yards further down stream
49,. ~ stated this action has never been
,xuslactoryily ~ explained, at least to
e satisfaction of that part of the
.s.a Immunity favOring the first selected
ana who have since felt that they
sa neen gold bricked. Whatever the
Ss..sloeration offered, whatever the
Meat influence exerterd those In au'
sSv and with the power to do sc
saeed the point where the bridge
~. 70 De located. During a recent
10y ~. 70 Omak the writer heard much
'ter conjecture as to the why's ant