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

wherefores. but as no specific charges
were made 1t is not necessary to dwell
upon that feature of the case.
but was the change wise? We doubt
II any disinterested person would de-
ciue so. The present site Is at the
widest point on the river in that i'm
mediate vicinity. 1t is at a bend in
the stream. The approaches, especial
ly on the west side, are on very low
ground. requiring an expensive fiji
The current drives against the bank
a bank of soft material, on the west
side under the bridge, and erosion
caused by the water steadily eats the
bank away. This means more ev-
pense for riprapping at some future
time. Probably the only men who
could strongly recommend the site as
selected are the property owners nj
the west end. 1t will not be intimated
that they We're Interested in the change
or used any influence in bringing the
change about.
There was one feature about this
change of location, developed at the
recent hearing, that has a more ugly
appearance than anything else, even
the ignorance of those guarding the
county's interest, that was brought out
IN the examination. When the change
OF sites was decided upon, and as CON
sideration for making the change. a
number of people subscribed large
sum to meet the expense of construct
Ing approaches to the bridge. This
was quite an item of cost, and It had
an appearance of generosity for the
individual property holders to assume
the obligation. 1t was very pretty
and generous in theory, but rather a
too heavy drain in practice. at least
the subscribers must have so consid-
cred the hasty liberality as soon as
the location was definitely settled. For
after the subscription paper had been
placed in escrow at COnconully one of
the generous (0 subscribers asked
the privilege of taking the document,
Ostensibly to secure more signatures,
and from that day to the present time
the whereabouts of that subscription
paper Is as much of a mystery as the
identity of the man who struck Billy
Patterson. This was one OF the rocks
in the cross-eXanlination upon which
our friend. Commissioner Wright, al
most foundered
And all this preliminary leads up to
the cause of the suit brought by the
Oliver Bridge company. The bridge
was finished and accepted. Whether
finished In accordance with the con-
tract no one who should know can say.
The Oliver people evidently convinced
a Jury that II was Anyhow. 20 toosa1
the strength Of the new steel bridge
after its completion, wagon load OF
stone was placed upon the draw, the
draw swung open, the ends sagged
tn hn tor nd
dropped into the river. Fortunately
the county, having held back sum of
money still due the contractors, re-
fused to pay the amount over to the
Oliver Bridge company. The company
cOntended that it was no fault of con-
struction that the bridge collapsed,
that the method of test was unusual
for that class of bridge, and was not
conducted on correct principle.
There is much obscurity about this
feature of the case, but that the bridge
collapsed was a notorious and visible
fact that could not be covered up by
the sOphistry by the most learned at
torney.
That was the bone of contention
The county refused to pay the con-
tract price, and would not listen to a
compromise. The bridge company was
compelled to go to law to force a set
tlement. A jury of good men and true,
substantial taxpayers, heard the testi-
mOny and argument, were schocked at
the exposure OF how little some knew
who were supposed to know more.
were satisfied that the bridge company
was entitled to at least moiety OF
what was claimed. and brought in
verdict accordingly. The bridge has
been put in order by another contract
ing firm at a large cost, the property
owners of the county pay the freight.
all is peaceful along the Okanogan'
and thus ends the Omak bridge hasco.