Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-22
DENY 9jR[u CHARGES.
STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION
ANswERs CRITICISMS FROM
SHELBY COUNTY.
REFUTE STATEMENT THAT
BRIDGE COSTS ARE HIGHER
Statement Of Commission Quotes Fig
ures Contrary to Claims Set Up by
Shelby County Auditor-story Of the
Panama Rridae-Sprins Freshsts

Responsible for Much Repair Work.
Des Moines, Oct. 22.-The state high
| way commission has issued a state
ment denying the charge made in
! Shelby county that the bridge over
! draft and claims against the county
have been increased under the new
road law. Figures are given to show
that the bridge overdrafl will be less
the first or the year than January l.,
1913. 1t also is pointed out that the
elements and not The road law were
I responsible for most OF the claims
against the county.
f! In Shelby county as in Fremont
| county an agitation has been started
! to get the governor to cali a special
session OF the legislature to repeal the
road law. Petitions have been circu-
| lated freely in the county.
| Reply Directed to Auditor.
/ The county auditor, l.. A. Schell. is
j alleged to be one OF the leaders in the
movement. The commissions state
ment mainly is directed at him. The
statement follows:
| IF the AUDITORS office can be con-
! strued as Shelby county that county
| is much afraid that the commission
will bankrupt the county. More spe-
officially FIRST claim is made that the
: commission is insisting upon better
! and heavier class OF bridges and Gull
verts and that this has and will re-
suit in an increased overdraft in the
bridge fund. The comm ission pleads
! guilty to the charge of demanding bet
ter AMI heavier bridges, much heavier
and much better than were built in
the past in this county, and under this
policy, here are the facts as to the
overdraft bridge fund:
( Overdraft and interest in
/ bridge fund Jan. I. 1912. .S1S.350.23
/ Overdraft and interest in
bridge fund Jan. /, 1917. 24,005.01
! Increase under the former law
| during 1912, or an increase
of 80 per cent ............. 5,654.78
Outstanding warrants unpaid
| Oct. II, 1918 2s,512.ss
Estimated bills to Jan. /, 1914 100000
(; Total ss5,512.3S
Deduct taxes yet to be credit
ed. estimated ............. 100000
Estimated overdraft for Jan.
/, 1914 20,512.sS
Estimated increase during
year 1913, under the new
law 3,4S2.uO
These figures are correct as shown
on the books in the auditors office OF
Shelby county and the estimates OF
claims yet to be paid as close as can
/ be figured by the county engineer. The
commission very willingly assumes the
responsibility for the decrease in the
;raf Of hriA funds iy, Sha1hv
| county.
Care of Flood Expense
Cali the more credit is due the new
law because of the disastrous flood
which occurred in Shelby county Read
the following telegram which was re-
ceived on May II by the commission:
"'Our board requests me to notify
you that floods have taken out seven
ty-five bridges in this county and you
insist on complying with the law. Will
you authorize immediate construction
under existing conditions?
&c. A. Schell, County Auditor
Here then is the record for Shelby
county:
During the present year the bridges
and culverts washed out in May have
been replaced by the heavier, better
bridges designed by the commission.
using four pile bents in place of three
pile bents, and using larger stringers
and more of them to carry the heavy
traction engine load. Three large
steel bridges, two Of which were the
heavy riveted trusses of the commits
sion, have been purchased, and one. the
Panama bridge. is to be permanent
structure with concrete floors and con-
crete abutments. the first permanent
bridge to be built in Shabby county.
This latter bridge has worried the au-
ditor because it did not agree with his
engineering ideas.
First Permanent Bridge.
"The board and the auditor, or rath-
er the auditor and the board, had de-
cided to place light pin connected
wood floor bridge on steel foundation
over Mosquito creek near Panama.
This is on the main county road Lead
Ing into the town Of Panama, which
road really serves the whole northwest
part of the county. Formerly the rail-
road ran along one side Of the stream,
but was recently changed to the other
side of the creek, and an embankment
thrown up to carry the track. The old
and new entertainments have the effect
Of concentrating the water Of Mosquito
creek as in funnel. During food
lively narrow opening at the bridge
During the food of last May the exist
ing bridge was swept away and the
commission required in the replacing OF
this bridge that permanent. abutments
be built. About $4,000 acres Of lana
drains thru this stream and the grades
are SO steep that the water sweeps
everything before 1t where it does not
have a chance to spread over the ad-
joining land. Engineers of the COM
mission decided that nothing less than
permanent concrete abutments would
long Withstand the floods such as are
liable to happen at any time at this
point. The commission required sew
enty foot riveted steel truss with con-
crete floor erected on heavy permanent
concrete abutments. On account Of the
railroad grade at this point the loca-
,sssassE "a
DID I!I RJyInIn f |, AIa!l|m
Think sehaf Is stopping II! Think of "a
| the germs and diseased tissues which ~