The daily sentinel., 1913-10-27


ty commissioners to themselves and
to various other county officials, and
hereby instructs that wherever pos
sible, the district attorney and the
county attorney intervene in said
suits on behalf of the people, and i'm
mediately proceed to bring such
further actions In the name of the
people as may be necessary to re-
cover unto the taxpayers of Mesa
county any and all sums of money
so illegally allowed and paid by the
county commissioners. We further
instruct that the county commission
ers employ, whenever necessary.
such additional attorneys or legal
assistants as may be required by the
peoples officials in such suits and
proceedings.
Ind. MAIN STREET BRIDGE:
The grand jury has partially investi-
gated the construction of what is
known as the Main Street bridge in
the city OF Grand Junction. We find
from such partial investigation that
the bid upon which said construction
was based. and the specifications up
on which it is claimed the said bridge
was constructed have been either lost
or destroyed. and from the evidence
produced before this grand jury, the
said bid and Specifications we're trac-
ed to the county clerks office, from
which office they disappeared.
We find further from testimony
that has been brought before us that
the steel bridge constructors have
the territory divided in such man
ner that competition is eliminated,
and that the rendering of bids is
farce, pure and simple.
fft,I s,,
general acceptance of the term,
whereby competent engineer was
instructed or employed for the pur-
pose of making estimates of work
performed before payment was made.
and that in all cases payments were
made without any estimates by the
county surveyor.
We find that no acceptance was
ever made of the substructure of the
Main street bridge previous to the
time of the loss of Pier b, and our
conclusion is that If such substruct-
ure was accepted by the board of
county commissioners, II was done at
a time when the river was rising and
at a time when, to the knowledge of
the county commissioners, the river
was accustomed to rise to a very dan
gerous height, so that if this sub
structure was accepted by the county
commissioners under these circum-
stances. their action in so doing was
at least reprehensible. We see no
reason why acceptance of this sub
structure could not have been delay
ed until after it had passed through
the test it would subsequently have
to pass through each year during the
period of high water. We find that
apparently those concerned in the
construction of this bridge have at
tempted to make scapegoat of the
engineer In charge, and we find that
the engineer In charge was either
incompetent, or connived with all
parties concerned in the acceptance
of the said Pier B in a manner that
would defraud the taxpayers of Mesa
county.
And we further report. that when
this grand jury again convenes it
expects to continue its examination
into the criminal features arising out
of the construction of this bridge.
We further find that an action has
been commenced In the district court
by one James B. Hunter on behalf
of the taxpayers of Mesa county to
enjoin the payments of warrants al
ready issued for the construction of
| said bridge We do heartily sanction
this action and instruct the proper
legal authorities to intervene in the
said action on behalf of the people,
and to diligently prosecute such
suit.
| We further recommend that the
district attorney and the county at
torney advise themselves fully re-
garding the legality or illegality of
certain certificates of Indebtedness is
sued in payment for voting machines,
and If the same are found to be IL
legal, to instruct the county treasur-
er to refuse to make further pay
ments on same.
We further find that, while the re-
construction of Pier B was necessary
at the time, the cost therefor was
part of the original contract for the
construction Of said bridge. and that
said cost should be borne by the orig
inal contractor.
In conclusion, the following rec
I concentrations have been made by
the public examiner of the state of
Colorado, and We hereby endorse the
same and incorporate them in this
report:
For the purpose of establishing
more thorough business methods for
conducting the financial affairs OF
this county, 1t is recommended b,
Continued on Page 10.)