Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-06-03
The Wishkah Bridge

the repair of the Heron Street
bridge. as asserted by a local
paper. II has merely called for
bids.-Aberdeen World.
The foregoing item. probably in
spired, calls for an explanation. Is
the public to infer that the city coun-
ell advertises for bids without mean.
ing to accept bid IL reasonable
one is submitted? II so. contractors
should know 1t. Why ask contractors
20 devote valuable time to figuring
on work that it is not intended to
perform? In the same issue of the
World with this item. there appeared
. call for bids for this work, which
required a certified check for per
cent Of the bid to guaantee the bid.
der would enter into a contract, and
not even the customary precaution
was taken to reserve the right to
reject any or all bids. That any set
Of men would be so lacking in ordin.
airy business courtesy, as this item
and call for bids seem to indicate,
II unthinkable.
Yet, it may be true in part. It
II quite probable that before seven
members OF the council determine to
set the will Of the people, as express
cd at the special election May 10 at
nought, so far as to squander more
money on the anticipated excuse for
. bridge at Heron street, they will
decide to examine into the matter
more fully. Before concluding to ap-
propriate $2,350, contemplated in this
call, they will want assurance on sew.
oral points. They should know II
this amount is sufficient: II it in.
cludes the cost OF operating the ferry
while the work is being done. and II
Engineer Kelsey will stake his pro-
3essional reputation upon its lasting
any definite period Of time.
Engineer Lockwood, an acknowledg.
cd authority. declined to guarantee
the bridge for any time even II his
plans, costing 10000 were carried
out, and 1t Is extremely doubtful II
Mr.. Kelsey will vouch for the abbre-
Waited repairs now suggested. The
impression prevails that in prepar.
ing this modified form Of repairs, the
city engineer was acting under or
ders, with instructions to make the
bridge look good for while at the
least possible outlay. II 30 the people
who pay the bills, and suffer the in
conveniences, are entitled to know.
and so far as Is possible the Herald
will throw the searchlight Of public
ty on this bridge business. some fea-
lures of which are as yet undreamed
OF by the general public.
The entire record OF the Heron
street bridge for the past ten months
is full course in the art of How Not
To Do 1t. an art in which the average
city council excells. Glance over this
record.
In September last the bridge ten
.ders reported the bridge In bad or
der to the street commissioner; the
street commissioner reports the mat.
ter to the street committee. which
body so reports TO the council. which
in turn refers IL to the engineer.
Two months are consumed In getting
thus far, and the engineer says the
bridge Is in an unsafe condition and
recommends that bridge expert be
sent for. This is done. and In No
vember. the expert files his report.
is paid s4OO and departs. More than
three months from the time the
bridge is reported unsafe. to the pre-
paration of plans for its repair. The
council decided 1t would not be wise
to spend over $4,000 on this bridge.
and called a special election. osten-
sibly to issue bonds to build new
bridge at Wishkah street. but really
to secure vote upon the new location
of the structure. The bond issue fail
ed by a narrow margin. but the choice
of building a new bridge at Wishkah
street carried by majority OF $50.
1t is now ten months since the Her
on street bridge was reported in bad
order and to keep 1t running an ex-
ira expense has been incurred every |
month Of that time. Why, the coun.
-cilmanio form Of city government
makes Dickens Circumlocation ONCE |
look like an automobile full OF Joy |
riders on moonlight night, in point
OF speed.