Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-11-07
TOO MUCH SPENT
ON ENGINEERING
Special Committee Scores High
way Department-Fitzhenry
Reports Investigation.

Severe criticism of the methods of
the state highway department, based
on an investigation made by Surveyor
General +. A. Fitzhenry of the dispute
over the Bellingham water front road,
is made by special committee of the
highway commission composed of Gov
ernor Lister, State Auditor c. w. Clau-
sen and State Treasurer Edward
Meath, particular objection being TAX
en- to the practice of making from two
to four different surveys of the same
highway project.
Mr.. Fitzhenrys investigation was
made at the request of the special COM
mittee, for which he was granted leave
of absence by Clay Tallman, commits
sioner of the general land Office at
Washington. 1t is significant that the
special committee approved all the rec
concentrations made in Mr. Fitzhenry's
report, saying in addition concerning
his investigations:
We desire at this time to express to
Mr. K. A. FitZhenry our appreciation
of the good work done by him in this
investigation. We feel that his work
has been done in thorough and i'm
partial manner and that he put forth
every effort to get all information that
would assist him in arriving at a
proper conclusion. We also desire to
call attention to the fact that. on ac-
count of being a federal Official Mr..
Fitzhenry refused to accept any re-
muneration for his services. The only
expense he incurred, to be paid by the
state, is that of actual travelling and
hotel expense.
Mr. Fitzhenry rejected the latest
line run by G.. D. Ball of the highway
department and recommended the use
of the old survey made by Engineer
James Allen Of this city under High
way Commissioner Snow, survey
which is also most popular among the
residents of Bellingham. This rec
ommendation the special committee
particularly endorsed, adding:
We cannot refrain from calling at
tention to the fact in this report that
large amount of criticism on the high
way department in the past has been
caused by feeling that too much mon
ey was expended in surveys, engineer
ing etc. This investigation
clearly indicates that much more mon
ey has been expended for engineering
than would have been necessary had
the original surveys made been used
rather than making an entirely new
survey. There are instances in the
state where three and in some cases
four different parties have surveyed
lines covering the same highway. 1t Is
shown in the investigation just com.
pleted that the old survey Is much
better line than the new survey made
by Mr.. Ball and we would recommend
In future that all existing surveys COW
-ering highways to be constructed be
checked before parties be started out
for the purpose of making new sur
veys so that there will not be repeti-
tion in future of what has occurred in
the water front road near Bellingham.
The investigation and the special
committees recommendations are TAX
ell as indications that some radical i'm
provements In the conduct of the high
way department will be demanded and
that some changes may be made. The
present highway commissioner, w. J.
Roberts, under whose administration
the acts criticised occurred, is an ap-
ptintee of former Governor NJ K. Hay.