East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-10-29
BRAN NEW BRIDGE SW|NDLE FOUND;
LET G|LULAND TRY TOlEXPLA|N It
Discovery Made That Plans Were Changed on Six Ebeat Bridges
After Contracts Had Been Awaded Lighter Bridges Built But County
Paid for Heavy Bridges

Further evidence showing crooked work in connection with b
building OF bridges under the Ebehar system in vogue during the
time T. Gand county Judge has Just been discovered The
facts show that after Eberha had secured contract for
ing SIX bridges in 1909 the plans changed allow him
bG lighter and inferior bridges thus netting him additional
profit OF $1,000 on top of the excessive price he already getting
The substitution in the plans discovered few days ago by
OF the bridges in question: accompanied by County Judge Maoney
Both Geay Kimbre and his father W. Kimbre assert the ev
dence clear and plain that winde worked upon county
lhese SIX bridges the bridges referred the
W. Kmbrel published in the East Oregonan October 81 in which
he recited how he found frame up the part Ebeart and
named Gallagher who had been brought here hopes he would
be competitor on these bridges The disclosure shows that Ebe
hart not satisfied with getting his 1884 hold up fig
u proceeded build seemingly with the courts consent obter
bridges than had been contracted for and thus g the county
an additional $1,000
In the following affidavit J. W. Kimbre exposes the eal
THE SWINDLE EXPOSED
State of Oregon, County Of Umatilla-ss
j. W. Kmbre being first duly sworn say that am now and
have been for number of past resident of Pendeon Ore
that during the year 1909 county surveyor Uma county
Ore that during that year the county called for bids six
steel bridges all 60 feet length the superstrucure being the same
each case they namely the Lee bridge Dry creek the
Adams bridge the usone bridge the John Price bridge the East
land bridge and the Tachea bridge Being anxious cope.
on asked the Northwest Bridge Works of Portland compete
these bridges At their request made copies of the plans the
bridges and had duplicate typewriter copies of the specifications
sent buepn of these plans and copy of the specifications
Northwest Bridge Works retaining my office the original copies
plans and copy of the specifications The for these
the bridges erected supposedly in compliance with that
after those bridges constructed discovered that bridges
built conformity with the original plans and Specifications
being lighter type Of bridge then the Court House and
found that the original plans and specifications had been removed
from the files and had been replaced by plans ny) conforming
the lighter bridges erected further found that Mr. Eberhar had
been paid for these bridges the full price of his for the heavier
bridges. JOHN w. KIMBRELL.
Subscribed and before this 20t day of October
FRANK j. DORSEY,
Notary Public for Oregon
HOW THE COUNTY WAS "STUNG"
Following is the affidavit of Geary Kmbre, verifying his
fathers story and giving careful estimate what the county lost
by the substitution in plans:
State of Oregon Umatila County-ss
Geary Kimbc being first duly sworn, say that and
have been for number of years past resident of Umata County,
Oregon and the County Surveyor of Umaa County that
familiar with the facts stated in the affidavit given by j. w.
Kmbe relative six bridges erected by Umaa County 1909
and atteted the truhfune of the From the copy the
plans the County Surveyors office have made careful
estimate of the weight of the steel that would be required for the
bridges originally contracted for by the County and also the weight of
the steel in the bridges that actually built found that had
the bridges been built according the contract the total weight of
the steel in the six bridges would have been S3700 lbs that the
weight of the steel in the bridges actually built is 7300 lbs AT
the the County paying Mr. Ebeard for see 10 per
pound the loss the County through his substitution of plans
$1030O0, GEARY KIMBRELL .
Subscribed and before this Doth da of October 1914
FRANK j. DORSEY,
Notary Public for Oregon