West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-10-22
A PLAIN STATEMENT
by President B. I. Gibson IN An
swer to Articles Appearing in
Preston Republican and Preston
County Journal.
Masontown, W. Va. Oct l,


week : Journal purporting to cal
attention to the extravaganza" o
the present County Court, an,
names several transactions i'm whicl
the author, Voter" charges IN,
prohigate waste of public money
several articles casting reflection,
on the members of the Court hav,
appeared this summer i'm the Pres
ton Republican and the Preston
county Journal under different nor
dc plumcs, but evidently from kin,
dred minds, and all for the same
purpose, namely, to discredit in tn,
eyes of the public the members OF
the present court, especially those
members who are of the Demo
cratic persuasion.
1t has been my intention to ig-
more these articles, knowing them
to be the product of dethroncd poll
ticians who dare not write over
thelr real names, owing to their dis
credited political standing in the
county. And while it is not nv
desire to get into newspaper con
troversy, | deem it my duty to the
other members of the court as well
as myself to reply TO some of the
false and untruthful statements
made in the forenamcd articles and
give the public some facts and
true figures to which | can make
affidavit and the courts records will
corroboratc.
1t should not be necessary to de-
fend the public acts of men who
are considered honest and respect
able citizens in their respective
communities, but when these acts
are Judged by political contortion-
lists and character assassins it is i'm
possible for them to comprehend
the motives which actuate an hon
est conscientious public official.
Although the last and present
county court is composed of five
Democrats and three Republicans.
they have been absolutely non-par-
tisan courts and to my recollection
have never cast but THREE votes
IN which party lines were drawn.
IT the Republican and Journal will
delegate some one not personally
acquainted with the members of the
court to sit with them through n
session and tell by his official acts.
the politics of single member the
writer will present each editor with
$1,000 out of the graft he received
in getting the Cheat river bridge at
Sandy Creek, the cost of which
seems to have very disquieting eff
feet upon the minds of the afore-
said watchdogs of the public treas
ury. 1t is blessed good thing
that the taxpayers have these pub
lie benefactors to look after their in
terests and who would not think of
taking a dollar of public money
without rendering two dollars in
service therefor.
But, ! promised you some figures.
Here they are, leaving off the odd
cents:
Original contract price of
Sandy Creek bridge . so 10000
Additional costs of raising
abutments OF account of
defective location and
lengthcning bridge 20
#. ........ ........ 10000
Additional costs of raising
abutments 20 ft. account
Mt. Park Land Co..... 2.I67. 90
Cost Of bridge to county $I8 100
Add additional costs Of
erecting bridge and ma
sonry paid by Mt Park
Total cost of bridge .$1s.58fOO
The one item, S2.167.OO, which
the court did not foresce was caus-
ed by the engineers making an cr-
ror i'm their calculations for addi-
tioual stone work But raising the
bridge saved us the cost of building
expensive approaches and n 81, 900
wing wall on the lower location.
The court will gladly leave it to the
judgment of every man who has
been on the location as to whether
they acted wisely or not
1t is strange but true that every
man taking an active part in pub
lie improvements must have his mo-
tives and acts maligncd by every
fellow who has been temporarily
pricd loose from the public tcat.
Instead Of The road leading TO the
bridge on the west side costing
- 10000, the contract price was
~ 10000. paid by Valley district,
and later when Valley district ex-
pended $4,000 more on the old
road leading to the new. tho court
gave her an appropriation Of
$4,000 out of the general fund.
Valley district reduced her road
agents and other expenses paid out
of the general fund so as to be en-
titled to this assistance Ask any
fair-mindcd man in the northern
] end of the district If their roads