The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-03-11
COUNTY COURT
VISITS HIGHWAY
TOuROF INSPECTION MADE MONDAY
Discussions Of Court Members Show
Strained Relations Between Them
selves and State Highway Officials

WINS beoaS oAaANtaAo
In q discussion of the work on Hood
River county's portion of the Columbia
highway, the members Of the Hood
River county court. who with a party
of citizens made tour of inspection OF
the work Monday, make il very evident
that strained relations exist between
the state highway enigneer. Major
Bowlby, and his assistant, J. A. Eli.
oft, and themselves. The court mem
bers left Monday morning understand
ing, as they assert, that the party Of
inspection would be composed Of repre-
sentstives of the Newport Land & Con-
sruction Co., Mr.. Elliott and them
selves. The contracting company is
making complaints to the effect that
certain excavation work along the route
has been improperly classified, and are
demanding that changes be made.
Contrary to our expectations, said
Judge Stanton, MIR. Elliott did not
accompany us on our trip of inspection.
He told us in the morning that he would
be with US. but failed to make his ap.
pearance. al urged him to come
along" said Commissioner Hannum,
"but he told me that he did not want
to accompany US: for he desired 10
keep out of any wrangle. told him
that no trouble would be had, yet he
failed to show up at any time we were
on the work.
A company of Servians who have
been doing some of the rock work. have
completed their task, according to
Judge Stanton, and are demanding
their pay. The contractor cannot pay
them until Engineer Elliott makes his
estimates of the work. He has all the
yardage, and has been accustomed to
give il out.
81 urged the engineer to make up
the estimates" says Judge Stanton,
and tried to argue the matter with
him, but he positively refused to do 30,
declaring that il is no use TO argue the
question. Major Bowlby, he says, has
instructed him not to do 30. ''lt is
matter of accommodation on my part
he told us. Let Newport figure out the
estimates himself.
Really, think it would be danger
Gus for Elliott to go on the works in
the vicinity of the Servian camp, for
the men are getting very angry. They
think they are wronged and are threat
ening the man."
The local court seems prone TO side
with the contractor as to the alleged
improper classitications. lt Ia declared
that the contractors will not accept the
classifications as made by Engineer FL
lott, and the court fears lawsuit un-
less some action ls taken TO bring about
an adjustment. In certain locations,
according TO complaints of the contrae-
tors, the work has been classified as
dirt excavation, when it has proven to
be solid rock, and blasting has been
necessary. Judge Stanton declares that
he will write to Governor Withycombe
IN an attempt to bring relief to the
situation.
A II members of the Hood River party
on the tour of inspection, composed Of
County Judge Stanton, Commissioners
Hawkes. and Hannum, Secretary of the
Commercial Club Scott, Sheriff John
son. County Clerk Shoemaker, j. II.
Koberg, RAY Gibson and j. B. Garfield,
are enthusiastic over the scenic road.
'The work has progressed very rap
idly, says Judge Stanton. "and should
be finished very soon. Indeed. Hood
River county will complete its portion
of the highway before Multnomah
county gets through
In defense of Mr.. Elliott il has been
stated that he is probably following out
instructions. The members of the local
court have antag0nized Portland friends.
OF good roads in Hood River county.
At the hearing in Salem last week,
when the State Highway Commission
retained Engineer Elliott for the Co
lumbia highway work through the
county. it is stated that Judge Stanton
was prone to discredit the work of state
officials and especially Mr.. Elliott.
Judge Stanton was particularly aroused
over the charge for the Mitchell Point
survey against proceeds of the SIS, 600
bond sale. However, this, it was ex-
planned, was done because at the time
there was no other fund from which to
make up the payroll, and that IL would
be readjusted when further funds were
available. MIR. Elliott did the work
between trains, working on the high
way further down the river during the
rest of the day.
The Portland citizens who had sp-
peared before the State Highway Com
mission had about persuaded the CON-
mission to expend 500, 900 instead Of
$50, 900 in improving the Columbia
higwhay through this community, when
the interference of the local officials
tended to tear down everything that
had been done. The Portland men de-
clare that the local court had come to
the hearing unlimited, and they we're
very angry at what they termed an un-
called-for interference.
Recently there we're a number of
charges and countereharges in the pa
pers as to calls for extra payments on
the Hood River county portion Of the
Columbia highway. 1t appears that
State Engineer Bowlby made two sur.
veys ut a certain point. Before the
contract was awarded. he thought Il
would be necessary, on account of lack
Of funds, to use the route the improve
ment of which would be cheapest. bui
which would not give as good a
highway as over the other way. After
the contract was let, he decided to i'm
prove the more expensive stretch,
which increased the cost of the road
about 500