Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-07-28
ROAD DEPARTMENT.
AC HIEVE M { NTS.
EVERY COUNTY OF STATE SHARES
IN ROAD BUILDING UNDER
PRESENT ADMINISTRATION,
MORE CONTRACTS TO Be LET
Commissioner Cohen hdvertises for
Bids-Makes No Promises, But Will
Award Contracts for Roads Which
Are Needed.

Commissioners Cohen hdvertises for
Bids-Makes No Promises, But Will
Award Contracts for Roads Which
Are Needed.
By Claude 6. WaltermIre
Correspondent of the Ohio Republican
Editorial Association.
Columbus, O.--Highway Commits
sioner Clinton Cowen has advertised
for bids for the construction of l086S
miles of state-aid road in 81 counties
of Ohio The bids will be received
July 20 and 21 The work is covered
by 81 contracts, and the estimated
cost is $1,249,714. With the opening
of these bids, Commissioner Cowen
will have let so far this year 199 con-
tracts, amounting to more than six
millions of dollars and covering the
construction of 456 miles of new state
aid roads. There is a marked differ
ence between the highway department
under the present state administration
and that of Governor Cox United
States District Attorney Ed S. Wertz,
with a delegation from Wayne county,
last September, said: "There was one
nice thing about Marker. 1t didn't
make any difference whether he had
any law or any money, he built roads,
and that is what we want"
The Cox administration promised
roads and contracted for them. The
Willis administration has built roads.
In 1914 the Cox administration con-
tracted for 495 miles of road under a
levy of .05 of a mill. Marker completed
but 140 miles and repaired 324 miles.
In 1915, the Willis administration con-
tracted for 80 miles of road under a
.O3 of mill levy and completed 359
miles. Commissioner Cowen took care
of Markers contracts and repaired 9O5
miles of road in 1915. The difference
between Markers administration of
the highway department under Cox
snd the administration of Cowen under
Governor Willis is that the former
promised roads for political purposes
and the latter makes no promises, but
builds roads.
Canals Profit to State.
Some time ago the present state ad-
ministration made the public state
lnent that the earnings of the canals
of Ohio this year would be $4,000
The annual report of Frank Fauver,
superintendent of the department of
public works, shows that the earnings
for the year ending June 80 are $92,-
342.29.
In this department during the ten
preceding years the receipts averaged
! S134,885 and the expenditures $685.
1873 year. In other words, while the
/ canals of the state were being used as
means to political ends, they were a
loss of about $25O,O0O a year to the
state. During the next ten years, if
handled as they are at present, they
\ will bring in about million dollars.
This is only another sample of the
efficiency and economy of the present
state administration.
sob Selling" Is History.
One of the marked strides toward
efficiency and economy in the present
state administration is to be found in
che Industrial Commission. This is
! tone of the departments which has
tried to hamper the Governor through
Cox appointees, but without success.
In the year closing June 80, two new
free employment offices have been add
ed to the employment department of
the commission, making seven in all
There have been more than 140. 900
men and women, skilled and unskilled
placed in positions of psrmanence The
preceding year this department placed
but 62,2S7 people. This is only small
portion of the good work of this de
partment. Under the present admin
istration, the big Youngstown strike
was settled satisfactorily through the
state administration directly.
There will be no more "job selling
under this administration. The Indus
trial Commission has also taken uI
that matter and bulletins have beer
issued. The "straw boss" who exacts
from S. to $25 from man, will
be prosecuted. Another notable piece
Of efficiency and economy is to be
found in the boiler inspection depart
ment of the Industrial Commission
This department was in state Of
chaos when the Republicans came into
power. During the first two years o.
It's existence the figures of Democratic
State Auditor ,Donahey show that the
department lost $4,000 year il
round numbers. During the two year:
os the Cox administration the affair!
were in such shape as to make i
impossible to give the figures of tn,
losses. In less than years time the
present administration has placed the
boiler department on it's feet and ha!
made it self-sustaining. The expense.
were $4,000 and the receipts $35,477
Since the report was called for, addi
tional receipts have been placed to tn,
credit of the department and it shows
q balance to the good of more thar
$4,000 This department is CROWN,
rapidly, and, although the work in
creases daily, no more Office help ha,
been used.
Urges Aid For Dependents.
"I do not know at this time just hov
It will be done, but Ohio will take car
of the dependents upon those VIII
have enlisted in the Ohio Guard" sal,