The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1917-04-07


ing i'm twenty years has struck so
responsive a chord in the voters and
citizens of St. Louis county. That
all the statements are substantially
correct has been proven by the utter
concerned. BY request of many
readers, the stories are hereby re-
printed.-THE EDITOR.
1t was the afternoon of Monday,
January 2, 1917. The commission
ers of st. Louis county had assem-
bled for their regular monthly meet
ing. They sat submissively in their
chairs, with hands gracefully folded
and their faces registering implicit
obedience.
J. o. Walker, understudy for
Auditor Halden, entered and took
his proper position on the stage. The
commissioners still sat submissively
with folded hands and their faces
registering implicit obedience.
Mr.. Walker then broke the news
that the first act very properly was
the election of chairman for the
year. R. S. O'Neil was tagged for
that office, and after he had thanked
his fellow commissioners for the
honor, Walter Swanstrom was
chosen vice-chairman.
Mr.. Walker next let loose the Sc
cret that Mr.. R. H. Acton, the new
engineer of roads for st. Louis coun-
ty, waited without and fain would
enlighten the board as to his road
Sitting submissive1y, their faces
registering harmony and submission,
the commissioners fell in with Mr..
Walkers plan to permit Mr.. Acton
to'speak on the stage.
Mr.. Acton, dear reader, a few
weeks before was working in st.
Paul for the state drainage board at
salary of $500 year. Two days
previously, he had arrived in Duluth
to serve the county as engineer of
roads at a salary of $4,000 a year.
His predecessor was Mr.. E. X. Coe,
a most competent engineer, who
worked for $4,000 a year, but who
failed to harmonic with Auditor
Halden and his lieutenants.
Mr.. Acton fastened to thank the
committee of commissioners that
met him in st. Paul and handed him
the fat job on a silver salver. Of
course the records of the board fail
to show the appointment of any such
committee but one is supposed to
have gone to st. Paul, just the same,
chaperoned by Auditor Halden.
Mr.. Acton next expressed regret
hot 1n L -
new position sooner in the season, as
the road work for 1917 already had
been mapped out.
AS he did mot find ny'fault with
the work as mapped out, his remarks
were taken by the few citizens pres
ent as quite an endorsement of Mr..
Coe.
81 have been connected with engi-
neering work in some of the large
countless" said Mr.. Acton, "and I
know / can be of great service to this
county"
This remark would indicate that
Mr.. Acton was not aware that ST..
Louis county is the very largest in
Minnesota, but a man cannot learn
everything in residence of only
two days.
In reply to query as to the prob
able cost of engineering on the road
work for the year, Mr.. Acton said
that it would be Z per cent of the
appropriation, s724,OOO, or about
$4,000, as compared $4,000 for
last year. Since the taxpayers pay
the bills, Mr.. Acton and the COM
miScinnorS ond Mr. uo1Inn CHI
worry"
There was deep silence after Mr..
Acton left the stage. Deputy Walk
er seemed to be engaged in silent
prayer for strength and guidance.
The commissioners remained sitting
in their chairs. their hands grace
fully folded and their faces register
Ing submission to the higher powers.
Then Joseph Becks had no more
sense than to climb to his feet. Mr..
Becks is the new commissioner from
the Fifth district. He's the man who
peat the cunning Kauppi who so long
mad the buffalo sign on that corner
OF st. Louis county.
Il certainly am in favor of any
thing that will tend to benefit the
county and the roads," remarked Mr..
Becks, "but do not approve of 60
Ing outside of st. Louis county to
hire an $500 engineer for $4,000,
when this county has the reputation
OF possessing most efficient staff of
engineers. l was not a member of
the board when this man was hired.
SO far as the present is concerned,
l pledge my cooperation and hope
that I'll get my share of appropria-
lions for the Fifth district"
There was another holy silence
after Mr.. Becks sat down. Deputy
Auditor Walker looked at him in sad
sympathy. The members of the
board sat in silence, their hands
: gracefully folded and their faces
registering submission and obedi-
ence.
Then, like an undertaken at
double funeral, Mr.. Walker softly
sipped out of the room, supposedly
LOT the private corner in the audit
or's office, and returned with a
sheet of paper which he handed to
chairman O'Neif. Like a man in a
hypnotic trance, the Commissioner
read out a list of committee appoint