East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1917-05-24
MASTER OF GRANGE SAYS BENSON
HAS BEEN FOR BTUuTHIC ROADS

pany offered to do the work for s1.55
a square yard.
In a copy of a printed letter dated
April z6, 1915. addressed to F. S. De-
ment. Walla Walla. Wash, handed
to Judge Haitian, OF Columbia County,
April 20. at st. Helens. S. Benson Is
quoted as saying. among other things
that Il will further state that on
heavily traveled roads having excess
of 1000 vehicles per day 1 am firmly
convinced that If you get warrenite
or bitulithic at their going price. or
asphaltic concrete free of cost your
maintenance over a 1~5-year period
will make the asphaltic concrete the
more expensive"
: a copy of another printed letter
handed TO the judge on the same date
addressed ito O c. Widener, Bozeman
Mont. states as follows: Advise BIZ
tulithic over other pavements. First
go miles bitulithic in Multnomah
county. price averaging 80 cents over
asphaltic concrete" This letter is
signed by Herbert Num- present state
highway engineer under S. Benson.
The bids on the Columbia county
hbdd. dbtht Dlit uAtlt Ol pavement
between Houlton and st. Helens. as
submitted April 81. were; Bitulithic
SIS. 5O6.46: Topeka mix. S~13,s63.6S;
concrete, s13.147s62.
The price on Topeka mix (~asphaltic
concrete unpatented) was S1542.7s
lower than the price on bitulithie
%(patented.) This is the type of pave
ment used in California and also ia
vored by the United States govern
ment. 5. Benson is against it and in
favor of the patented article.
The bid on the straight concrete
pavement was S2359.s4 lower than
the bid on bitulithic. S. Benson IA
vored rejecting this bid and putting in
bitulithic. This concrete specification
is The same as that used in Wayne
county. Mish., where there are more
automobiles made than in any other
place in the world. The best auto
mobiles made are tested on this sort
of pavement in and around Detroit.
5. Renson is against this type of pave
ment. He will tell o so.
What do all laws against collision
etween bidders and in favor Of open
competitive bidding amount to when
the chairman of the state ehighway
commission and the highway engineer
do not think that any pavement but
bitulithic CWarreniteD is worthy Of
consideration
Talk about open competitive bid
ding. In Columbia county there was
only one bid on bitulithic and only
one bid on asphaltic concrete. The
bid on asphaltic concrete was $1.3S
per uar yard, Just about double
what Clackamas county and Marion
county did the work for.
The voters Of oregon should know
just what kind OF a proposition they
will go up against is the road bond
issue carries. Here are some facts
that should be borne i'm mind while
considering the question:
First-The federal department for
the payment of government
money. either directly or indirectly.
for royalty or premiums IN any pat
ented process Or material.
Second-The federal government
does not cooperate in any way in the
expenditure Of this Sc, 1000 paving
bond issue.
Third-The present highway COM
mission and the highway engineer
will follow the same policy as was fol-
lowed in Multnomah county, a poll
icy which cost the taxpayers more
SeGO. 900 FOR patent royalties on
some so miles OF road.
Fourth-If the anne policy is fol-
lowed in the expenditure OF the So
600 900 bond issue Il will cost the
$1,000. coo In royalties.
Fffth-S Benson believes that
Warrenite is a perfect paving. H."
So at Forest grove. In a public
meeting.
These statements are not intended
reflections ON the members OF the
highway commission. hut thev
are facts. and should he considered As
safety first. Vote NO" ON
measure s14 on your ballot.
& T.. SPENCE }