Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1919-11-14


Portland, Or, Nov. 9th, 1919.
Honorable Port Commissioners
of the Joint Ports Of Toledo and
Newport, Newport, Or.
Gentlemen:
We regret very much to have to
bring before you again the fact that
in the conduct of our contract for the
construction of the South Yaquina
Jetty we have sustained such an enor-
nous loss and are continuing to sus-
tain in our daily operations such
loss that it becomes now impossible |
for us to bear the burden any longer. |
Last August we made application to
your body for relief to equalize the
loss we had sustained at that time ana
an increase in price to enable us to
continue the contract to completion,
which application failed of result. AT
that time the tramway had been pro-
jected to about Bent No. $50, and there
were over rs bents that were unprotec-
ted by rock. Had we ceased opera
tions at that time, this tramway would
have been largely carried away and
a great loss sustained thereby. We
felt that we would not leave the work
in that condition, and we endeaVored
to continue enrockment in order to
stabilize these tramway bents and Sc
cure them against the winter weather.
We have done this work at loss
each month which will be shown by
the audit Of our accounts. The esti-
mates have not met our current eX-
penses, we have not been able to pay
our current bills, and we are now in
condition where we are practically
unable to proceed. We asked for the
payment of 100 per cent estimates in
order that the 10 per cent retained
might be devoted to the payment OF
current expenses, but this also failed
of result.
Your Engineer advises us that in
order to stabilize the outer end OF the
jetIy he needs at least 5000 more tens
cf rock This we will endeavor to put
in within the next ten days, although
in SO doing, as has been the case OF
the last three months, involving out
side creditors whom we are unable tc
pay for materials and supplies AS
soon as We have deposited these 500(
tons we will be practically wound up
unable to obtain any more credit ant
unable to finance further operations.
AS we stated to you in the severa
meetings held in August, this condi
ton has been brought about by cause
which have been wholly beyond ou
control. You are all familiar with tn
influences exerted by the operation
Of the Spruce Production Division /
; Yaquina Bay during the year 1911
which increased beyond all bound
the cost of doing work besides tyin
up the few facilities which were a
forded. We outlined to you at tn;
time how restrictions of the U. S. Ra
road Administrator have affected l
in the matter of rails. During the yei
1919 you are all familiar with lab
conditions with the constantly incre9
ing advance in cost, and the resulta
decrease in effhciency-all Of whi
conditions are due to the unusual tim
that we have undergone, and viii
could not have been contemplated
the time this contract was enter
into in the early part of January, IL,
We ask again for consideration
your hands toward an adjustment
this contract, on the basis of the a
ual cost to us plus q reasonable rem
and depreciation OF plant, or in so
manner a lump sum adjustment VIII
will eauallze the loss we have und
gone and enable us to carry the W.
to completion.
Yours very respectfully,
THE MIAMI QUARRY
By A. c. U. Berry, Gen. Mana
November 8, 1!