The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-05-26
KIWANIS CLUB REQUESTS COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS TO POSTPONE THE
LETTING OF PROPOSED CONTRACTS
CHARGE COMMISSIONERS WITH
BREAKING FAITH WITH PEOPLE
ON ROAD BUILDING PROJECTS

! with federal and state aid. OF course II
must appeal to any intelligent person
| that the commissioners should have de-
i ferred their statement relative to the Inn
probability OF the county's securing fed
! eraI and state aid until the $500, 600 posi-
| tive and prospective federal aid fund has
/ been exhausted. But the commissioners
are "in a hole" and couldn't see that
point.
| Political conslderatlons Aetuate
Commissioners.
charged in my Sundays article that
/ the haste of the quartette Of commission
| eK named above, in proposing to con-
struct 1-2 miles Of highway WITHOUT
FEDERAL OR STATE AID, were ac-
| tuated by political considerations.
County Engineer Wheat Responsible for
Statement.
This charge was not indited by me
upon supposititious grounds. On the con-
traTy, 1t was based upon conversation
! held by me with County Highway Engi-
neer Winston e. Wheat, who, In explana-
tion Of the reasons actuating the COM
missioners in starting at Flomaton and
building four miles Of highway south
stated that the pressure upon the COM
missioners from the northern end Of the
county was so strong and insistent that
the construction OF this mileage was nee
essary. And this statement was made
to me by Mr.. Wheat who knew when he
made ii that I was gathering data to
be used in a discussion OF the county
highway situation in the columns Of The
Journal
Motives Rctuatlna Nunez Ferry Road.
The motives Of the commissioners IN
constructing the two miles OF paving on
the Nunez Ferry road without awaiting
federal aid. were divulged to me IN con-
fidence by Mr.. Wheat, so until ! am re-
IN sa..- .aaa III
must refrain from publishing his state
ment. However, It isn't out OF place for
me to state that the excuse appealed 20
me as very fiimsy, II not, indeed, dan
gerous one to the future interests Of the
cause of permanent highways in Escam-
bia county. :.
Pine Barren Hill Construction.
The half mile Of paving to be laid on
Pine Barren hill, according TO Mr.. Wheat,
is to be laid for the purpose Of holding
the grading which was done by the state
several months ago.
ss7, 500 Sacrificed.
In my Sundays communication to The
Journal, 1 stated that the four commits
sioners for the haste in constructing these
6 ID miles OF highway WITHOUT FED
ERAL OR STATE AID, are responsible
for the sacrifice OF Ss7, 300
Charges Amended.
But I now amend this charge by sub
mittlng that If the reason given by Coum-
ty Engineer Wheat for the decision OF
the board TO construct the four miles OF
road from Flomaton to Bluff Springs, was
an authentic statement Of the actuating
motive OF the board in deciding 70 con-
struct this stretch Of highway. the COM
missioners' plan to construct the two
miles OF paving on the Nunez Ferry road
and the half mile on Pine Barren hill
may also be legitimateiy and logically re-
garded as having been induced by po-
litical considerations therefore, OF neces--
sity, the reelection campaigns OF the
commissioners responsible, are costing
the taxpayers Of Escambia county. pres
ent and future, the sum or se7.500.
se7. 800 Not Only Waste Of Federal Aid.
But this sacrifice Of federal aid funds
Is not the only waste OF this character
for which the commissioners are respOn-
sibIe. Not only is federal and state aid
for highway construction available for the
actual laying Of highways, but II is also
available for the right OF way clearing
and drainage, grading. bridge building
and all other features Of highway con-
struotion.
5arefaeed Disregard Of Taxpayers
Interests.
Evidently the county commissioners Of
Escambia county are either ignorant Of
this fact, or, with a barefaced disregard
Of the interests of the whole body Of
taxpayers OF the county. they have taken
the bit in their teeth" and cast to the
winds another sum OF federal aid money
amounting to s22. .703. 35. This was done
when few weeks ago the commissioners
entered into a contract with G. II. Turner
Co, Of Pensacola, for the clearing,
grubbing, eNeavating and filing Of the
right Of way and approaches to Cotton
creek. MitcbeIrs creek. Coral creek, the
creek at Bluff Springs and .Moore's creek,
at cost OF s1s.T71.T0; and with Holloway
Construction Co, Of Meridian, Mississippi,
for the construction OF bridges and cul-
verts spanning these creeks. at cost Of
$50, e35. .0o-a total OF s45, ,40s.70. Fifty per-
cent Of this total is s22. 2.70s.s5. and repre-
Eents the amount Of federal aid which
might have been secured on this con-
struction.
Project Vetoed by Federal and State
Authorities.
II IS true, however, that several months
ago the commissioners submitted TO the
federal and state highway authorities
project to grade and pave II miles Of
highway south from Flomaton, which vas
vetoed by both acts OF authorities. All
OF the projects recently contracted 20
Turner and Holloway we're included in
this vetoed projectss so the natural and
logical Inference is that neither federal
or state aid could have been secured
on these projects ct the time the con-
tracts were let for them.
Political Pressure Again ActUsting
Motive.
But the folk who constitute the citizen
ship Of the northern end Of the county.
were stubbornly lnsIstent that highway
of some character must be
in their vicinity without
&.