Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1923-11-02
A "Mustdrd Seed" Politician.

The Docon residents were this week granted their
hill road by the county commissioners which will be of bne
fit the present road Because of the Vaccinations of Thomas
Bema county engineer this road and not shore line highway
given them, This might be we'll hristened Beemans spite
road
Every one on the island Frank H Paul promised
shore line highway Dockton of his election This
impossible promise under normal conditions But Mr. Paul.
after his election stepped Beeman when he ndeavored to
and not only opposed the purchase
Of for the engineering depam but dared propose
banhng several from that department Beeman Immediately be-
gan Surveys made the Dockon road
and announced that the proposed shore line road would cost
$o000000 With this estimate he influenced the majority of the
board commissioners and rushed print with his findings
What juicy morse for the sensational of Seattle
wanting build $4,000 with which fulfil
campaign promes Result No shore line highway despite the fact
that responsible citizen offered to construct for 100000
But all history Listen of the good maj
or latest mustard seed politics Over the White river valley
is bridge known the peek bridge 1t has spanned the
river for twelve years with twenty foot waterway time
and the bridge engineer called upon nvs
gate looking partially decided enghen the
100 feet However before this definitely settled the engineer
decided that 200foo span would be safer This recommendation
ccedd by Commissioner Paul and plans and specifications
prepared for that length However the
meeting plans and specifications introduced and passed
for span 465 feet in length approximately $sOO000 I'm
medey following this action Commissioner Paul prepaid
calling original 200oot span and
He the office and asked for the plans
specifications for the original bridge He informed that the good
major that the plans forthcoming Mr.
Paul Immediately demanded to know whether the county engineer
the commissioners running the county The in cahrge in
then confessed that Beeman had taken the plans for the 200
foot bridge and DESTROYED them
only conclusion o There in the road and
bridge fund of the South
$200O0 be expended during the remainder of the Sub
tract for the Peck bridge deduct about 100000
for October road and bridge and will be about how
much there will remain for the months of November and December
1t would there would enough money the
of
tons only this highway but perhaps dozen others would be I'M
pasbe Commissioner Paul the engineer would be called
upon shoulder the blame.
Then this The Seattle newspapers few days ago
full terrible scandal concerning the Illegal expenditures of funds
in the South district Roads built here and there and nowhere
money spent like water machinery rung in the bitches and the
commissioner doomed be hanged drawn and for building
highways costing over $5O0OO without calling for bids Commits
Paul guilty this providing that he
had taken the engineers estimate
Here of the examples of the waste of road funds
r. L. Robbins road about tree-ourth of mile long,
ing military road with East Marginal Way Rverton Clearing and
grading complete partially graved engineers estimate $780,
expended l94 estimated gravel remainder 1925 Total
$2299. Saved TO taxpayers, $52OO
Goldsmith road Des MONIES brick highway about
half mile south of Manhattan road Engineers estimate $4,000 Cost
Of construction $1345 Saved to taxpayers, 1860
This list could be added to until total of eighteen would be
enumerated But what's the useY 1t all be summed in few
The engineers for these IS $5S 10000 They
have been constructed 500 O0494 Figure saving yourself
Then rush the good major with hands thrown in the air in
despair with the cry They constructed according
engineering rules they makeshft roads Bully But they
passab disable and constructed under the supervision of
Of ocad engineers and inspectors and political hangers
If these estimates had been followed out tie cost to the axpay
would have exceeded the engineers estimates
only in blue that contractors bid is under the
engineers estimate just where the money that is between the actual
and the engineer estimate goes the writer unable say.
When the matter of the budget hearing before the
missone early in October did the good major cut off any of the
taft of reconnaissance when he found that there would be
highways constructed ycar9 He did Did he
luce the number of rghoway and franchise engineers? He did
Nor did he reduce the staff Of five regular in
pcors The full force stays and there will be lots of time kill
by the 6 employees of the engineers Office next year But why
worryY The supplemented taxpayer pays the bills.