The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-02-12
Council Plans Probe of
Skagit Project Finances
QUESTIONABLE for Uhden to Answer Is
Compiled; Make Pertinent Queries

City Engineer ]. %. Blackwell and
skagit Engineer Carl +. Uhdon
were put squarcly UP AGAINST the
problem Of unwilling tho Skagit
mystery by formal city council ae-
ton Monday.
a series Of .s auetionS. complied
by various eounciimcn and others
interested in the Gorge unit con-
struction. were incorporated In n
council resolution. calling upon City
Engineer Blackwell for an early re-
ply.
Pertinent questions on tho cause
for delay on the skaEit. cost Of
construction. amount Of work done
under contract. and other matters.
which have been shrouded In deep.
est secrecy under tho regime %
Engineer uhdcn. arc included Ia the
list.
The questions vcro drafted by n
special committee consisting Of Phil
Tindail. chairman OF the utilities
committee. T. /. Blaine. chairman
OF tho finance committee. and coun-
ell President c. -. Fitzgerald The
council voted unanimously 10 sub
init the questionable.
CONFERENCE HELD
WITH MAYOR
Late Monday. a conference Of
city eouncilmen. the board OF pub
tic works. sknKlt Engineer Uhden
and his assistants and attorneys for
II. c. s,orric & Co, was held in
Mayor Browns Office 10 consider
the appointment Of a commission 10
investigate Gorge unit expenditures.
and future development plans OF
the sknRit.
No action was taken Mayor
Brown cxprcsAed the belief that inn
mediate construction OF tho high
dam at tho gorge, 10 cos; ts.ooo.oo0.
"a imperative. Councilman Tindall
suggested n committee OF three
from the Central Labor council and
three from the Chamber OF Com
mcrce be named 60 select the COM
mission OF two engineers and an ac-
countant 10 make tho probe. but
tho suggestion was voted out and
tho matter referred back 20 the
council. where immediate action viii
be taken 10 push tho investigation.
Tindall said.
The questions asked Blackwell.
which win DO answered Just as rap
idly as tho data can DO accumu-
lated. within week. Blackwell a.
Inmates. follows:
4 what. II any. OF tho proceeds Of
i . the two Sitagit bond issues pro.
vided 10 date has been spent on other
than the first Gorge plant unit7
q What, IL any. portion OF the
Zs work included IN tho contract
OF r. c. StorrIe & Co. has been or Is
Intended TO be executed by the city
and at what cost7
u What portions OF the work on
De the, Gorge creek plant have
been done by contract: what was the
contract price OF these portions?
A What has been tho actual cost
#. OF these portions7
z What portions costing more
y. than s., 900 for each item have
been done by day labor?
n What was the estimated and
o. what the actual cost OF these
portions?
- What has been the total cost
4. Of portions done by day labor
costing less than 5000 for each
item7
q What remains to be done TO
O. complete the Gorge creek unit
as planned by Mr.. .Uhden on being
employed as engineer in charge Of
said project?
n What. II any, work planned by
Js Mr.. Uhden on being employed
as engineer In charge of said project
viii be only partly done or entirely
omitted7
IN what portion OF the power
xOs tunnel OF the Gorge creek
plant has been cxcavatod, what
quantity, Ia any. remains TO be exca.
waited. and what is the estimated cost
OF completing such excavation?
II What portion OF said tunnel
i / has been lined; what portion
II any. remains TO be lined. and what
is the estimated cost OF completing
such llnIng7
10 What win be the cost OF con.
i Zs structing the intake, trash
racks and control works OF said tun.
ncly
10 At what date Is Il expected
xOs that the excavation and lin