The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-02-19
ROAD PROJECT
CHANGES MADE
PROBE SUBJECT
Highway Commission Still
Delves Into Costly Rich.
land County Project
BLACK is ON STAND
Effort 10 Place Responsibility v
For the Situation There
Is Made
BLACK is ON STAND

The House Highway Commission
investigating committee continued
this morning to inquire into Federal
Aid Project No. SO, Richland coun-
ty, for which Treadwell Twichell of
Fargo was contractor, and which cost
some $4,000 for Id 1-2 miles of
road The work was begun in 1920
and the final estimate recently made.
During the lengthy and detailed
questioning, during which +. j. Gra-
hap, committee prosecutor, was
inquiring into whether or not the
Robinson regime was responsible for
the situation, as Mr.. Black had de-
clared, Mr.. Graham asked if plans
were made under the Robinson re-
eime to increase the cost of the road.
Yes, sir" Mr.. Black replied.
When was that change made 2"
1t was shown from records that de-
tailed estimates, for which permis
sion was secured from the federal
Bureau of Public Roads, were made
on Feb. %, 1928 Mr.. Graham asked
for previous changes. One change
was shown in Feb. 18, 1921, increas-
ing the cost of the road to $67, 7,135. .26.
The next change, Black said, was on
recommendation of the district en-
gineer of the Bureau of Public
Roads, Feb. 6, 1923, and on March 10,
1923, he said in an agreement Mr..
Robinson change) the amount to
$S9,9S39S.
Another Change
"Was there still another change by
you after the work was completed ?"
Mr.. Graham asked
Yes, on Oct. 13, 1924" - .4.,.l s..e.
This final amount, Mr.. Black said,
was $119,179o9.
why did you make that change ?"
Mr.. Black was asked.
ut was made after We found what
the quantities were"
After some interchange, Mr.. Gra-
ham pointed to what purported to be
a certificate of completion given by
Jack Gavin and Clifford Thorberg
Highway Commission engineers.
Y"DOes it now show the cost of
completion, Dec. 8, 1923, at $48,977,-
SAP" Mr.. Black was asked.
"That was before the estimate of
the division engineer as to times
| was figured"
h,. The above was Section A of the
Noject. Mr.. Graham referred to Il
certificate of inspection of Thorberg
Ind Gavin on section B of the pro-
ject, totalling $33, ,S7O.Gl.
Were these submitted to Mr..
Twichell?' asked Mr.. Graham.
Il believe so, in conference" Black
replied.
"Why did you not submit these for
final estimator"
Because the overhaul was not
figured correctly"
did you ask Gavin to sign the
estimate of $34,O0O?"
II didn't ask Gavin to sign any
thing" e
Black said that he tried to figure
the overhaul and it appeared Gavin
did not have it we'll in hand. He said
it appeared the right thing to do was
to check it up. He said he learned of
a dispute between Twichell and Ga
vim about the overhaul.
"My idea in ascertaining the facts
was to be fair to both sides," he
said
Went Over Job
Black said he went over the job
and by ronsulting owners of the pits
found out where the material was
hailed from and to, and noted these
on the plans.
"The point I want to get at" said
Graham, "is that no effort was made
to check the measurements of Thor
berg and Gavin"
,"Yes."
Black said there was no question
Continued on page two)