The Coconino sun., 1927-02-25
WASTE, EXCESSIVE COSTS,
POLITICAL BUNS ON PAY
ROLL, SHOWN IN REPORT
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

The joint legislative committee
appointed to investigate the state
highway department, in its report to
the legislature, sets forth, among
other things, the following:
That the departments accounts
payable, as of Dee. 81, 1926, on the
departments own showing, amounted
to $820,010, but the committee cannot
state positively the exact financial
condition of the department because
''its system of bookkeeping is faulty
and inadequate"
That the department spent $2,229,-
SAT, which was $464,330 more than
its revenues, from Jan. /, 1928, to Dec.
81, 1926, indicating total liabilities at
present of $1,284,341.
"How the department could spend
more than it received is not made
clear to this committee" the report
adds.
Federal Aid Unmatched
Federal aid now available but re-
naming nmatched totals $2,222, ,221,
as of Jan. 1, 1927.
There is total of 2,034 miles of
state roads, of which POS miles are
concrete or asphalt paving, and the
maintenance cost therefor over the
last half of 1926 amounted to 1857 per
mile.
Seven miles of road on the Apache
Trail cost $202,412, or $28,916 per
mile.
Four miles of road on the Apache
Trail cost s187,1 or $46,793 per
mile.
The Salt River Valley Water Users
association agreed to build four miles
of this work the state to do approx
mately So per cent of the work and
pay the association AZ per cent of the
total cost Of the work. The state en-
gineers sworn report shows the state
paid the association $23, 1888 as az per
cent of the total cost, indicating a
total cost of $71, ,757, whereas the state
highway departments books show the
cost at $187,174.
Excessive Cost
On the Solomonville to Duncan road,
Ia 3-5 miles of graveled road cost the
state $210,439. The contractors bid
for the same stretch was $114,440.
Built by force account, by the depart
ment
On the Yuma road 5 1-2 miles cost
the state, according to the first sworn
statement submitted to the committee
by State Engineer Lefevbre, the sum
of $138,855. A supplemented state
ment filed later by Mr.. Lefebve shows
the cost $192,536.
On the Yuma road a stretch of 21
4-5 miles cost the state S22,941. The
contractors bid was $12,086. Built
by force account by the department.
On the Winslow-Canyon Diablo
highway 20 miles cost the state $212,-
596. The contractors bid was $685.
$50. Built by force account by the
department.
The combined losses to the taxpay-
ers on these four projects was S178,-
235.
Large Pre- Election Force
The monthly payroll in the account
ing department is $4,120; in the ware
house department, S13,701, and for en-
gineers and assistant engineers, $16,-
Ole. Number of employees in the ware
house department increased from sc
in June, 1926 to lis in July, 1926, and
there was spent for gas and oil for
department autos in 1926 the total of
$129,491, while tires and tubes ran to
$32, 2,788.
Engineer LeFebvre first testified
the department had but 21 passenger
autos, but later testified the depart
ment had 46 passenger autos.
j. NJ. Peck testified G. M. Zander
told him to "put these men to work, +"
sending him more men than could
possibly be efficiently used.
H. II. Linville testified there was
fully so per cent too many men in the
warehouse department during the
period occupied in the campaign.
B. NJ. Atwood testified thercs were
from 100 to 105 men on the payroll
on one job but his check showed only
60-odd men actually at work.
Atwood testified the state was pay
ing 81 per yard for sand hauling but
that he found he could contract it at
30 cents per yard.
Collected for Campaign
Chas. E. Henry, shipping clerk in