Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-01-13

The cost Of rights-of-way has ex.
ceeded by from SO to 100 per cent the
I cost Of engineering. In the matter OF
damages for rights-of-way, the actual
cost has exceeded the estimates. II
/ was hoped that a great many of the
land owners. except in special cases.
would donate rights of-way. but this
| Eope has not materialiged
| desire now to make special refer
ence to the general road fund, or 25c
levy, during the past three years and
/ five months, This fund is used for
many purposes in connection with the
upkeep Of roads. However, within
that time approximately $92, 900 has
been expended for permanent i'm
provements, and in permanent way.
The distributions of the $4,000 is
as follows
Philippi District $SS,400
Barker District W 1900
Union District .s. 10000
Valley District ~ 10000
In addition to this about $40. 900 has
been distributed throughout all the
| districts for bridges and drainage
structures Of a permanent character.
| $1,000 has been expended for machin-
cry and equipment, such as the trac-
rcrs referred to for the benefit OF all
the districts. In other words, at least
$5l2,0O0 OF the general road fund FOR
the past three years and FIVE months
has built roads ana made permanent
improvements. which are visible to
the eye and which you may see and in
spect,
am also attaching to this state
ment a further summary of the bond
issue expenditures ia Pleasant, Cove
and Philippf Districts as of the 31st
day Of December, 1926. These sum-
maries, as well as other summaries,
made from time 70 time, will be found
to check absolutely with the balances
shown i'm the hands Of tho sheriff.
| desire to refer now TO the I'M
finished construction work ON perman-
ent roads. The only unfinished road
on all of the projects is the road in
Cove District. OF this project, known
as project No. 10, There remains to
be finished about one mile of the
surface and about 1900 feet of the
base course; also there yet remains
the general cleaning up and finishing
Of the project. There was in the bond
fund, as OF December LIST, 1926, or that
district, about $4,000 applicable to
this project By careful management
this amount should complete the
work
| take this opportunity to caution
the court that unless someone who is
familiar with the project, and who has
been familiar with It from the begin
ming, Is present TO oversee the finish
ing Of the work and to make the
final settlement, 1t Will be difficult for
the court to obtain justice. and ex-
cessiye and Improper cost may be inn
posed upon you.
All Of the other construction work
in the county has been finally COM
spleted, and the money raised has built
every foot Of road 1t was expected to
build. Every promise in this respect
has been carried out fully
With respect to the other projects,
except Taylor's Drain, final settlement
has not been made You will ex-
ercise caution In this connection as to
these settlements. Money was and is
available to finish and pay for all of
such work. If the County's interests
are properly protected and taken care
Of by someone who knows the details.
All final settlements should be made,
except Cove District, within the next
sixty days.
Now, If / may be pardoned for doing
So | desire to refer to myself person.
ally as County Road Engineer. If
any of you have been about Philippi
where my office is located, you will
know that / am not exaggerating
when / say that / have been on the
job and at work for at least twelve
hours per day and | have worked
regularly on the job. I understand
it has been said that I am blunt OF
manner. That may be true. 1t may
be true that ! have been endowed with
that kind of a disposition, but / have,
believe / may say. been able to hold
my own in dealing with the contrac-
tors and in seeing to it that they gave
value received for every dollar paid
to them Of the County's money. | may
add, IL you will permit it, that a road
engineer is engaged in perpetual
battle while roads are being construct
ed, and a blunt manner is not always
out OF place. This statement is not
made as an excuse for my personal
disposition, but is, q statement of
facts.
/ have had a real interest in build
ing your roads. Success for the coun-
ty meant success for me, and now,
as | stand at the eve Of my services
here, | hope ] will be pardoned for
for saying that / am proud Of the
work that has been done believe
the time will come when you win join
in the feeling of satisfaction Of which
am conscious.
Without intending to be oratorical,
it is true that after all, the greatest
reward exceeding the monetary con-
sideration is the feeling of citation
which comes to a builder when he
contemplates the completed work.
Before closing | must say that the
authorities and many Of the citizens
of this county have been of tremen-
dous aid in carrying out this work.
Without their very much appreciated
cooperation and aid, this work could
never have been carried out. To them
is due more credit that to me-
AT your discretion, and if you
should desire 1t, my services will be
available until the work In hand is
finally completed. / feel that / owe
this to the County in view of the fact
of the definite and detailed Informal
ton that / have of the various pro-
jects.