The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-08-24
| CONCLUSION OF
BRIDGE REPORT

their own contracts.
"Since we have taken office
we have brought pressure behind
] the Chief Engineer and therefore
the contractors have increased
their men through the Ra-Employs
ment Service Office and increas-
ed their equipment, and to this
date Mr. Duncan advises there
are 500 men on the project, and
we understand 200 more men
! will be available within the next
| ten days. Why wasn't this done
lbefore? Why wasn't more force
full action taken on the contractors
| to make them put on the neces-
sary men, to make them put up
the necessary equipment, and the
necessary facilities to equip the
additional men? Was it not OBJ
vious that it was humanity inn
possible for Wannamaker and
Wells. C. Y. Thomson Construc-
ton Co., and Clarke Bros. Con-
struction Company, to finish their
contracts on time with their pres
ent personnel and equipment?
Was it not obvious that unless
these contracts were pushed the
first ferry gap would not be COM
pleted within the time to take adj
vantage of the coming tourist
season? Was it not obvious that
unless the first bridge gap was
completed in time for the tourist
season that we would have no
funds to pay interest with, and
that the only means to pay the
interest with would be the tolls2
HThe audit shows very clearly
that there are around about So
employed by the Bridge Commits
sion, and out of this group APP
proximately one-half are former
State Road employees under Mr..
Duncan, and only 23 of the s.
employed reside in Monroa Coun-
ty. Not one resident of Monroe
County employed receives more
than $1,000 per month. with
hardy an exception, while not
one of the others employed, par
ticuIarly the former State Road
employees, receives less than
$1,000 per month with hardly an
exception. May we quote from a
Certified Public Accountant audit,
made as of July 10, 1887, the
time this new Commission took
over the business of the District
An examination of the
past twelve months expense
reveals that it has cost
$88,172.41 for engineering.
| OF this amount $21,673.H
was paid to the State Road
/ Department of the State of
Florida to reimburse it for
| amounts expended for the
District from July to Decem-
Der, 1895. The remaining
amount of $66, 64s.9s was ex-
pended from December, 1888
to July, 1887, after construc-
ton was commenced. The
average cost per month. aft
/ er construction was started
] has been approximately 3d.
10000.
Since it Is estimated. from
available information, that
it win require about eight
months to complete the prof.
ect it is readily seen that the
Engineering Fund will fall
short of approximately $S6.-
10000. -
"This is an extremely conserva-
tive estimate, inasmuch as the
Board believes it viii be at least
year before the road win be
completely open for travel unless
forceful action is taken.
"A statement from the audit
showing the contracts, amount
paid, and per cent work complet-
led, il self-expIanatory of the pro-
Igress of the projects as Of June so,
1897.
Contract A, Wannamaker &
Wells. Amount. $3.50. 99s.82.
Amount paid, S19,33s.93. Ex-
piration date, March 90, 1887.
Percentage work complsted,. cas-.
Contract B, C. II Thomson
Co. Amount, 1856, 4s9.9s,
Amount paid. ss0.07T.29. Ex-
pirati0n date, June q, 1887. Per-
eentage work completed. 24.34.
Contract C, Clarke Bros. Con-
I struetion Co. Amoant, $780,.
| 9T2.75. Amount paid, s20.-
Tsf.47. Expiration date. August
III, 1887. Percentage work com
/ pleted. 1880.
Contract n. s. J. Groves and
Sons. Amount, S422, S1O.57
Amount paid. s14,s2I.16. Expira.
| tion date, January 1. 1895. Per.
eentage work conas,seted. SEQ.
Contract E. s. ]. Groves and