Year: 1877

self proceeded to inspect said road ana

 found the same incomplete and unsatis-

 factory, and refused to receive the same,

 at the same time making some sugges- 'tions of improvement to the contractor

 which he expressed willingness to make.

 Since that time, no further inspection Of

 the road has been had 10 my knowledge:

 if anything further has been done, have

 not been consulted or informed by the

 commission. I have been casually in

 formed by persons having passed over the

 road, that the Improvements suggested

 by Commissioner Smith and myself HAVE

 NOT been made. have also been inform

 ed that the Commissioners have accepted

 and paid for said road without further in-

 spectiOn, which, if it has teen, has been

 done without notifying, consulting or ad-

 vising with me, and In reckless disregard

 ofIhe rights and interests of the people of

 Maricopa County in general, and pal lpably

 and Outrageously fraudulent upon the

 taxpayers thereof,-a course Of conduct

 we'll calculated Co excite public indigna-

 ton, as we'll as provoke the unquestioned

 and well-merited condemnation of all

 honest, good citizens; and as one of the

 Board of Commissioners, my duty com

 pels me to here record my unqualified

 dissent and disapprobation to the whole proceeding, at the same time ignoring all

 responsibility in the premises.

 Subsequently, upon the representations Of Commissioner Smith that the route Of the road from Phenix to Wickenberg,

 had been reviewed and located by the

 way of smiths Mill, and avoiding the

 Hassayampa, in accordance with the

 wishes of a large majority Of the citizens

 Of Wicken berg and vicinity, and that no-

 tice Of the letting Of contract for the construction of said road nad been duly

 published, a contract for that purpose was, on the 18th day Of May. 1877, awarded 10 J. H. Pierson for the sum of Fifteen Hun dred Dollars, he being the Cnly bidder on

 that contract. The Commissioners there- fore being notified by the contractor Of mission manifesting a disposition 10 ac- cept the same without examination, the

 undersigned of his own motion and with view to the best interests of MaricOpa County, proceeded to inspect said road, and as a result found that the road from Smiths Mill to Wickenberg had been To- cated on the west side of the Hassayam-

 pa, leaving that stream at Smiths Mill and following the road leading from the

 Mil to the Vulture Mine for short dis tance, thence through the hills to Wick enberg; that the road as thus located is much longer than the old Wickenberg and Phenix read following the course Of the Hassayampa, encountering equally as much sand as in the old route, and oth- erwise much more difficult Of travel; that there has not been exceeding $500 expen- ded on said road; that 1t is hot now or in my opinion, ever will be travelled by wag- ons, especially heavy freight teams; that the Stage Company after having made one or two trips over the road, have aban- doned 1t entirely; that there is no water in the whole course Of the road from the Agua FriO Station to Wickenberg, except the little to be found in troughs at Smiths

 Mill, and thaL this road from smiths

 Mill to Wickenberg was located by the contractor, J. H. Pierson, with the con- sent of Commissioner Smith, In defiance of the known wishes Of the citizens of Wickenberg and vicinity, many Of whom would have expended the whole amount of the appropriation over a more feasible route and have constructed road of some public utility, free of cost for their person. al labor; and as a further result Of the in- qulry and examination of the underslgn- ed, the additional fact is disclosed that no notice Of the intention of the COmmis- sioners 10 let said contract was ever post ed in the Town of Wickenberg or neigh

 borhood, by which the people of that DOT ton of the County could be advised, ex- cept a single notice posted on the inside of a door Of the house of the said J. II. Pierson, which I suppose and the citi- zens of Wickenberg assert as fact,) was to show a compliance with the letter Of the law, while as a matter of fact it was a palpable violation of the spirit thereof The people of WIckenberg were left in to- tai ignorance of the intention Of inc Board Of Commissioners to let said con- tract; and it was intended to keep them so by the ingenious posting Of that single notice Tn a place where it was sure to at- tract DO notice. The stratagem was sue cessful and not until after the letting of the contract, were the people Of Wicken berg advised. What the object of the se- crecy was, of course do not undertake to say; I give the facts and the Board and the public can draw their own cOnclu- sions.

 I have not been advised Of the action Of the Commission, if any has been had, as to the accepting and receiving of the last mentioned road, nor as to whether the Bonds have been delivered by the Con- mission to the contractor, and if any such action has been had, 1t has been without with me, and Of course with out an opportunity Of my being heard up- on the part Of the county. a course Of ac- ton upon the part Of the majority Of the Commission that compels me to resort to this method Of entering my solemn pro- test against the mode Of procedure adopt ed by them, and to relieve myself from all responsibility consequent upon the very questionable motives that have ac- tuated them in thus despolling the tax payers Of Maricopa County

 desire that it shall be distinctly under | stood that I am not now nor have l ever been willing to receive and accept either of the roads herein mentioned, and have used every effort in my power to prevent the acceptance by the Commission, and | that whatever Of credit or of censure may | result from the action oi the Commission, may be accorded 10 the majority, es they | alone are the responsible parties. but -epea: the sentiments Of every dispaSsion- ate and reasonable man who has inform ed himself in the premises. when say | hat there has been a recklessly improper | Of the peoples money to objects and for purposes that can never