The Battle for the Snoqualmie Road

I notice a communication in your paper of the 19th, regarding the County Commissioners, Mr. Perrigo in particular, signed by A. L. Rutherford of Falls City. In justice to Mr. Perrigo, I shall explain how and why the Hop Growers' Association built the bridge between Falls City and Snoqualmie Prairie. At the time Mr. Perrigo was making his tour of inspection in the Snoqualmie district, the Hop Growers' Association had two or three four-horse teams crossing and recrossing the bridge daily with heavy loads. The manager of the Hop Growers' Association notified Mr. Perrigo that the bridge was unsafe and liable to fall in at any time. Mr. Perrigo gave orders to build a new bridge under the supervision of the Road Supervisor. Now, in justice between man and man, I would ask Mr. Rutherford, would it be cheaper for the county to expend $600 in repairing or building a new bridge, or pay damages of a thousand or twelve hundred dollars in case the bridge gave way with a team and load on it, or would he close the road to the traveling public? And would the Hop Growers' Association, who have laid out thousands of dollars of their money on this road, and expend yearly in King County forty to fifty thousand dollars? Would it be logical to close this road while Mr. Perrigo would be going through a routine of red tape in advertising and calling for bids to build this bridge? Mr. Rutherford asserts that Mr. Perrigo accepted this work without as much as coming to see it. This is not true, as can be proved by six men. Mr. Perrigo inspected the bridge personally before the Commissioners accepted or paid for it. In conclusion, I ask why Mr. Rutherford feels so sore, and answer the same by saying, because he did not get these jobs himself. — T. G. WILSON.