Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-03-04

Minutes ola Meeting ofthe Commissioner
appointed By act Of Congress approred
Marcel 81, 1859, to purchase a site and con-
Strnct a building thereon for the uses of a
| Post Office and Court House in the Gin of
PhiladeLphta, Pa, held at the office of Con-
| struetion Of the Treasury Department on
| the 18th day of February, A. D. 1861.
| nt:-Hon. John A. Dix, Secretary of the
Treasury; Hon: Horatio King, Postmaster General;
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Attorney General
The meeting having been called at the request
OF the Secretary Of the Treasury, to inspect the
BIDS for the Construction ofths Philadelphia Post
Office, which had been opened at the last meet
| Ing OF the commissioners, and to determine what
further action should be taken in the matter the
| Board FIRST proceeded to ascertain the available
| balance In the Treasury for the Construction Of
| the Building. This was reported by the Acting
| Engineer in charge to be Forty thousand dollars
(l0,tOOl; and that in addition to this available
balance Of 1000 the Commissioners were autbo-
rzed TO use the proceeds Of sale of the lot hereto
fore purchased OF the Pennsylvania Bank which
oy act OF Congress approved June 23d, A. d. $780,
was authorized to be sold at public auction pro-
vded 1t could be sold at not less than one hundred
and ten thousand dollars, (sll0, OO0), making an
available aggregate Of one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars, (sl50,0O0), after the Bank lot
should be sold in accordance with the act Of Con-
gress.
II was also reported to the Commissioner. nv
the Acting Engineer In charge, that the Bids fur
the work which had been opened at the previous
n:eeting ranged from the sum Of one hundred and
ninety-eight thousand, ell. bit hundred and fonr.
teen dollars, and ninety-ive cents (s19s si4 e5,
the lowest bid to three hundred and sixty -four
thousand, six hundred and thirty-two dollars.
1854 632 co. the hig hest bid) and that circular
had been addressed to each Of the Bidders, Of
which the following Is a copy:
(CIRcuLAR.)
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Office Of Construction
WARRINGTON, d C, Feb %, 1851
Sir Referring to your Bid for the Construction
of the new Post Office and Court House I'm the
city of Philadelphia, have to apprise YOU that
the act OF Congress authorizing the Construction
OF the work, provides, as a part means of paw.
ment therefor, that the Lot in the City of Phila-
delPhia heretofore purchased from Bank of Penn
syivania for Post Office shall be sold at public
auction for the best price It will bring; and by
subsequent act it is provided that the said lot shall
ten thousand dollars, (Sl1O,UOO)
IL VIII therefore be necessary, in awarding the
contract, that the party TO whom 1t Is awarded
shall agree when the above property ia nosed 10,
sale at public auction that he will bid thereon the
minimum sum Of $4,000, provided for by law;
and, In the event Of no higher bidder appearing
tna' ne shall agree to receive the said property for
tne aoove-named amount In part payment of the
contract, In such manner and form as may here
after be directed
l have therefore to request that yeu will notify
me by or before the FIRST day Of March nert
whether or not you will 80 bid for and receive
the property In part payment Of the contract.
In TIE event OF your declining TO do So such
deelination will not operate to the forfeiture of
your bond, or in any way inure to the prejudice
OF your securities, nor be considered refusal to
comply with your bid, as this is an element I'm
tne matter which was not before you when the
bid was submitted; but such refusal or neglect
70 nile your answer hereto, by or before the frst
day Of March will be considered and treated as a
wl1ndrawal Of yGnr bid for the work.
Act'g Engineer in charge Treasury Dept.
Upon Inspection of the various acts Of Congress
reierring to the purchase OF lot and construc.
G G Of a building for Post Office and Court
f nou'e In tne city Of Philadelphia, and of the
iaeIs In the case, the Board are Of opinion:
FIRST, That they have no power to inn pose mcb
condlton upon the bidders was specified in
tne above circular-inasmuch as no mention ever
such a condition; and to make a contract with
any such condition would be making a different
contract from that which bad been specified in
the proposals, and would be unwarranted bv Iaw
The Circular must therefore be rp.cInded
Second, That they had no right to make a ron
nGct, inVolvlng a larger expenditure than the
amonnt 70 p S OF me appropriation, and the
sylvania Bank and that, until the sale Of the
property should determine the anon Mt which tbo
woik snaI COST, they ought not to enter into apy
eShuact Whatever; and tha they had no rig ht 10
ton. y f1"''' auo-
Third, That the lowest bid exceeds thu balance
In the treasury, and the amount for which the
pennsylvania Bank was authorized To he sold
There was therefore bid which the Road
would feel authorized TO accept, even IL the LOT
Soau a. TIC minimum price dXed bv law.
Fourth, That the plan upon which the nropos.I:
Were Issued Is estimated to more to construct
ana complete than the combined amou pts of the
available appropriation in the Treasury and the
minimum price fixed for the sale of the Pepnsvl.
Vahla BANK, and IL appears from official doom
menus presented to the Board, that the plans were
prepared under written instructions directing the
AcEng Engineer In charge not to confine him
sell, In estimating for the work to the appronria-
oGs Tor the purpose, but to estimate for ons ssof
such character az Is called for by the prowth
nf rft ,.v;tk
the appropriations T"
The Board therefore determine
rust That thsy are not authorized by law In
award the contract to any If the Bidders and that
tract can be made. ~ WIN
Second. That no new proposals can be made
asnl the pennsylvania Bank shall be sold. and
ms amount OF proceeds applicable TO the construc.
uon OF the Building ascertained.
Ihud That under existing laws the plan must
Dc made 30 that the whole amount to be expended
IN ne construction OF ths Building shall not ex-
ceed tue balance Of the amount recei we'd from the
sale OF the said lot and the available balance M
the appropriation, that being, in the Judgment Of
me board, an express requirement Of the act of
Ordered, That the minutes of these proceedino,
De printed, and q copy thereof be- ft,rnisbed n
edch OF the bidders; aud also be publish In one
paper printed In the city OF Philadelphia, and ip
one lSpsr printed In the city Of Washington.
Omce OF Construction, Treasury Department.
fep ruary 18th, A. D. 1851.
1so. DIX, Secretary Of the Treasury.
AoaATIo KING, Postmaster General
EDWIN M. STANTON, Attorney General
A True copy from the records
March 4th. 1871