Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-16
The Prices Paid Contractor.

great deal of uDiustifable ignorance has
been displayed by some who should be better
Informed, in regard to the prices paid cOntrac-
tors for street improvements; and the assump-
tiOnhas been made that the prices are much
higher thanif the work had been given out by
Contract The fact ia just the reverse. The
aim Of the District government in setting out
upon the vast scheme of improvement was TO
get the best and most work for the smallest
amount OF money,-that is, to make the
money go as far as possible and accom-
plish creditsble results. All past expsri
ances, municipal and governmental, show that
the contract system is little more than a
cover tOr favoritism. jobbery aud botch work
Just how good deal Of money could be ex-
pended under the contract system, with no
appreciate results, had been illustr ated by the
legacy of debt and bad work that came TO the
Board from the old municipal government. IL
was therefore matter for thoughtful consider
alton with the Board how to avoid the errors OF
she past, and arrange a plan OF prices that
should DC fair TO both the District AMI the con-
tractors, and should enable the Board TO give
The work to men of energy and reliability who
could be counted upon to perform what they
agreed. After mach elaboration it was con-
G!uded to advertise for bids, in order 10 get
basis for prices. Bids were received from a
large number Of parties for the various branches
OF work 70 be done. Taese proposals the Board
examined critically, and, selecting the lowest
bids, called the contractors together and
INFORMED them OF the plan agreed upon
10 TX upon scale of prices the
most favorable, available for the District
The contractors demurred, but finally ac-
ccPted the terms. The prices established were
from ten to nifty per cent. less than those pre-
Nailins IN any other place, as was conceded by All
49, f.as a.
one OF the contractors made a dollar in 1871 in
consequence OF the low figures and being caught
by bad weather. The Board having adopted
hissystem OF prices gave out contracts to the
most responsible men as OCCASION called for
work 20 be dOne-the only points considered by
them being responsibility and eff ciency. The
prices adopted by the Board, as compared with
those paid by the old city government were
much less. By the system in vogue under the
Did corporation government the whole cost of
street Improvements was assessed on the proper
~ adjoining, except as TO intersections, which
were paid for out OF the general fund. Certif-
Gates Of assessments for such improvements
were issued after thirty days and given
10 the contractors who generally disposed OF
Them for from IS to s. cents on the dollar.
Where an alderman or member OF the COM
mon council had a constituent who wanted a
street improvement or an alley paved, no mat
ter whether the grade was established or not.
the bill was rushed through and the mayor was
badgered until he signed the bill and ordered
the work to be done.
The practical working of this system resulted
In the funding of debt of half a million OF
dollars during Mayor Bowen's administration,
and an addition was made to the debt in his
two years term Of a million Of dollars. All this
WAS again funded during his successors term OF
Oht-ten months-and the floating debt was
Increased by an addition of about SSOO.OOO
his was IN addition 20 the cost OF special street
Improvements which were paid for by property
holders The loose manner in which street
work was ordered is shown by the fact that
during the last few years of the old city govern
ment over 5000 ,OOO worth of improvements
were ordered by the city councils without any
regard whatever to the revenues Of the city, or
reference 70 the opinion Of the surveyor and
engineer A. to the cost OF the sans Contracts
were generally given Olt by the mayor to per-
sonal or political friends, after the form OF
receiving bids had been gone through, and
when the work was completed the register, after
thirty days, issued a certificate for the amount
an the name of the contractor, which certia-
Gates were lien on the property.