, 1875-06-13

rated by many contractors with whom
have compared notes. considerable portlo'
Of the work as doae by simply braclng tn
banks, instead OF street piling. As the speclhca
tions required, and was no more difficult to con
| 4truct thau 40 ordinary sewer and With econofn
| ic.l management would have left d far margin
! Of prou..
| thought in mak,3E uy estimato that tho ctJ
| had given specification sufficient IN detail. ant
! think 50 still. This is not question as to
! whether the contractors we're making money, OF
losing IT. 1t is almost incredible that tho Board
| Of Public WORKS would hare drawn spec,hca-
/ ton and contract so loosely Us to rouder It IN
! cumbent upon the city not only to resclnd the
over s25,ooo for throwing up the sponse,
and ut the same time providing for .
newer OF still larger dimensions By obli-
eating the city or future contractors
A1essrs. Norris l. Co. the inside track at future
letting. There is precedent OF this kud on
record which it mag be interesting to refer to:
At the first letting OF the .'eanal improvement,
Fox l. Howard were awarded 4 heavy contract
for dredging, but, after placing seyeral dredgeB
Ga the n orlt, sud 6ntling there was no money in
it, they found it conScnlont. as in this case to
get the contract q resinded. With the same oln-
inous proviso III reference to the p" plant" The
result WAS, ns might bare beon anticipated, that
Fox i Howard got the work at an advance OF
nearly 81 per cent at the next lettipg.
sherc can bo 40 justification at any time Tor
failing up sick contractors If they gat work ut
too low rrices, the least they can do il to throw
up the SPONGE aud il their bail il not prosecuted
and compelled to finish the work, they may be
thankful. In any event, tho absurdity ct re-
quiring other contractors 10 estimate on tho
"plant" Of those crying "peccayi is apparent.
The machinery now on tho ground may be
adapted to the work, but doubt worry much it
close1y a. another letting saddied with this par
ticuar "rlant." Or any other. unless they, too
contemplated the contingency OF Being tailed up.
CONTRACTOR.
TIE sEwsBoTs' noNE-cAAp.
CHICAGO, June 11.-Tour notice Of my final
leaving OF tho Newsboys' Home conveYs q wrong
impression, in that it leaves to be inferred that
might continue to solicit for the Is Home ~
without authority. I shall want better evidence
than I have 10 bolieve that the notice, as it
Teads, was authorized by the Board. remained |
) week after my time was up at tho request Of !
nr. Hooke, to enable him to become familiar |
With the details of the work, and. in doing 80, |
'aved serious troubla Tuesday night.
There has been au elemont OF opposition on |
he Board, which has beset NY course from the
tart With every possible hiudrance, and which |
moved itself in Iess than q month after NO
'pened On LaSale street ia 1878. by meeting my
pphcatiou for counsel and advice By saying;
Don't you ask any questions. You've uuder-
alien to run that Rone.' II you succeed. all
light; it not, you'll hear = howl" Tl1is was
aid to mo b7 leading man Oh the Board, who
as carried tho New,boys' Home iu his pocket
or years
But cannot accedo to the wishes OF many
'e]'meaning friends, and go into details OF my
rails and struggles il the two years l have
eon connected with this important work.
Ny SUCCESSOR needs all the heip he can ret,
ID far less ''hoWliIg" than followed NE; and
will do nothing to discourage those who
light otherwise dc something to help in
1is grand work. The opposition to me
as doQbsless been honest and welI-meauing, |
nd it will onlE do harm to keep alive the feel
tSs which FREQ ventilation would engender.
can afford to whit
Without consultation NTH any one but my own I
'miy, put over the front door Of the Home:
le shall know them By their fruit. God bless
II Home
Tho record Of my TWO years work is 1nade up
I'd an ready to to judged by the standard / | J
'luntarily chose to be Judged By. II is very :
+ from being perfect; but, NTH loss ''howl- :
8 and moro cooperation by the professed :
lends OF the " Home, +" the record would be ..
+ better than it is to-day. hope every friend
the Home will give Mr. Hooko hearty,
rdial, aud eHrnes. support OF money aud
ee1og, hopeful Wo:ds. ". 3. BILLINGS.