The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-17

omen the bids for lowering the water pipes.
Present: Messrs Mitchell, Eggleston, |
Moore, Butler and Carse. Absent; Messrs
Gait and Davis.
It has probably never occurred to the
members Of the board that the law Of this
state, under which they are acting. requires
mot less than three weeks public notice OF
the terms and conditions upon which the
contract is to be let, having been given by
publication in newspaper, etc., etc., of
such lettings, instead of ten days. This,of
course,is not proof positive OF the incompe-
tence of the board, but it shows that they
need to study little. They will find the
law on page ITO of the ordinance book. In
their anxiety to take the job out Of the
hands of the new council. just elected BY
such an overwhelming majority. they may
have forgotten that they must act in accord
ance with law. 3 tas -
There was a good deal of discussion
about the depth necessary to place the
pipes Com'r Eggleston thought that five
feet on top Of the pipes would be sufficient,
which is not surprising when we remem-
Der his minority report'in favor of letting
them remain as they are and squirt steam
into them. He appealed to the late Chief
of Fire Department, Mr.. Yates, who was
Epresent. Mr.. Yates said: Il think siz
feet would be preferable" Egg in pet
ulent way, said: well I don't know any
thing,-Pm getting to be bigger fool eve
ry day." Acquiesced IN, by silence.
| Mr.. Mitchell didn't seem to think any
body was to blame for the shallow bitches
and to prove it he said: Before we bull
our water works paid man So out
my own pocket, one winter, to dig down t.
the bottom of the frost in the street in from
of my bank, and it was only % inches.
The reporter having heard this same stor
at every meeting he has attended believe
it must be of sufficient Importance to pull
, lish. -t..
There was pause in the conversation
! and some lowered around the stove, an
!. Com'r Eggleston again related how it WI
o when he built the Erie canal. .- -.
" Five bids were handed in-from j. ]
: Abbott & Co., Fleming & Co., and JOSEF
,e Johnston, of Rock Island; M. Maritime
~ of Davenport, and T. Cowell Il Co.,
Clinton. Iowa. The Cowell bid being Il
lowest they voted to recommend the CT
re council to accept it. The followir
n comprises the principal features oftl
Cowell bid, viz:
TO- Earthwork -Four inch pipe, 20 cent
six inch, %; eight inch 20; ten inch,
Rock work-Four inch pipe, 80 cent
it six inch, 40; eight inch, "A ten inch
a. The main requirements OF the specific
:. tons are, that all pines shall be lowered
~ as to require covering Of FIVE feet abo
"a the top of the pipe; that all back tlll
shall be tamped and the surface left in
good condition as previously. where pr
ticable; that all pipes shall be examin
ON and the cracked and broken sections
d. iected, and new pipe substituted thereto
- that all special castings, hydrants a
Ill valves are to be lowered to the requil
ks depth of the pipe, all fire hydrants on
lge lines removed to be reset without ex
az. charge; the work to be commenced
49, soon as the ground will permit, and to
cru continued under the direction of the Wa
commissioners, the city to be at no
pense for handling or hauling new or
pipe, but to furnish competent MAJ
ock detach service pipes from the mains
ara fast as the pipes are uncovered, and 2
=. ments to be made monthly on estim;
ms made by the city engineer, but ten
day cent, withheld until the work is compile
the and accepted.
lery The recommendation of the board
icy. Of course, be considered by the council
like After adjournment Mr.. Cowell reque
Star THE ARGUS reporter to give notice
if his bid should be accepted by the c
Gil he would employ none but Rock
and help, if he could get 1t.