The Ottawa free trader., 1876-12-23


mlrers Of your paper, you, no doubt, VIII a.
low their rights 10 be advocated IN your COL
umns. The bridge question is something at
Utica which has agita!ed the pubic MIND
for some time and that particular attention
ciyen il now will not, we think, be out Oh
nlace. The call for proposals was issued
about the middle OF March, 1876, and was for
an iron bridge. The bids were very numer'
Gus and afforded judicious selection, as
will be seen anon. Bids were opened at
Clark's Hall April 3d. and the companies re-
presented were as follows; Leighton Bridge
and Iron Works, Rochester, n. y; Kellogg
Bridge Co.. Buffalo, n. y. Keystone Bridge
Co., Pittsburgh, Pa; King Iron Bridge and
Manufacturing Co.. Cleveland, Ohio;
Champion Bridge CO., Wilmington, Ohio;
Detroit Bridge and Iron Works, Detroit,
Mich; American Bridge Co, Chicago; Fl.
WAYNE Bridge Co., TT. Wayne. Ind; Indi-
annapolis Bridge Co., Indianapolis, Indiana;
Clinton Smith Bridge Co., Clinton, Iowa;
Niagara Bridge Co., Buffalo, n. Y; and NJ.
Lassing Chicago, Ill. Some of these put in
several bids. The Clinton Smith Co. put IN
one for wood, and two or more for cOmbina.
ton bridges, which should not have been re
ceived, as they were not in accordance with
the call On the afternoon OF April 9TH the
agents of the Clinton and Canton companies
were granted the privilege of explaining
their plans to The commissioners, thus giving
them an advantage over the others. The
King agent was given the same privilege on the
morning of the 9th, but was listened to with
little attention Mr.. Gilbert insisted thar the
combination bids Of the Clinton company
were in order, and that the commissioners
had right to entertain the bids and build
such bridge under the call Issued, and that
there was no necessity for issuing d call that
might be in keeping with such bids, nor did
nc notify the other companies that such bids
would be entertained; and although more
than half Of the companies bidding erected
combination bridges, he sad there was no
necessity for asking them whether they would
do t.e work for less than the Clinton Co.,
but that their bid might, however, in good
faith be accepted. The bidders were prOmis-
ed that they would in two weeks be inform.
ed what bid was accepted, but weeks rolled
on Indefinitely and no answer was made /
Then some Of the companies becoming aux.
ious wrote and inquired rs to the result OF
the deliberations OF the commissioners. They
were lacOnicaliy requested to wait n while, +
as Deer Park had not as yet arrived at
conclusion, but would in few days vote,
and then decision would be made 1t was
also promised that the plans would be placed
under the consideration OF some competent
engineer, who would decide upon their mer.
its and that h}S CiGcS would be accepted
But was this promise fulfilled? No; far
from it, Mr., NJ. Salverin, of Chicago, was
recommended as being a highly accomplish
ed engineer, a practical builder of establish
ed character, and one, moreover, who was not
interested in the bids made. He was rejected
ut once, but ,cM Hs'taL gOod fdiM, the plans
were consigned 10 citizen who, on request,
looked them over and computed them as to
cost and strength, but absolutely refused to
enter into the minuta, or 10 undetakc the |.
work Of finally deciding on their merits fur
ther than related 10 their two qualities al
ready mentioned. Having examined the
plans, hc decided that the Keystone, King,
Clinton, Canton, Kellogg and Indianapolis
were the only ones whose bids required a
careful cXamnation-simply because they
were the lowest. The King Iron Bridge and
Manufacturing Co. made the lowest hid the
Kellogg next (Fl6,04O0 the Canton next (Sl6, |,
l50); and the keystone (SlG4ili and India
gapolis l$lG3gS iOj were last both making Il
nearly the same bid, differing but little from
the Canton, but both having a better and
wider spread reputation. Some parties tx.
pressed q Willingness 10 submit the bids to
The aforesaid citizen, but hC refused to accep
the proposition. In the mean time, Messfs
Hammond and Baync the first the president
OF the Canton company Nh various ways, and l.
The second its agent, assailcd the character of
She other companies and remarked in the
course o! their cyl2gtNms that if King bridge
was buIit, The board Of supervisors would
make no appropriation. To help their caasc
gentleman ot tiCa, ofyery great influence,
ana VINO ne.3 Tyry conspicuous position a,
that time, also remarked, that II Canton
bridge were built, SIR. Baync could greatly /
assist IN gclNng an appropriation through T.
the board, since hc could control five or six |
votes. What DO the supervisors think The /
representatives, of the Clinton and Canton
companies were always treated well and liz |
tened to with respect and attention, but the |
other pHfllcs were answered very curtly and |
informed mat = was useless for them To- nut |
u an appearance, that when the matter was
decided they would be informed. Mr. IInctt |
who represented several companies, called on
Ir. Gilbert, one of the principal commission.
cTs, tor thy sake oi some Information. Mr..
Gilbert tod Mr.. lluet; he medta,cl submit
ting the p,aGs 10 Mr.. Thomas, who holds
some office IN connection with the Illinois
y Michigan canal. We learned lately that
Mr.. TlOmas was employed, and moreover
that he was Canton bridge man from head
20 shoe. Now, what puzzles us Is this Why
was he chosen IN preference 10 the non.Inilu
enced Chicago engineer? AS far as we can
learn, Mr.. Thomas is not an engineer, nor
does he claim such title; if he does, lac Is
not known among those who make that II
profession, ~ least, among those whom we
have consulted on the matter. Aside from
tins, many facts 20 10 prove that the kind o,
a bridge 70 b. ogilt was not decided and The
price To b. paid Was not specified. The
masonry was a.arded to the lowest bidders,
hessrs. Fyic x lleatherington of La Sale
and we believe fairly and honestly, but as TO
the supcTstructurc there was no fairness in
The award and no honor in the way the bid
deTs were treated.
As 10 why such II course was pursued we
venture no suggestions beyond this, that 1t
was no, the public good which demanded IT.
The Wrought Iron Bridge Co., of Canton,