Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-10-04

to conform to the conditions publicly required
by the board was that of c. A. Danolds of
Rochester, n. Y. The directors ordered that
this bid be fully investigated which was af-
terward done in the most thorough manner
To give time for this to be done the meeting
adjourned, and the several al journments since
have been made entirely in the interest of the
company, and not in the interest of any party
or parties whomsoever. At the meeting held
in Newfane Sept 23d it was found that the
directors had, in fact but one bid (DanodsO
before them which they could accept,-the
bidof Messrs Harris Bros. d Co. having a CON
diton in it which the board voted they could
not accede to-and the other bids calling
either for all cash, or being for other reasons
beyond the reach of the company to accept
At this meeting, the recommendations of Dan
olds proving to be apparently satisfactory,
and it seeming probable that some of the 9th
I err bids might be modified SO rs to come with
| in the reach of the means at the disposal of
the company, an adjournment of one week
was proposed, and afterward carried But in
the meantime committee was appointed to
wait upon Harris Bros. AZ Co.. who were in
the place. to see if they would withdraw the
Objectionable condition in their bid and which
caused their bid to be rejected They declined
to do this, again leaving in the opinion of the
board, the Danolds bid as the only one before
them that could be accepted. There still be-
ing doubts on the part Of some of the direc-
tors in regard to the acceptance of this bid
being advisable, and Danolds having tee-
graphed the president asking for a conference
with the executive committee on the 2Sth. it
was thought best on this account. and for
other apparent reasons, to again adjourn
Previous to adjournment the board voted that
the executive committee be instructed to ne
gotiate with either of the parties who had put
in bids, or with any other party that they
might see fit, and report at the adjourned
meeting. They Were not, however, instruct
ed to close with any party. The adjourn
ment was for one week, to Sept. 80.
During the following week the executive
committee prosecuted the work assigned them
as best they could, it being remembered that
the only bid now before them was the Danalds
bid, the Morrison bid being at this time an all
cash bid, and the Newton Bros. bid not in all
points satisfactory. 1t now being probable
make bid that could be accepted they were
all treated with equal fairness, the only point
known in common to them being the amount
of cash the company was willing TO offer
This was made known to Harris Bros. a. Co..
L. NJ. Morrison and the Newton Bros As
MIR. Danolds was expected to be in Brattle-
boro on the 18th he was only advised of the
fact that he would be seen by the executive
committee and was asked in particular man
ner TO have his bonds and references satisfac-
tory. On the 2Sth; however. letter was re-
ceived from Danolds saying that. for reasons
which he stated he should he unable to carry
out his contract, and lie therefore withdrew
his bid. Before the meeting Oh Monday, the
30th, the committee had received new bids
from Harris Bros. a Co., L. NJ Morrison. and
the Newtons, equal fairness having been
shown each, and no coliusion or conniyance
being possible in connection with either par
| ty. 1t was found when the executive com
mittee made their report that the bid of the
| Newton Bros. was ont of their reach it re-
quiring larger amount of cash than the di-
rectors thought best to give, thus leaving the
| only bids before the board those of Harris Bros
~ Co. and L. NJ. Morrison. The bid made by
| Mr. Morrison was materially the lowest. and
the bids, made were stated by each to be
the lowest they would make In connection
with the figures of the Morrison bid as stated
AT the beginning of this article, We may here
! add that the figures of Harris Bros 4 Co.
were Sl7O,OOO cash, Sl2O, 600 bonds, $4,000
stock. Counting the bonds at so cents on the
| and he -,
which a part of the board held to be the fair
way, it was found that the Morrison bid was
! 80, 500 lower than that of Harris Bros. & Co..
and in possible contingency, which appeared
in the Harris Bros. & Co.'S bid and not in
Morrison's, the difference might be swelled
to S1f, 500; but reckoning the bonds at so
! and the stock at 10. i'll each case, which an
| other part of the board thought the fair way.
the difference between the bids was reduced
to 81, 500, or, in the possible contingency re-
| ferred to, to $40, 500. This difference, by
the voluntary offer of one of the board. was
afterward reduced $500 in favor of Harris
Bros. d Co. Under the most favorable con-
ditions possible the Morrison bid was =, coo
the lowest TIC whole matter was fully and
fairly discussed, and the board almost to
man, expressed the feeling that they should.
in view of Mr.. Harriss efforts for the enter
! prise, be glad to give him the preference, even
| if they paid him more than any other respon-
sible bidder to the amount of -, 900, and some
said to the amount of s., 500, or even, as said
| by others, to the amount of the difference as
it appeared but the majority felt that they
were not justified in paying him the differ
ence as it appeared by the bid, and upon an
informal vote the Morrison bid was accepted
| by more than TO /. This being the case the
vote, after some further discussion. was made
unanimous, and the executive committee were
directed to close the contract, at as early
day as possible, with L. NJ. Morrison, requir-
! ing of him a satisfactory bond of $50 600 for
the fulflment of his contract also a reserve
of 10 per cent until the road be completed
and equipped ready for use as further secu-
rity.
To this statement of the facts in the case,
as we are informed that they stand, we can
only add that for ourselves, We Join in
the very general feeling of regret which is ex-
pressed that this contract should not have
fallen to our townsman, the Hon b. ID. Har-
ris to whom the existence and present degree
of advancement of this enterprise is so large
ly due Nor do We lose sight of the adyant-
ages which would have accrued TO this town
and the West river valley from having the
contract in the hands of a resident here, and
/. whose interests all centre in Brattleboro and
Windham county. We believe, however,
that the officers and directors of the roadhave