Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-31
The Asphalt Contracts,


hhsSRs. BAILEY AND FLETCHER COMPLAIN THAT
THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF CORNER"
Yesterday afternoon Messrs. Fletcher and
Bailey, contractors for laying concrete pave
ments in this District, through Mr. W. c. MUIR
dock filed reply to the notification sent them
oy Lieut.. r. V. Greene relative to their failure
to perform the contracts. The answer states:
The contractors after prOtracted correspOn-
dence with various dealers and agents felt as
sured that they could get sufficient asphaltum
to DO the work proposed, and that the Engineer
Commissioner had DELAYED the award for twenty
the opposing bidders were enabled to go on and
purchase all the asphaltum in the market.
and obtain from very able chem
LIST an opinion that such asphaltum
as they. the lowest bidders. could procure was
unfit for use This opinion resulted in the con-
domination of the asphaltum in question and
closed their supply from the one place where it
was certainly obtainable. at is believed by
persons in our business" the paper saws, THAT
Messrs A. l.. Barber & Co have perfected ar
rangements with parties in the island of Trim
dad, by which they control all the asphaltum
coming to the United States from that island.
except such as was to be found outside of the
lake proper" Messrs. Bailey & Fletcher say
that under the circumstances they were COM
peiled 10 buy cargo. taken from newly
opened deposit near the lake and refine it
at their own risk. the result of which
refinement proved the opinion of the New
l ork chemist to be utterly false and worthless:
as the asphatum was of better quality than that
in use. Having laid the circumstances of the
case at length before the Commissioners the
contractors ask for an extension of time to June
80. 1882. TO which extension of time they think
they are entitled. because" as their papers
says. 1--WE believe it to be for the best interests of
the District that the scheme of A. l.. Barber &
Co. should be broken up and the work of paving
the streets of Washington and suburbs with as
phaltum be open to competition. Because we do
not believe that we deserve punishment at the
hands of the Commissioners for trying to save
to the people of the District the sum of 500 600.
Because in no way does the District, by our ac-
ton, lose any money.
The above mentioned paper, laid before the
District Commissioners yesterday by Mr. w. c..
Murdoch as attorney for Messrs. Bailey and
Fletcher, was this morning supplemented by
others bearing upon the same subject Mr.
William Fletcher. jr, co-partner with Mr.. Bal
ley, has this morning been i'm consultation with
Lieut.. Greene. and emphatically denies that Mr..
Murdoch is the attorney for Messrs. Bailey and
Fletcher. and in this connection has addressed
the following communication to the District
Commissioners:
notice in the morning papers that Mr. W. c.
Murdoch called on you yesterday and made a
statement as attorney for Bailey and Fletcher.
OF which do not agree. want to state that
made an answer to your communication of the
18th instant, on the Goth instant, with the full
consent of my cO-partner, Mr.. F. D. Bailey: and
L also state further that W. C. Murdoch is no
attorney for me. Yours with respect,
(SlSned) WIN. FLETCHER, JR. -
The answer to which Mr.. Fletcher alludes was
addressed to the District Commissioners and
was as follows" Your favor of the 18th instant
received. have the honor to reply that | have
made in connection with my co-cOntractOr every
reasonable effort to procure the necessary as
phalt to complete the contracts mentioned, but
thus far without success; and although we have
gone to very great trouble and expense, and
Notwithstanding we had every reasonable as
surance when we submitted our bids
that we could get such asphalt, we
have heretofore failed of success. We
have gone so far as to send So 500 to the
so far received no assurances that any amount
whatever can be or has been purchased Under
the circumstances can only throw myself upon
the mercy of your honorable board.
(Slgned) VIM FLETCHER, JR.
OF the firm of Bailey i Fletcher.
AUGUST 26, 1881.
THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS ARE UNWILLING
to accede to the request of the contractors for
an extension of time until the next fiscal wear
and they are also averse to letting the work to
the asphalt combination at the prices bid by it
FOG per notwithstanding the gentlemen
this combination have the facilities
ana are ready to go forward with the work at
once; and they are now considering the matter
with the purpose of having the work executed
at lower rate. which they hope
to be able to accomplish and to have the con-
tracts completed this season in satisfactory
manner to themselves and the public. The bid
of Bailey Fletcher was S1.S9 per square yard
Which 1t is thought is somewhat below fair
price for this character of work. labor and ma
terial both having considerably advanced above
last years prices.