St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-04
THE WATER COMMISSIONERS.
Interesting Meetim0-FigJtt over the 4Aaca1d
of q Contract.


Of a Contract.
At the regular meeting of the board of water
commissioners last evening, the following bust
ness was transacted:
COMMUNICATIONS.
A communication was read from A. G. Wilcox
that the property owners of Highland avenue are
ready to pay their share of the expense Of ex-
tending the water main from its present termi-
nus to Lyndale avenue. Referred to the COM
mittee on extensions.
Commissioner Andrews moved that in the
residence districts, where the sidewalks are
eight or six feet wide, that the hydrants be
placed on the street side of the walks and at the
corners
The secretary read an acknowledgment from
the Cincinnati & Newport Iron works of the $40,
400 payment of the balance due from the city,
placed on file.
Petition for laying water mains on Broadway
northeast from Third to Main streets; on Main
street to engine house No. 2; on Park avenue
between Fourteenth and Thirteenth avenues; on
Franklin avenue between Minnehaha and Nicollet
avenues were presented.
Commissioner Foote from the finance commit
tee readsa report showing that after all warrants
credit Of the water works fund S441349 a. Bal
ance contract, 50, 407.57; total, $7.727.37.
FRAUD ALLEGED.
Concerning the awarding of the contract for
furnishing the wrought iron pipes and fittings
for the east side station quite a lengthy discus
sion arose.
Commissioner Brown, of the committee on
construction, reported that the contract should
be awarded TO the North Star iron works.
Commissioner Davis, from the same commit
tee, reported that the contract should be award
ed to the lowest bidder, provided they furnish a
boud that should be equivalent to the amount of
the contract.
Commissioner Foster, of the same committee,
seconded Commissioner Browns report. The
North Star Ron works was not the lowest bidder,
but the lowest responsible bidder lie said
Adams 50 Schober was firm unknown in the
city.
Commissioner Brown also charged the same
thing. He charged fraud and said the bid of
Adams s. Schober was simply a straw bid. 1t
had developed that the city engineer had, in adj
verifying for bids, failed to specify that certi-
fed check should accompany all bids for the per
Torrance of the contract, as is usual
Commissioner Davis said he did not know
Adams Il Schober but he thought il they gave
sufficient bonds and were the lowest bidders
that they should have it, were they black or
bids be rejected and the engineer instructed to
re-advertise with the requirement specified that
a 500 certified check be enclosed as Il guaranteed
that the contract will be fulfilled.
Mr.. Rice, Of the North Star Iron works, by con
sent, addressed the board. He said that only
two bona fde bids had been submitted The
other two bids were straw bids and he could
prove emanated from the firm which had bid
against the North Star Iron works If the con
tract was awarded TO Adams IL Schober il would
in reality 90 to the same party who had made the
highest bid.
Mayor Pillsbury said he should vote for read
vertising for proposals. He said that he had
consulted legal advice and learned that the board
had right to discriminate, and that the bid
should in all cases 90 to the lowest bidder where
sufficient bond was offered. Mayor Pillsbury said
tina. he had heard that VI. W. Glenn wasn't at the
bottom of the bid of Adams II Schober. If that
was true Mr.. Glenn had violated the law.
Commissioner Brown said that this case was
only similar to several instances in which Mr..
Glenn had done the same thing, rs he believed.
Commissioner Foote moved an amendment TO
Con mssi)ne Andrews motion to the effect
tlat the contract be let to the Norh Star Iron
works, the largest bidders known to the board
The vote on the amendment stood Brown, Footc,
yes; no, Davis, Andrews and Pillsbury. Com
missioner Andrew motion to re-advertise then
carried.
The committee in extensions reported that
Fred Younger had been contracted with for re-
laying the pipe on Nicoilet avenue between Ninth
and Twelfth streets,
DR., Hunter appeared, and stated that he was
ready TO advance the money for laying the pipe
from Harmon place to Nicollet avenue. Com
missioner Brown moved that the pipe be laid and
the engineer ordered 70 advertise for bids for do
ing the work as soon rs the money was de-
posted.
After transacting further routine bushes the
board adjourned to Monday, July IA.
Lots of fun aud excitement at the races to-day.
Go early