The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-05-20
Standing to his Rights.

Mr.. Archer Hartman, son OF Col. A, W..
Hartman, of this place, is member of the
Louisville Asphalt Company, which is en-
gagged in contracting for and laying asphalt
pavement. The Louisville members of the
firm are gentlemen of wealth and large bust
ness experience and the company has had
number of contracts since its organi-
cation. which have been satisfactorily COM
pleted. Recently, by invitation. this
company put in a bid for paving the
streets of st. Joseph, Mo-, Mr. Hartman
representing it On the ground. The pro-
ceedings of the City Council in relation to
the bids and awarding the contract are
given in the St. Joseph Herald of the 10th,
from which we extract the following:
The engineer reported that the contract had
been awarded to Hartman d Co., of Louisville,
KY for paving Felix street with asphalt, their
bid being the cheapest and BEST The bids were
company and Hartman & Co.
Mr. M. A. Reed, who said he represented nu-
merous property holders along the space to be
paved, addressed the council respecting the
propriety OF postponing the confirmation of the
hntber Harman & Co could do as good morlI
as the Barber company.
MI. S. c. Woodson thought Mr.. Reeds posi-
ton singular. Hartman u Co. had given a bond
for the faithful performance of the work and
if they didn't do it according to specifications
Mr. Reed replied to Mr.. Woodson, reiterating
his first remarks in substance.
DR.. Long spoke in favor of awarding the con-
tract to Hartman & Co.
C. e. Squires, of the Barber company, said
that if Hartman & Co: We're given the contract
that their work would be hindered and re-
tarded by the Barber company as much as
possible. He had never heard of Hartman & Co.
x1rI,o ohl1fjr TnniSUjlfp a., short
in Cincinnati. If the asphalt is laid by any
body else in st. Joseph than the Barber com
pany there will be restraint put upon the
work Hartman & Co. are not known in any of
the great asphalt cities.
G. B. France spoke briefly in favor of post
poning action on the confirming of the con-
tract awarded by the engineer.
S. c. Woodson said this postponement was
the first step towards the retarding that had
been limited at by Mr.. Squires. He said he rep
resented Hartman & Co., and would meet the
Barber company in the courts at any time. and
fight it until it is sick of it.
Mr.. Hartman made a few pointed remarks.
fatty contradicting the derogatory remarks
made by Mr.. Squires concerning him and his
house, and challenged proof OF the same.
A resolution having been previously intro
awarding of the work to Hartman d Co., by the
engineer and comptroller, the vote was called
Alderman Padberg moved to lay the matter
over until the next meeting. and severel alder
men spoke in favor of Alderman Padberg's
notion which carried.
At this juncture after q vote had been taken
to postpone. action, Mr. Archie Hartman again
Withdraw his bid. He did this, not through
pique, but because he felt he had not been
treated right, He disliked TO use that language
He came here and gave good security for the
faithful and honest performance OF the work.
an investigation of his house, but as he had
written here three weeks ago and signified his
intent ion OF bidding he thought Oh the council
tigating now the council would reflect upon
HIM and hurt The standing of his house and its
credit. sWe have not" he continued, ''laid as
much pavement as the Barber company, but
what we have laid has been as good. l think T
see in this determination on your part not 10
allow us to bid against the Barber company
1t never occurred to me that the BARRIERS would
make such exhibition of sorehead as they
it to their credit, done it ably. II you do not
want competition against the Barber company
in st. joseph there are many cities in the
Uuited States that do
President Gregg replied that the council
wanted to give Hartman & Co. the farest and
kindest consideration, and that all the council
wanted was time, and if they find the bid Of
Harman & Co. the lowest and best they would
get the work.
MI Harman-sI gave the President of the
council several days ago the names of the mem |
bers of my firm. and their financial standing
| have never before been served as have been
II this city. This action of yours will fnjure
me greatly, and my opponents, the BARRIERS,
and will use it against me in every place where |
we may bid against them. l this morning re-
ceiyed a telegram that my plant had been
shipped from Louisville for st. Joseph. When |
it comes here l must, owing to this most I'M
common proceeding, ship it back again. and be
at an useless expense Of 5000 and perhaps 81 900
have said, will, as soon l can telegraph |
them here, place $4,000, the amount Of my
bond, in United States bonds in the hands Of
your comptroller mayor. L offered to do |
this for my bondsmea; h but knowing the stand
After Mr. Hartman had finished Alderman
Ashbrook moved to reconsider the vote BY
which the motion had carried. The vote re-
suited:
Aye-Nowland Ashbrook, Lewis, Morris,
Gregg, Padberg, SALISBURY, Jameson and Ryan
No-Jones.
The original resolution to confirm the con-
tract then came up and the resolution carried,
Alderman Jones voting No.