Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-28
FOR A CHINESE WALL
To Support the Shore Street of Mt
Washington Property.
THE BIDS HELD OVER FOR AWHILE
A Caution to Contractors Who Are Anxious
o. tOPut Work at Low Figures.
THE DEPARTMENT uF AWARDS AHEAD

After long intervalo of suspense, the De-
partment Of Awards met yesterday after
noon and approved 8 number of street i'm
provements and sewer contracts The most
important subject OF discussion (being the
heaviest contract for street improvements
taken in hand for some time) was the grad
ing, paving, curbing, sewering and build
ing retaining wall along the bluff below
Grandview avenue in the Thirty-second and
Thirty-ffth wards. The ground under dis
cussion is about two miles in length, extend
ing from Wyoming street to Oneida, and the
present rainy weather, which is tearing the
real estate away from beneath the feet or
foundations of the property holders, natural
IL makes them anxious. The sidewalks along
the bluff are particularly dangerous after
dark, in many places the hand rail being
totally cut away, and liability to accident
being imminent. One of the property
owners on Grandview avenue cited last
evening the case of a woman, who fell over
the bluff few months ago at night and re-
mRined with broken limb some 60 feet
down until being discovered next morning,
as proof of the dangerous condition OF the
street.
MANY BIDS, BUT NO AWARD.
No award was made yesterday, although
bids were opened from Booth & Finn,
Martin Jovce, Sloane & McIlwaine, Nc
Cormick & Moran and n. G. Howard.
There were so many calculations to make
and the bids were so nearly alike that, on
motion OF Mr.. Bigelow, they were referred
to the clerk for tabulstion and the award
will be made at future meeting. Without
making a close examination of the figures,
il appears that Martin Joyce Is the lowest
Al. L Al -, -Hu oIaVrI lott MAJ
show 70 the contrary. The following
awards were made:
Pipe sewer on Reed street, 15inch. 81 per
foot; manholes, SIS each; catch basins, SIS each;
to J. s. Shafer. Pipe sewer on Wilingford
street, l5inch, 81 45 per foot; manholes. $S5;
sewer on Kirkwood street. l5-inch. 81 4S per
foot; manholes, S35; catch basins, SOS; to OFT
81 IS; manholes $57; catch basins, $45: to Eagen
q McQuaide. Pipe sewer on GraZier street,
from Novelty to Murtland Streets l5lnch,
81 IS; manholes. $S7; catch basins, $40; to g.
Collins Pipe sewer on Cornet street. from Jones
property to Maurice street, 15-inch, 81 IS; man.
holes, So; catch basins, ,S45; to Eagen McQuaIde
nue. to Monongahels river. 15-Inch, 81 3S; man
holes So; catch basins, S45; masonry, $40 so; to
Eagen & McQuslde. Pipe sewer on Maurice
street, l5inch, 81 81: lS-inch, 81 81; manholes,
$40; catch basins, $65; to Eagen & McQuaIde.
Grading OF Neville street TO Anderson avenue
10 George Eagen at 29H cents per square yard.
Boardwalk on Industry street. from Abingdon
TO Amanda streets and boardwalk on Cohasset
street from Grsndview avenue to Pawnee
street. to John King & Co, at so cents per
lineal foot for steps, walks and platforms.
PRECEDENT AND A WARNING.
As in all courts of power to distribute,
the Department Of Awards had case yes
terday TO serve as a precedent. OFT
Bros. were bidders on the Cypress street
sewer contract; but when the meeting COM
menced business Charles OFT, who was in
the Council chamber lobby, asked permits
sion to withdraw his bid on account of the
fact that since he had handed it in he had
discovered the figures were placed too low.
This was refused, as he was told that a man
putting in contracts for such work should
consider beforehand what he was doing, and
be careful of his own interests as well as
those OF his bondsmen. After the bid was
presented and received il could not be re-
called
Mr.. OFT felt very much sggrieVed over the |
matter, and expressed himself warmly, say
ing it was unfair TO hold any man to a con-
tract made through confessed mistake, and
upon the face of which it was apparent he
would lose money. The ruling in the case
was made final, however; but, to the great
relief of Mr.. OFT, when the bids were opened
it was discovered that Esgen & McQuaide
had made a much lower bid than he had.