The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-16
NORTH BEACH SEAW ALL
Owens Brothers Awarded the
Contract fer the Section.
The Improvement Will Cost S93, 320-Defeat
Of Ring Hintsd At by the Sue
csssful Bidders.

The rooms of the Harbor Commissioners
were perhaps never SO crowded with con-
tractors as yesterday, over 100 being pres
ent The occasion was the opening and the
awarding of bids for the construction OF
Section B of the sea-wall, including the fill
ing of the wall, the thoroughfare and the
wharf.
The section begins at the foot of Powell
street, and extends along the city front to
the westerly side of Taylor street. 1t is
1000 feet in length. The specifications call
for 10000 tons of rock, $4,000 cubic yards of
earth, and material for the construction OF
wharf all along the line.
All the Commissioners were present, with
Chairman English presiding. Mayor Pond
was also on nand and took part in the
examination Of the bids Great interest was
felt in the opening and reading of each bid,
and every check accompanying the bids was
closely scanned.
A motion was adopted to open no bid not
accompanied by sample OF the rock to be
used and then the following bids were
opened.
EIGHT BIDS OPENED.
F. j. s. J. V. Owens, check S6o0o-Rock, 70
cents e6 per ton s sas 20 cents tom wharf
Antonelle & Due, check S65O0-Rock. 1919
cents: earth, 3o1a cents; wharf, S2l 800; total,
San Francisco Bridge Company, check s65o0-
RoeE, SO cents; earth. Is cents; wharf, $4,000;
warren & Malley, check s55oo-Rock, 80
sl03. 4s0.
W. c. Wing, check se5oo-Rock, 81; earth,
40 GEMS; wharf, $4,000; total, Sl30,600.
j. W. Mcdonald, check S67o0-Rock, 81 90;
earth, So cenlsi wharf, $4,000: total, $751;.
100
John Kelso, check s6Ooo-Rock, s91s cents;
earth, SO cents; wharf, S21,75o; total, $1I7..
160.
b. Nc Mahon & Son, check ssooo-Rock.
81 10; earth, 40 cents; wharf, S24,oooi total,
S138,Soo
The great difference between the highest
and lowest bid was at once a subject of
comment, it being over S45, 500, and an I'M
easy feeling appeared 10 exist among the
contractors. They were at once requested
to withdraw in order to let the board award
the contract.
OWENS BID IN PROPER FORM.
As soon as the contractors had left Chair
man English said that he thought the bid
should be awarded to the lowest bidder,
providing he would give sufficient bonds.
The Owens bid and check Of $4,000 were
found to be in proper form. No comment
was made by the Commissioners on the
large excess of the majority OF the other
bids over that of the Owens Brothers, the
Commissioners stating that the lowest bid is
much cheaper than had been expected on
the basis of the Commissioners Chief
Engineer.
On motion of Chairman English a resolu-
ton was adopted accepting the bid OF Owens
Brothers, providing they could furnish q
proper bond for 600, conditional on the
faithful performance of their contract
+. j. Owens was called before tie Com
missioners and agreed to furnish the bond
required by Thursday mex: at O'Clock in
the afternoon, ana the Commissioners then
adjourned.
After the adjournment, a number of the
unsuccessful contractors hung around the
vicinity. their faces being green with disap-
pointment Some claimed that the Owens
Brothers could not fulfill the contract i'll the
time required in the contract, which is 9
months. Others held that they had bid too
low, and would lose money on the transac
ton.
EXPECT TO MAKE MONEY.
Both +. j. and j. V. Owens were asked
in regard to these statements, the former
doing the talking. He SAID:
I'VE do not expect TO get rich on this con-
tract but we expect to make money suif-
Gent to justify the enterprise. We have lots
of grading to do outside OF this contract,
and can get filling material thereby much
cheaper. For six weeks l have been over the
ground and examined the situation, and we
know where we are. You may say for me
that there was ring formed to get this con-
tract but 1t failed.
CnieI Engineer Manson was also inter-
viewed on the subject, and stated the bid
is much lower than the estimates lie had
prepared. which were 100000. He thought
III.