The record-union., 1893-10-18
TWELFTH STREET TREN1LE.
Supervisor Curtis Directed to Sign
the Contract.
An Effort Made to Induce the Super
visors to Build It Like the
City's Trestle.

The Board of Supervisors held a spe-
cial meeting yesterday morning for the
purpose of considering proposition
made by Darbey & Layden, who were the
lowest bidders for a contract to build the
Twelfth-street trestle, and who also Sc
cured the contract to build the city's por-
ton of the trestle.
They stated that there was great diff
ference in the specifications of the two
trestles, that of the city being much the
strongest and most durable, and although
much more than double the cost per foot
ofthe county trestle. it would be the cheap
est in the end. They, therefore, proposed,
instead of signing the contract according
to their bid of 50, 200, to build one like the
city's for the same price, viz: So per foot,
or ,28O.
The question Of the sustaining capacity
of the trestle under the specifications OF
the county bids was discussed, as har-
vesters and traction engines will have to
pass over it sometimes.
Supervisor Todd said that hethought to
change the contract now would be an in
justice to other bidders who had bid on
the original specifications, but would
have no chance to bid on these. he was
not sure whether or not the board could
substitute the contract asked for without
advertising for bids on it.
Chairman Morrison did not think that
the board had any right to substitute 1t.
The new proposition would cost the
county over S., 900, and it would be un-
fair to the other bidders to make a change
in the plans which would nearly treble
the cost. without giving others chance
to bid on it. II He thought that it would be
for tho hna nd n a6UartiGn q IL
Supervisor Curtis stated that he would,
of course, like it If a substantial trestle
could be built. He and County Surveyor
Winn had examined the trestle already
there, which had stood well for the past
eleven years and was still in good condi
ton. Some of the spans had sagged
slightly, probably an inch, in that time,
but it was not perceptible to anyone going
over 1t and could hardly be noticed.
1t would be an injustice TO the other
bidders to accept this proposition, and
the residents of the country would think
SO, too. He favored standing by the orig
inal contract and could not bring himself
to do otherwise.
The work has been too long delayed.
but it was the first time the Supervisors
had seen their way clear to do it. He
could not favor adopting a contract that
cost s., 900 when work like the original
contract had stood eleven years.
Layu6n Salu ne WOulQ go aneau Win
his contract, but the trestle would
neither give satisfaction to himself nor
the board. 1t will stand in close compar-
ison to the city's trestle, which was a
much better class of work.
Todd did not see the utility of spending
$4,000 when in few years the Sixteenth
street road must be opened and would
divert a large portion of travel from
Twelfth street.
The Chairman moved that as the Com
missioner of the district favored the orig
inal, he be authorized to go on and make
the contract as decided, and it was so
ordered.
The petition presented last August to
open a road on Andrus Island which had
been surveyed a long time ago, but was
Obstructed by houses, was resurrected by
Supervisor Jenkins, who wished to re-
fresh his memory on the subject. The
board could not take it up at the special
meeting, but on the suggestion of Jenkins
the movers of the petition will interview
the people of the island and see if road
through the center of the island will not
better serve their purpose.
The board then adjourned.