The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-06-20
STONE MEN combine
They Send the Figures Up
for Masonry Bids for
the New City Hall.
UNFORTUNATE COMMISSIONERS.
If Mr.. Broome's Estimate Be Not
Lowered, the Stone and Mason
Work 10 Be Separated.

There appears to be a peculiarly IN
fortunate fate following the City Hall
Commissioners, who are struggling
through all these hot days 10 show The
public that they are really doing ON
thing to warrant them drawing the fat
salaries they do. This morning at eleven
o'clock was the time decided upon for
the reception of bids for the construction
OF the City Hall. There were plenty OF
bidders on hand, but when the
bids were opened the alarming dis
coyery WIS made that the lowest
of them exceeded the amount available
by about $23, 000. The members OF the
board were embarrassed. They have
more than $685. 0u, but that sum, when
compared with the bids. is LOO small.
The members were meditating when
Architect Broome put In an appea rance,
and with q smile that SAID
II knew it," explained that he bad been
in receipt Of information for the rast
two or three days to the effect that the
stone men of whom there are a half
dozen iu the city. had combined and
planned to victimize the city to the ex-
tent of about $40. 900 by raising the
price of stone. the stone menss
figures were two-thirds higher
than they were last time. but Corporation
Counsel Edwards suggested to Broome
thai. knowing the local men had combined
to yictimize the city, that 1t would
have been a wise thing for him to have
scurrled about amonRst outsld Q stonemen
and gotten a bid on the WORK.
Broome was mad aud expressed his
rage IN Latin, at least it Is supposed to
have been Latin. as mo one seemed TO ex-
aculy comprehend what he was mai
about, or what he was saying. In TACT, no
one seemed to pay any at tention to him,
at least. and for u period OF ten minutes
he was gesticuiateing wildly. uninterrupt-
ed. He finally found a listener In In
spector Talimau. aud then there
was a freely scene. Louis finally COOLED
off, and then gave some valuable ln1orm-
alton and made business like suggestions
with which he is replete. There was not
very much trouble, only Louis oec anne
unnecessarily ratified.
The bids as received by the Comml
sioners are as follows;-
James D.. Murphy, OF No. 200 Broadway, for
mason work, S355, yyS.
If ashIar Is omitted, S35O.5Oo. II stone work
is omitted in Gear, S3E SUI.
P. j. Condor, for entire work., $3s4 ,5s5.
Estimate No. !. for all mason work, with stone
all around, S256, 525.
For stone work on three sides, rough cast on
For brick all around, two stories, $3.50, 0O.
Richard English. estimate No. l, to do all
mason work furnished, with stone on all Tour
sides, S290,3e5.
All mason work furnished, with buff brick
above first story, for $283.335.
Estimate No. 8, on all mason, work furnished
on three sides. with stone in the rear, WITH
rough brick outside. S275,S9o.
w. w. Farrier, for plumbing, steam and gas
fitting. SIS, 100.
John Klernan. for carpenter WORK, $7o,oOo.
Henry J. Niblett, for all carpenter work,
SIG H35
james D. Murphy. entire work, Si59, 459. II
stone work in rear is omitted, S44o,ooo..
Fergus Il. Kelailer, Tor plumbing, steam and
gas fitting, S1S.359.
As whole the bids are low, but in
each case the extravagant figures OF the
stone men make it an impossiblity 10
award the contract. The lowest bid
which can be made up of the estimates
unlimited would be Patrick Condor.
$2S6. 525; John kiernan. $4,000, n w.
w. Farrier, SIS. 100. making q total OF
1919 $50.
The Commission has at its disposal for
tho erection of the building 1886. 100, aud
the lowest estimate exceeds this by S23,.
5S5.
After discussing the tactics OF the
stone men foe a half hour Coudon In
formed the board that his estimate OF
$3.50, 525 included a bid OF Sl2b.
900 for stone work. Arcnitecs Broome
uSClRIC0 tuob S1.V1 - %Vo3NSSs ~ 49,
highest was a liberal figure to b. ad-
yanced for tue stone WORK. To bear out
what he said about the coSabinatlon, he
showed the other stone bids which were
as high as $l40, 600. He declared that he
could get the stone work done for $4,000
if the board would authorize him to
make the effort. lhey could see
no advantage to bs gsined by this,
until Condor spoke up and said that his
bid for the work would stand as submit
led, but il Broome could get The stone
WORK done any cheaper than $4,000 he
(Condou) would accept the lower BID, no
matter what it was, as long
MS the bidder was 4 r%esponsln g
man, and would pay back to the city the
difference etween the $3.50 0 bid, aud
the estimate furnished by Broome.
If Brooute can get the work done for
S85, 900 or even $4,000. the board eau
awaId the contract To The combination of
bidders as given above. and keep safely
within the limits of the
funds available for the purpose.
The bids OF Condon. Klernan and Farrier
were retained. and the others returned 10
the bidders. On Thursday, detinite action
VIII be taken upon tae bids, aud 1t
Booome is unable to secure u Jowsr bid
h $l25, 600 for the stone Work, the
stone work and mason work will be sep
Grated, and bids readvertised for.
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TIE MINING CAMP FIRES.
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