The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-25

yesrs. Al addi.lonas s. day ~IlI ss pad
- a. Inspector. whose d1fy il wii % 70
see that the contractor does not put n
hay drain ingssa q brush fasesnes. ss
directed - TIE engineer.
Oar bondssaen we're worth many times
the amount Of the aoni required and their
names Submitted according 20 IDsts1c-
tlons. aad sigaE minutes before the expara-
ton Of the tlfns required, but cur bid ras
never considered. The other bidders we're
al turned down for favorits. and the tai
payer win have 80 pay twice As much for
this xorx as good. responsible contractors
offered 70 do i for. In addition. this
Whole Transaction having "a ugly look,
there il reason for the opinion that u Is
entirely Illegal and that further expense
viii be Ineugrea thereby.
W. w. ELpREp.
The shove communication vas shown 20
some OF the members Of the board OF
school directors. A informal meeting
vas held and the following replies we're
made 10 Mr. El1red's communication
before tie bids were opened on August
8 the attention Of all the bidders. xho
they would be required 20 furnish bonds
ard the bond as Rad and exp aimed By
W. IL White. the attorney for the board.
Then there ensued considerable talk
among the bidders as 20 whether the bids
should BE opened a. that time. as il was
tbe desire o. some Of the bidders TO
amend their bids after hearing the bond
read. Others OF the bidders objected, say
ing Il xoa.d Be very unjust TO them 10
allow amendments of the existing dds, as
they had revealed 10 one another what
they bad bid. and the amount of each bid
vas generally known 10 the bidders pres
ens
Finally the board said tha. any one
who desired could withdraw his bid, and
If they did not the bids would all be
opened. TIE man who made the most
fgss. who did not want any time, he
said he could furnish ali the bondssneeded
ana everything else, was Mr.. Eldred.
The bids were then opened. The varI-
atoms In the bids we're so great-they ran
from s.. 600 20 5000 THAT the board did
not desire 10 take action on that night.
Then the board consulted its engineer.
u. 5. q. White, and he could not under.
stand Why there vas such great differ
ence iE the bids. He also stated 10 the
board that the highest bid was entirely too
low for the work if il was done in proper
manner. and that the board should De
careful. 70 have the work done right, con-
sidering the great risk of the South school
building falling II the task was done in a
sloveniy or careless manner.
s'As the suggestion Of Engineer White
the bidders we're asked 10 itemize their
bids. In other words, TO state how much
they calculated IL would cost for stone
work, Tor pillng. for faseines, etc.
When these itemiEed bills were ali in,
and all but two contractors so itemized
hair hs.a das3tb h.,
10 J. G. Spur, the lowest bidder, pro-
yided he gave good bond.
''Mr. Spur failed 20 give a good bond,
and then the contract was awarded TO
CaSsey & Bromley. They asked for i've
days in which to fife the $4,000 bond re-
qnired. and that time was given TO them.
Then the board notified all the other
bidders, who had itsmized bids in. on the
day when Cawsey & Bromiey's time ex-
pired 20 be present with their bonds ready,
because II Cawsey & Bromley failed to
qualify the contract would be let TO the
next highest bidder who could qualify bv
giving a satisfactory bond. Cawsey IL
Bromley failed to qualify and the contract
was let 10 Eldred & Heath. They were
given day in which TO secure bonds.
They failed 10 furnish the necessary bonds
and the contract was let 10 Contractor
Garreity. lie failed TO give a satisfactory
bond, though given day ia which To do
so. The board accepted three names sub
mitted by Mr.. 6arretty and only two of
them signed.
Then the board let the contract 10
James Parke, who gave good, sufficient
and satisfactory bond. Ii Parke had not
given satisfactory bond Flynn 4 Rock
mark would have been awarded tile con-
tract.
"The fact of the matter is that a So, 600
schoolhouse - in danger of falling, unless
n - - -.
fully done, and the large bond is required
a satisfactory manner. No favoritism vas
shown, and the only desire OF the board
vas 10 fully protect the interests of the
people in tie premises"
Attorney W. H'white made the follow
ing statement;
1T has been the universal rule of the
board % require joint and several obIiga-
tons from all contractors that they viii
keep and perform every condition of their
contract. Mr.. Eldred came 20 the board
ana presented paper signed by his pro-
posed bondsmen. there being several
names on the paper. whereby they agreed
10 be bound TO the district in the sums set
opposite their names. and no more some
Of them limiting their liability 10 a low
as $500, the whole amount rendered being
about SO0O0. Mr. E.dred was in
formed that this was not the
bond provided for in the contract
aud required hy the board: that his sure
ties must be Jointly and severally held in
the sum 81 $4,000. no matter what they
were willing 10 justify that they were
worth. lie stated that he did not know
that this was the kind of bond required.
The bonds we're prepared when the con-
tract was. and had been open for inspec-
ton at all times since the opening of the
bids The board stated to Mr.. Eldred that
they could not give him further time to
get bonds. as the rainy season was coming
on anl they Proceeded 10 consider the