The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-31
UNCLE SAM SLOW PAY
CONTRACTORS WILL NOT TAKE
CHANCES ON CLIFFORD AVENUE.
The Two Bids Received Were Both
Rejected and Resolutions Ordered
Prepared for Brick.

The Board of Works has a perplexing
problem before it in determining just what
to do in the matter of improving Clifford
avenue, and the perplexity of. the problem
was largely brought about by the indiffer-
ence of Congressman Bynum in an effort
to secure an appropriation from Congress
to pay the governments proportion of the
cost of the Improvement. The arsenal
borders Clifford avenue for several blocks,
and the contractors are unwilling to take
long chances on securing their money from
the government, which is rather slow In
paying debts of this kind. Mr.. Sam Shear
er told the board yesterday that his COM
pany had been waiting six years for Uncle
Sam to pay for the asphalt in front of the
postoffice, and is apt to wait a few more
years before the money will be forthcom-
ing.
A large number of the Clifford-avenue
property-owners were before the board in
the morning, 10 o'clock having been the
hour set for opening bids The board had
proposed to receive bids and award con-
tract If the bids were reasonable but to
the minds of the property owners, these
bids We're far from being reasonable, and
it seemed that way to the board also, for
the bids were rejected, and resolution for
brick ordered drawn UP. There were just
two proposals on that portion of the street
from the Big Four tracks to the east side
of the arsenal. In this stretch is included
several hundred feet of government prop
erty, and both bids were SO made that the
property owners would have to take the
risk of obtaining the governments portion
of the cost. The Indiana Bermudez COM
pany offered to lay the asphalt the west
end of the street, any curb except granite,
for Sc, with the understanding that the city
was to pay for the arsenal frontage if the
government did not make an appropriation
within year. The board held that the
city could make no such contract, and so
but one bid remained, that of the Western
Paving and Supply Company, which offered
to pave that end of the street for 1913, the
property owners to be refunded any money
that might be afterward appropriated by
the government. This bid contemplated
stratified limestone or Parkhurst curb, OF
$7.7S with oolitic curb and $500 with gran
lite. The company frankly stated in let
ter that the bid covered the governments
proportion, as the company had been wait
ing six years for the government to pay an
other bill.
On the east end of the street, that part
east of the Arsenal grounds to TecumSeh
street tae western td rashg Hnppiy @o ~
Parkhurst curb S5.63 for oolitic and $3.50 for
granite; the Warren-Sharf Company bid
the Indiana Bermudez Company bid $3.50 for
any curb except granite. Another feature
of the uf1fairness of an award was the diyi-
sion by which Woodruff place was exempt
ed from assuming any portion of the Ar
senal cost, the burden having been put on
the property owners of the west end of the
street.
Had bid been equivalent to one on which
asphalt contract was let last fall, when
the companies were in close competition,
the cost of the west end Of thesstreet would
have been about. s4-So. according to Engi-
neer Browns estimate, instead of 1913, the
only tangible bid offered. Even putting
aside the pro rata of the governments por-
ton, the bid would have Deen considerably
higher than last fall. One of the me mbers
of the board called attention to the fact
that the company which accepted the con-
tract under the low figure lost money.
hoard can order an irnTovaa,'f a,5d sre
pei the property owners to pay for improv-
ing in front of government property. Nearly
all the property owners favor improve
ment although they will .strenuously oppose
contributing from their slender means to-
wards building Uncle Sans roadway. 1t has
been proposed that the board, have the
street repaired with gravel, which would
make it passable until the next meeting of
Congress, when the Seventh district viii be
better represented and a better opportunity
offered for securing an appropriation.
Under the amendment to the city charter
every bidder for public work must make
an affidavit that he has not entered into
any combination with other bidders The
following is a copy of one filed Yesterday.
says he is the vice president of the Warren,
Scharf Asphalt Paving Company and that
ne prepared and signed the proposal Of the
pany for the paving of the north half of
Clifford avenue, from a point las feet east
of the east line of Newman street to the
east property line of Tecumseh street. and
that said Warren-Scharf Asphalt Paving
Company has not entered into any combina~
to maintain prices or to induce any to re-
frain from bidding for said work"