The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-26
These Figures Will Prove Ex-
tremely Valuable for
Reference.
PRICE OF ROCK IS HIGHER.
Contractors Out Of the Combine
Offer to Do the Work for Very
Much Less.


THE CALL. J. w. Mcdonald appeared De-
fore the Street Committee of the Board OF
Supervisors Yesterday and did just every
thing that it was presumed he would not
do. The presumption was based, OF course,
on the previous record for quiet thinking
and going-of-his-way that Mr.. Mcdonald
had established Such a man is not ex-
pected to voluntarily locate himself to the
tiger. that otherwise might go unwittingly
on through the underbrush. So THE CALL
wagered the cigars that he would not offer
to show his hand-but he laid it down on
the table with the game scarcely begun.
Chairman Spreckels was unable to be
present and Supervisor Hughes presided.
Morgenstern, Benjamin and Bunker, the
other three mem bers, were on hand, and
together they form an even half of the
Solid Eight.
Clerk Russell read the following commu-
nication, which was presented at the last
meeting of the board, was referred to this
committee and now brought up for action:
In the issue of the San Francisco CALL of July
IA, 1895, ii is charged that the City Street I'm
provement Company OF this City secured
contract from your honorable board at an ex-
orbitant price, and implies that improper
We must assume that THE CALL has been mis-
informed and received its information from
some irresponsible contractor, for in no other
way can we account for the assertion which
this paper makes, that the work can be done
for cents q square foot.
We are well aware that we have rivals in
business who will not hesitate at any untruth-
full or malicious statements.
In this matter we attach no blame whatever
Trrr = .rT hut hiatt Iar- Il y,nf
piled TO US for information before making
erroneous assertions.
Our Office and our books are open to their in
speeton as are also the estimates on which the
price and cost of this work are based.
AS long ago as the latter part of January we
applied to the Street Committee of your hon.
orsble board for permission to do this work.
stating the price, etc., but on account OF lack
of funds your committee laid the matter over
until the beginning of the fiscal year, when we
renewed our application.
The full committee recommended that we be
awarded the contract and every member OF
your honorable board voted for the adoption
of such recommendation.
On September l we bid on Van Ness avenue
contract and our price was then Az cents per
square foot. Our present contract is IA cents,
subject to condition of giving $4,000 bond to
keep in repair for seven years. We make no
claim whatever that we are doing this work at
cost price We expect to make fair, legiti-
mate profit, and we challenge any reputable
contractor in this City for proof that we are
doing any more.
We are ready to appear before your honorable
board, OF any committee of reputable business
men of this City selected from the Merchants
Association or any other body of business men,
and prove to them that our price OF Ia cents
leaves no margin other than a fair, legitimate
profit. We court the fullest investigation. Re-
spectfully yours,
CITY STREET IMPROVEMENT COMPANY
(By ]. w. MCDONALD, President.
Confronting this was businesslike COM
munication signed by James c. Jordan for
the Jordan Bituminous Rock and Paving
Company. 1t reads:
To the Street Committee of the Hon. Board Of
Supervisors Of the City and County Of San Fran
cisco, 4. B. SpreckeLs. Esq, ChGirman-GENTLE-
MEN The undersigned, citizen of the City and
County OF San Francisco, respectfully calls
your attention to and protests against the con-
tinuance of the contract heretofore let under
resolution II, 616 third series) of your board,
on the ground that said contract is illegal and
void, in this:
First--That no resolution of intention to do
the work specified in said resolution has been
advertised as required by law.
in said resolution have been advertised for or
let as required by law.
Third-That the price charged for said work
specified in said resolution is exorbitant, and
far beyond the ordinary charge for work of
similar character.
Fourth-That the undersigned is willing to
undertake said work at much lower figure
than that provided for in said resolution, to
wit: for the sum of IL cents per square foot, Sc
n,,rad nv proTar bonde rpouired nv law
JAMES c. JORDAN,
For Jordan Bituminous Rock and Paving Co.
San Francisco, July %, 1895.
Mr.. Mcdonald rose up and said he had
come prepared with figures to make good
his statement that IA cents was not an
exorbitant price for the work on Van Ness
avenue, but that if there were any others
who had anything further to offer to the |
contrary he would like to hear them.
At this, J. H. Bingham, a well-known |
contractor, who declares that he has been |
driven completely out of business so far as
City work is concerned by the alright |
combine, promptly responded with the |
declaration that he stood ready to prove
that he could lay the Van Ness avenue
pavement according to the specifications |
as published for from 8 to 10 cents square
foot and make good profit.
Mcdonald asked him how much he
would pay for his bitumen.
''The best quality will cost me So so a
ton. 1 stand ready TO do the job at the
prices named, 4" said Bingham.
Mcdonald seemed very much disguised
at this and entered upon TRADE of per-
sonal abuse of Bingham, declaring that he
could not do the work at those figures and
pay his debts. He declared that he
(McDonald) had made business success,
always paid his debts and did good work
which he said was not true of Bingham
Bingham holly denied the truth of these
allegations.
Then Mcdonald lightly took up the
black and white declaration OF the Jordan
Bituminous Rock Company, admittedly
one of the soundest and best equipped
business concerns in the City. He would
not deny that James G.. Jordan was a bust
ness man, he said, but still maintained
that IA cents was as low as this work could
be done and make safe profit. He again
repeated that he himself was success,
which fact he offered as a demonstration of |