Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-14
CONTRACT is LET.
Council Awards the Twenty
Fourth Street Job.
JOHN HULHERN RECEIVES IT.

the storm Drain and Hear suGEoot1ons |
From the Mayor with Reference to the
= Hospital Corner Stone Laying.
City dads sweat for two solid
hours at the council cham Der last
evening.
There was quite q discussion
among the aldermen before going
into committee of the whole concern
ing the amount Of The bond required
Of the successful contractor on the
Twenty-fourth street storm drain.
Aid. Maucker thought $1,000 would
be sufficient. contending that q
larger amount might be greater than
some of the contractors could secure.
AID. Concannan felt that a 10000
bond should be required. as in his
opinion it was customary to have
the bond double the amount OF the
contract price. But Aid. Wheelan
viewed the matter differently. A
substitute that the bond be $1,000
was defeated and the original motion
made by Aid. johnson for
. $4,000 bond was carried on
an aye and nay vote. Then Aid.
johnson was called to the chair and
the discussion on the storm dTain
was continued. Aid. Gall said that
the quality of cement to be employed
in the work was not stipulated in
the specifications. and thereby made
them faulty and left an opening to q
contractor to take advantage of the
city and economize on the expense
account to the detriment of the job.
He said that as the specifications
could not be changed without invali-
dating ali the bids, he thought it
would be better to do this aud ad-
vertise over anew than run the risk
Of getting the worst OF it.
| Engineer Paddock's Idea.
But Engineer Paddock said that
this question and all others OF that
nature could be settled by a commit
tee or the mayor after the contract
was awarded. Then the brick ques.
ton was brought up. Aid. Maucker
favored the using Of home brick. 81
want this matter looked into" said
Aid. Maucker. 1--WE have given toe
little consideration to materials and
labor in our city contracts. This
business of buying material from
surrounding cities and employing
foreign labor when we can do as well
or better at home is becoming toe
frequent and it should be stopped.
A motion that the contract bt
awarded in accordance with the
specifications made by Aid. Concan
non was carried and the committee
arose.
After another animated discussion
in which Aids. Kennedy and Vince
Ian had little tilt with reference tt
the responsibility of the lowest bid.
der, the contract was awarded tt
John Mulhern. Aid. Kennedy re
fused to vote.
II would like to know his rea
sons" said Aid. Wheelan.
We would like you to vote on
way or the other Aid. Kennedy,
said the mayor.
I'm not voting; that's ALL" re
piled the Sixth ward gentleman.
'.Of course il Aid. Kennedy viii
say that he is an interested party
will will withdraw my request" re
piled Aid Wheelan.
Aid. Kennedy further held that b.
had reason to believe that Mr.. Mul
hern was not responsible party
and he didn't vote.
Hospital Corner Stone LayinG.
Mayor Knox said that he had ,
conference yesterday afternoon will
Mayor Swensson, of Moline, will
reference to the corner stone layin,
ceremonies of the Illinois Western
hospital in the upper end of tn
county which occurs the latter par
Of the month. The mayor said i
was thought good idea to hav
, each city contribute 5000 toward de
J fraying the expenses Of the ce:ebra
ton. in which it is proposed that al
county civic organizations together
with the governor and staff will par
ticipate. The mayor said the count
would alec be asked for q contribu
: ton.
But Aid. Mucker didn't believe tn
city had any too much money AM
thought it more commendabl
scheme to raise the amount by pop
ular subscription. A committe
composed of Aids. Wheelan. Kenne
DIV. Dauber, johnson and Tindall va
appointed and empowered to max
any necessary arrangements and :
contract such bills ~ will necesearil
be incurred in connection with Roc
, Islands part in the corner stone lay
ing expenses. 1t was argued tina
tax-pay ers never objected to the ex
psnditure of money in . public er
terprise and they surely would hav
no occasion to object to the city dc
ing its part 10 anything pertaining
the hospital, the location of which !
the county means . great deal to q
Of our people
An Honor for Boiler.
Supt W. G. Besler, Of the Beard
town division Of the c., B. & Q. hs
hpen eloctod nvoaident If fha e.