The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-13
THAT COAL CONTRACT
Is Making Much Trouble For
the Penitentiary Board.
There Us Little Competition and
Bids Are Low.
The Board is Reluctant to Make the
Award Owing to Its Probable IF
feet on the Miners Wages

The board of penitentiary directors
has more trouble over the awarding Of
the contract for the surplus coal output
at the state penitentiary than over
anything else. Thursday the board
considered bids but did not let the con
tract. The reason it did not do this
was because Of the charges made
against the bidders and because the
bids were so low.
Chairman T. w. Eckert and Director
"a. M Beck came to Topeka yesterday
and had long talk with Governor
Morrill, about the disposal of the con
tract The governor said atterWard to
a reporter that he was opposed to the
letting of the contract at a low figure
and that he would not sanction it. The
members of the board who We're here
also said that they did not propose to
allow the coal to be disposed of at an
extremely low price.
Two bids We're opened Thursday at
Lansing The present contractor, II.
A. Upton Of Arkansas City, the home
q chairman Eckert offered the state
4 1-5 cents for lump and CRATE, 8 cents
Tor nut 4 3-5 cents for pea and
one-hfth Of cent for dust. I'll. Mes
Dit of AtchisOn wanted to give 4 2-5
cents for lump and crate, . cents for
nut, cent for pea, One-tenth of a cent
for dust.
A statement was made before the
board, apparently by friends of Mr.. Up
ton, that Nesbitt represented the
Home mines of Leavenworth This
was not only denied by the superin-
rendent of the Home COMPANY who
was present, but a verbal protest was
entered by him with the board that
the contract should not be awarded to
either OF the persons for the reason
that the price is entirely too low and
would result in the cutting of the pres
ent rate of wages paid to miners
JptOn's bid is at the rate of 81 .O5 per
ton and Nesbitt's at the rate Of 81 10.
About 80 per cent Of the output is lump
and crate coal, so that Nesbitt's bid
would be the best for the state
State Mine Inspector Bennett Brown
entered written protest against
awarding the contract to either of the
bidders, as the prices are not only
rldiculously low but it would be inn
possible for the local mines to COM
pete against such prices
Tt was claimed that Mr.. Upton in his
old represents the IeaVenWOrth Coal
company and that it is proposed to
supply the penitentiary coal to the Sol
diers' home. from which the company
received the contract a few days ago.
agreeing to supply that institution for
one year with bituminous coal at the
rate Of $1.3S per ton. Tt is stated that
the North LeayenWOrth mine to the
home is 30 cents per ton. while the
charges from the state mine to the
same place is only is cents. which
would give the company a profit of Is
cents per ton
After the consultation with the gov
ernor. Chairman Ecl5ert and Mr.. Beck
said to journal reporter that they
did not know what disposal would be
made Of the coal question. Chairman
Eczert said
This letting of the coal contract is
the most vexatiOus one which comes
before our board. I do not like to let
the coal go for q low figure. and neither
does the governor We may have an
other meeting within a few DAYS, for
something VIII have to be done with
the matter