The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-06
PAVING Contract FIGHT
Property Holders Take Sides NTH
the Two Companies.
PROMISES TO BE A BITTER WAR
barber People Allcge That Dunn Brothers
Cannot Fulfiil tho Contract and
Many Property Holders Are
Of This Opinion.

enough with only the bidders as bel
ligerents. but now the property holders
have taken a hand In the battle and a
hot fight can be looked for.
Last night the paving committee or
common council consisting or Lutner
Keller, chairman. James F. Noone. +.
F. Gordon, Thomas McGrail and Ed
ward WenSel, which has In hand the
consideration of the rival bids. met for
the purpose Of giving the opposing COM
panies an opportunity Of stating their
cases. Instead of merely having to deal
with the representative Of the compa-
MES, the committee found itself be-
sieged by two delegations of property
holders, the one headed by w. W. Wat
son, which questioned the advisability
of experimenting with new and in
experienced company, and the other
with w. II. Gearhart as spokesman.
strongly arrayed on the side Of the low
bidder.
Chairman Keller opened the session
by having Clerk Hatton read the bids.
The Barber Asphalt company proposed
to lay the pavement for $2.5S per square
yard; to put in straight curb for 81 cents
per lineal foot: to put in curved curb
for 80 cents and to reset old curb for %
cents. Dunn Bros. offered to do the
paving for $2.23 per square yard; to put
in curb for 80 cents per lineal foot, and
to reset old curb for Is cents per lineal
foot. The propositions having been
read, Mr.. Keller gave notice that the
committee was ready to hear from the
Interested parties.
w. w. Watson was the first to speak.
He said that it came to his ears that
there was some question as to the ma
terial which Dunn Bros. could furnish;
oil hat thaS, In olra
having laid any asphalt pavement.
While he in common with the other
property holders wanted to get the
pavement laid as cheaply as possible,
he did not think 1t advisable to try an
experiment which might prove costly
IN the end.
MIR, WATSON'S PAPER.
Mr.. Gearhart interrupted him here
with the Interrogation as to whether
he represented the Barber Asphalt
company or the property holders, to
which Mr.. Watson replied that he rep
resented some of the property holders.
Mr.. Watson .hen read a paper, which
he stated he had drawn up at the re-
quest Of the property holders he repre-
sented, in which the committee was
petitioned to assure itself that the
asphalt which Dunn Brothers propose
to use Is the genuine pitch Lake Trini-
dad asphalt, required by the specifica-
tions; that they be compelled to submit
a sample of 1t for expert examination;
that they show where they propose to
get the asphalt: that they prove they
have the skilled labor and ability ia
properly lay the pavement and that
their financial responsibility be proved
to be unquestionable. The Barber COM
pany, the petition went on to say can
and will do all this.
1t also asked the committee to take
into consideration that while the ac-
ceptance Of the Dunn Brothers bid
would be small saving to the property
holders a pavement that would not be
in every way first class would be the
dearest in the long run. The petition
concluded by asking that the commit
tee permit the use Of nothing but the
pure Ditch-lake asphalt and explaining
that as the Barber company owns all
the lake asphalt. other companies can
only secure what is known as land
asphalt" which Is formed from the
overflow of Trinidad lake and which by
reason Of being exposed to the tropical
sun loses much of it's oil and moisture
besides containing many impurities alb
sorbed from the land.
There were no signatures attached tC
the petition. Mr. Watson explained
that he did not finish 1t until 6 O'Clock
and consequently could not secure the
signatures of those who engaged him
to draw It UP. Mr.. Watson refused Mr.
Gearhart's request that he name the
petitioners.
MIR. DUNN'S STATEMENT
Thomas Dunn, the Junior member o.
the firm Of Dunn Brothers, next tool
the floor. He said that his firm woulC
give a bond that they would do tn,
work according to the specification!
and equally as we'll as the Barber peo
pie could do 1t, and for 35 cents &
square yard less. That was their sid,
Of the case.
He can't do what he says" spok,
up Colonel Hitchcock. Our compan!
never made 10 per cent. on any job IL
this city. These people can't get tn,
material and they haven't the exper
ience. A firm that never laid a yart
Of asphalt can't jump in and do first
class work. The pavement may lool
we'll. but it won't last"
Wasn't the first pavement you eve
laid in this city the best that you hav,
put down here?" queried Mr.. Gear
hart.
I'VE had ten years experience whei
we laid our first pavement here" an
swered the colonel.
Mr.. Gearhart then made quite
lengthy speech in favor Of accepting
Dunn Brothers contract. He said the!
were a firm doing a big business ant
are perfectly reliable. They can &c
this asphalt by paying for it, and the.
have the money to buy it. The specifi
cations call for certain things and W.
Hax ME Hrlv avSI tvHcr ,tN
to see that the specifications are live,
up to. By accepting the Dunn Broth
ers' bid the property holders on tn
| four squares to be paved. will be save,
| $2,871.S1 for pavement alone, not count
| ing the saving on curbing.
He concluded by stating that he wa
there to represent himself and some o
the property holders and not Dunn
Brothers, and further affirmed tina
Dunn Brothers did not know that h
was going to be there.
r. H.. Watkins. who spoke for him
self and c. d. Simpson and H. F
Simpson, said that they had just spen
thousands Of dollars on property there
and wanted only the best pave. II tn
committee Is satisfied that Dunn Broth
ers can fulfill the contract give 1t t
them. but If there Is any question @
their ability to do So he would no
want the committee to save the S5 cent
on his account.
Then the question as to the kind @
asphalt that Dunn Bros. proposed t
furnish was discussed for some time
Mr.. Dunn refused to disclose where h
| intended to get 1t. but agreed to submit
sample of 1t for expert examination
Colonel Hitchcock brought forwar
samples Of their asphalt and left ther
with the committee.
THEY WILL COMPETE.
Mr.. Dunn stated that 1t is their in
tention to put up plant here an
compete for asphalt contracts as lon
as there is one to be given out.
William Hanley and c. p. Matthew
spoke in favor Of the Barber cOmpan
or of having positive assurance ths
Dunn Bros. will do equally as goo
work. Messrs. Kern, Kraus, Dohert!