The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-05-20
MILL RIVER BRIDGE.
Public Hearing Held-Messrs. Clark

Public Hearing Held-Messrs. Clark,
Blakeslee and Geary Testify.
The committee on railroads and
bridges, to which was referred the
bids for the construction Of the sub
structure of the Mill River bridge held
public hearing last evening. B. A.
Clark, of the firm of c. w. Clarke &
Co., of New York, whose bid for the
work is several hundred dollars less
than the local bidders, James j. Geary
and c. w. Blakeslee & Son, was pres
ent at the hearing to substantiate his
claims to the work. He was opposed
by the local contractors.
Mr.. Clark was also represented by
Attorney G. T. Driscoll. Prof. George
d. Watrous appeared as counsel for the
Blakeslees.
Mr.. Clark was the first witness. He
was asked to state his experience in
the kind of work upon which he had
bid. The witness produced several let
ters and recommendations from firms
lIldI llGd GlHPluS GU lAiti' aiS '1s"S~NN S-Neo~
he had filled every position in the line
of constructing bridges, piers, ETC.,
from a laborer to an engineer.
Alderman Pickett asked the witness
to describe laborer.
| Witness answered that lalborer was
a man who worked hard.
| Mr.. Clark said that he had worked as
far south as Louisiana and west as far
as the Pacific ocean.
Alderman Pickett-"Where you you
| intend to get stone for the substructure
and also labor?"
| Both the material and labor employ
ed will be local." was the response.
| Mr.. Driscoll was about to ask ques-
| tion at this point when he was inform
| ed by the chairman of the committee
that the members would conduct the
questioning.
Councilman Gifford-'"Have you re-
ceived any offer from the quarries of
East Haven to furnish stone?"
II am not sure that / know your
meaning" was the answer. u
Alderman Piekett-"Have you from
the Connor Brothers."
| Mr.. Driscoll objected and was told to
maintain order.
| Prof Watrous-"Mr. Clarke, have
you made a contract with any towing
company in reference. to conveying ma
terial to the side of the proposed
bridge?"
This question was objected to by Mr..
Driscol
| IL, +t~r Nxy
the statement that he intended to en-
ploy local labor and local carriers of
material.
1--WE do not propose to go to New
York and bring a hundred or two men
here, but we intend to hire local help,
pay out the money to your citizens and
we will give you abundant security for
the fulfillment of our contract" said
the witness.
| G.. T. Driscoll made an extended ar
gument In favor or awarding the work
to his client.
Mr. j. J. Geary said that he would
like to say few words to the COM
mittee, but would not be cross examin-
ed by Mr.. Watrous
Frank C. Bushnell and George De-
Forest were in favor of giving out the
contract to the one who would do the
work best
Mr.. Blakeslee, one of the firm of G.
w Blakeslee & Sons, thought that the
bridge should be built Immediately
even If the city was obliged to allow
the contractor for building the Chapel
street bridge over the railroad a hand
some consideration for the damages
He thought awarding this contract to
w. A. Clark & Co. would involve the
city in a large expense.
Mr.. Driscoll cross-examined Mr.
Blakeslee at length. Among the ques-
tions asked him was this:
''Mr. Blakeslee, are you not biased
by the fact that you wish this contract
for the firm of which you are mem
Der at about 81 900 more than Mr.. Clark
bid?"
The witness smiled as he answered
''I am certainly not here for any one
else"
| The witness then told of the loss
that would be sustained by his COM
pany should the Mill river bridge be
constructed while he was engaged In
erecting the Chapel street bridge.
Mr.. Blakeslee thought one evidence
of inexperience and incompetency or
the part of Mr. Clark was the fact that
he bid for q part of the work at price
less than it would cost him to complete
it. This was what was called an un-
balanced bid. Mr.. Blakeslee admitted
that this was sometimes done by repu-
table bidders, but not often He ha6
read in one of the papers that Messrs
Clark & Co. would use either Lone
Meadow or Portland stone Mr.. Blakes
lee thought the successful firm had bic
too low on many parts of the work
which was not considered good policy
Michael Sullivan of the Stonecutters
union favored Mr.. Blakeslee doing the
work. It would give more work to New
Haven, he said.
The committee will inspect the bridge
site Saturday afternoon.
Baseball Record of the Season,