The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-04-06
JOHN L. BUDDINGTON WINS
Will CONSTRUCT CHAPEL STREET
BRIDGE SUPERsTRUCTURE,

DHADGE SUPERSTRUCTUR
Majority and Minority Reports on the
Vexed Subject in the Court of Common
Council-First Struggle of the Year
Twelfth Ward Engine House-Patrolman
Hyde's Claim-Councilmen Concur.
Both boards of the court of common
council met separately last evening and
superstructure of the proposed new
bridge over the railroad tracks on
Chapel street to John E. Buddington Of
this city.
A majority report and minority re-
port were submitted by the committee
on railroads and bridges. The former
was signed by Aldermen Pickett and
Corcoran and Councilman Clifford, and
the latter by Councilmen White and
Fisher.
Alderman Pickett, in support of the
majority report, said: 1.-THE difference
between the contract price of Mr.. Bud
dington and of the Wrought Iron Bridge
company of Canton, O., as appears on
the face of the bids, is $123. In consid-
ering the bids this fact should be taken
into consideration-that the city would
be obliged to pay $3.50 for inspection if
the contract went to the Canton COM
pany, whereas if the contract was
awarded to the local bidder the cost Of
inspection would be only $75. AS the
committee figured on the results. the
difference between the bids would actu-
ally be $4S.
"It is for the best interests of the city
that we award the contract for the
building of this bridge to Mr.. Budding
ton. 1t Is estimated that at least 81, 900
will go out of this city If we award the
contract to the Wrought Iron Bridge
company. All agree that the profits
will be about $500. This would also go
out of the city,
Mr.. Pickett read a letter from ex-City
Engineer Hill commencing the work of
Mr.. Buddington
Alderman Nicoll said: 1.-THE contract
should go to the lowest bidder. there
fore move the adoption of the minority
report"
Alderman Root who seconded the
motion, said that 1t had been claimed
that Mr.. Buddington was a New Haven
man and should have the building of
this bridge awarded him. Mr.. Dam
forth, the agent of the Wrought Iron
Bridge company, is a New Haven man
also, and there can be no claim for Mr.
Buddington upon this score. Why
should we vote to award this work to
a bidder whose estimate is s123 more
than another, who bid under the same
conditions?"
Alderman Guernsey said "It Is in
the interest of fair play that we award
this contract to the lowest bidder
Alderman Ryan-"It seems to me
that this question has resolved itself
into whether we shall take $123 of the
city's money and give it to John E.
Buddington. Now, If we have any
money to spend In this way let us give
it to the poor directly and not to any
man through the pretence of awarding
him contract to build bridge
Alderman Corcoran supported the
majority report
Alderman Chillingworth said that the
board Of education had set the city an
example in the matter of awarding con-
tracts and it would be well to follow
the precedent He favored letting the
work to Mr.. Buddington.
Alderman Rourke favored the local
contractor. He said: "Our poor homes
are full and our factories are empty.
Give the men chance to earn dol
lar
There was more discussion partici-
pated in by Messrs. Pickett, Brennan
and Rourke.
The vote was then ordered. Mayor
Farnsworth explained that those vot-
ing yes favored the minority report,
awarding the contract to the Wrought
Iron Bridge company.
The ayes were Aldermen Nicoll,
Guernsey, Brennan, Root, Ryan, Hull,
Stuart, Clarke.
Nays-Corcoran, Coolahan, Bromley,
Rourke, Unger, Chillingworth, Pickett,
Petrie, Compton, Whitaker and Lam
bert.
The majority report was then ac-
cepted and the resolution adopted
awarding to John e. Buddington the
contract for building the superstructure
of the bridge The bid of Mr.. Budding
ton was $4,000.
The committees report awarding the
contract to C. W. Blakeslee & Son for
the building Of the substructure of the
bridge, at cost Of $30,SS.29 was ac-
cepted.
The total cost Of the bridge will be
about $37. 900.
Alderman Compton offered a resolu-
ton instructing the corporation coun-
Gil to request the legislature to en-
power the city to borrow temporarily
from the street paving fund the sum OF
$4,000 for the building of an engine
house in the Twelfth ward.
Mayor Farnsworth explained that
unanimous consent would be needed to
act upon the matter.
Alderman Rourke objected but after