The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-28
BINS Musr BE ~ NJ SEPT. /.
House Drainage Contract VIII Then
BE Awarded Again.


The advertisements for bids for com
pleting the house drainage system, which
was relinqulshed by the contractors hav-
ing it in hand, are. now being inserted in
engineering journals in Chicago New
York and elsewhere. There are also local
advertisements. and the house drainage
committee expects by Sept. l. the day
when all bids must be fled to have alarge
number from which to select
Former experiences have thoroughly
demonstrated to the committee that Davy
Crocketts adage, BE sure you are right,
then go ahead" applies to examining the
bids to be filed. as well as those who file
them, Great precaution win be used in
ascertaining everything about the next
contractor, and unless the committee is
perfectly satisfied there will be no falter-
ing in the work, the contract viii be given
another.
Il think Savannah has has enough ex-
perlenee in accepting the lowest bid
ders, said Alderman Owens, chairman
of the house drainage committee. There
We're several Of the committee" he said.
who favored giving contracts 10 the low
est bidders, but the city has had so much
trouDie the past year by adherng to this
rule, and not using its own Judgment, that
do not believe it viii be followed here
after, In several of the departments the
lowest bids have been accepted which
later proved damaging to the city when
the contractors threw up their agreements,
either because of inability to carry them
out, or TO save themselves from loss.
There is a discretion which must be used
in letting contracts.
The committee will adopt an indubita-
bic method of letting che house drainage
,rf1v lit
continued Alderman Owens. 1--WE will re-
quIfe references from every bidder. and
before any action Is taken the committee
VIII write to the parties, with a view to
ascertaining the bidders responsibility In
this way there is every chance of guard
ing against irresponsible parties, who may
bld with the intention of specializing at
the city's expense. Then, too 1t is pro-
posed to let the contract to parties who
Will do the work themselves"
Among the bidders on the work remain
ing to be done viii be Mr.. Herbert Tate
OF New York, who, il IS stated. would
have carried out the resinduished work
at least, in SO far as not contesting the
legality of the city's notes was concerned
Nj. Tate was not the lowest bidder on the
last contract, however, and while there
We're members of the committee in favor
OF giving it to him, others thought IL more
economical to recognize the lowest bidders
DSei"Ss MI 1dte' inc committee feei sure
OF having large number of others from
whom to select
Plans of the unfinished work are being
sent to applicants Mr.. John Rourke
states, however, that the most difficult
part of the system has been completed
This includes most of the lanes where the
soil is very soft and the paved streets
which had to be torn up and relaid A
considerable portion of the relaid paving
was done by the city however after re
peated efforts failed to get the contractors
to do it. This will probably not happen
again, though. since experience has i'm.
pressed the committee with the necessity
of closely watching even the minutest
! detail in letting the next contract.