The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-05
LOVER BIDS THIS YE1R.
Received by Department Of Public
 Works for Street Repairing,

Works for Street Repairing, Much surprise has been expressed by | those cognzant with the facts at the much lower bids obtained for street re- pairing work this year than were ob- | tained last year. It will be remembered that in the appropriations for last year there was one item of $26,OO0 to be eX- pended in the hardening of certain streets specified in the order for the work which passed the court of com- , mon council.
 | The hardening was construed by the city engineer to mean an eight-inch hardening, virtually pavement, and as such, specifications must be made up and bids advertised for under those specifications. As result the lowest bids received last year if accepted and the contracts awarded for hardening the streets specified, would amount to more than the appropriation made for the purpose. It was also held by the board of finance that the $26,000 could not-be used to harden any portions of | the streets specified in the order, as such action would virtually amount to | exceeding the appropriation against which there is a provision in the new charter. This $26, 900 has been bone of much contention in the court of com l mon council and between the common council and the mayor.
 This year there being no order of the common council for street hardening, the director of public works has taken the matter into his hands and has ad- vertised for bids for repair of streets and has obtained much lower bids than those received last year. Under the specifications last year it was consid- cred necessary to dig off eight inches from the tops of the streets which it was desired to harden, cart away this material and then fill In the eight inches depth with crushed stone. The plan this year has been materially | changed from what was thought neces- sary last year, and now instead of dig ging off eight inches from the top of streets which are to be repaired, the crushed stone will be placed on top of the present foundation to a depth of four, six or eight inches, or whatever depth is desired The following state ment shows the difference between the bids received by the department of pub lie works last year and those received this year:
 Lowest bids in June 1897, for harden ing streets were: Edwards street, 69 cents per square yard Edgewood ave nue, 69 1-2 cents; Blatchley avenue, 73 cents; Humphrey street, "A 12 cents, and Dixwell avenue 70 cents. The last to be paved the whole width except gutters. Now with a contract for one half the width it is made at 45 cents, and to be done according to state speci- fications.
 The contract price for the crushed stone part of Wall street was 43 cents per square yard Brick gutters extra. Edwards street if done last year at low est bid 69 cents, would have cost $,4S3 l This street from State to Foster (nearly | one-half of the street, has been top dressed with gravel and some crushed 1 stone Qeaving undisturbed the fine | gravel bottom already there) at a cost of little over $500.
 The argument was used that the work could have been done last year if the pavement had been ordered six instead of eight inches. But we find Wall street cost 43 cents per square yard six inches thick, while Dxwell avenue cost only two cents more, 45 cents, seven inches thick.
 Chestnut and Warren street cost 65 cents per square yard and the city fur nished crushed stone for foundation old material from other streets,
 Rosette street, one block, in the spring of '97 cost $7SS at about 60 cents per square yard. Summer street, over which there is more travel, this year with old material cost S141.2S.