The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-03
MADE 4 GOOD RECORD
Large Paving Contract Lst at q
Very Low Rate.
1T WAS AN EYE OPENER
II Showed the New Aldermen That the
Council Had Something Else to
Do Than to Get Friends
Into Fat Ofnces.

Much satisfaction was expressed in
city hall circles yesterday at the very
low rate At which most of the public
work was contracted for at Wednesday
nights meeting. Never before in the
history Of Butte have contracts Of so
much value been let at a single punch
meeting. 1t was perhaps a good thing
that work of so much Importance came
up last evening IL for no other purpose
h as a lesson to some Of the new al
dermen. The idea seems to have pre-
vailed anon some OF the newly elected
elected them for was in order that they
might get an oficial position for one or
two OF their particular friends who
helped get them elected. The important
contracts which were let Wednesday
night may serve to open the Eyes of
some of the new aldermen to the fact
that there is something more important
h merely getting an Office for some
friend. The office is Of concern to the
friend only. but The contracts are Of vi
tai concern to every citizen of Butte.
and, after all, the aldermen are only
the servants OF the people.
The value OF the contracts let on
Wednesday evening will amount to be-
tween $50. 900 and 500. 900. The paving
contract lone will amount to s65. 900
or $40, 1000. There is general surprise
and equal satisfaction that the paving
contract vas let at a less rate than the
paving brought a year ago. The belief
was general hat the paving would
cost more this year than 1t cost last
year. 1t is possible that h firm of &c.
o. Duean & Co., successors to the cele-
brated firm of +. Kinds & Co.. may be
responsible for the prevalence of this
impression. The members of the firm
and there are more people who belong
TO that firm than are dreamed of in Ho-
ratios overwhelmingly circulated
the report that the firm OF +. Kinds &
Co. lost much money last season in doing
the work at 1915 per square yard. In
addition one of the moneyed members
of the firm. in the presence Of q number
Of rival contractors, offered to bet $500
that the lowest bidder this year would
put in a bid 81 per square yard In ex-
cess of the successful bid of last year.
One membe OF the firm very shrewd-
ly exhibited his certified check which
was to accompany the bid. II was
shown on the quiet, Of course, but par
ties who were pretty sure to tell other
contractors the news. The check was
for IS 1000, supposed to be 10 per cent OF
the total bid, and would Indicate that
the bid would be about $3.50 per square
yard.
All these tend TO prove what as a
matter OF fact needed very little dem
onstration. that the firm Of r. o. Dugan
e. Co. which smells just as sweet as
under the name OF +. Kinds e. Co., has
a head on il. AS a consequence of the
united efforts Of the various
of the firm. known n unknown, all
rival contractors bid considerably I'm
excess OF last years successful bid OF
50. 75. The firm OF Il. o. Dugan d Co.
then shaved their last years bid to
%. 65 and got the contract. II ! sa mat
ter for general congratulations, for the
rate is less than the aldermen had
hoped to obtain and the property own
ers. who have to put up the money TO
pay for the work, are fortunate indeed
that this contract was let at so low a
rate. Those who profess to know say
there cannot be much profit In the
work at that price. The contractors,
however, doubtless know what they are
about and nobody can accuse the firm
OF F.. O. Dugan & Co.. successors to
+. Kinds n CO., of not knowing which
end of their wfenerwurst the mustard