New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-05


Of Win En-"
sScst fS""sH chamDs9
Should not have OS S a
advertised This contract thsTsfGrs sa I,,Ssu be
SO SsSs HefH
gregate bid and the prices bid by them we're OF
an Te S o
ment was $50 yards, and the bid was 80 cents tar
work showed upon it, f fac s that i bore
the average THIS bid the lowest It's face e:
price OF lining and other work. but i was not me
lowest in fact as win appear hereafterd Ins Sy
expected provide spoil-banks In locations that
1h hy knpt hs by OF him. Sa this was
not Home. We do not regard this expectation as ~,
b ficu upon 1Of f aee
n considerable loss 10 the State but the unnaancsu
pc SH was Of Public 20 and State
Engineer and Surveyor they having shTr a' pre
scented by the prices for emba nkmcnt and lining
and i was the duty Of those officers to have Gan
contained unbalanced features. but in none 81
them were the prices so as TO IN no, srS
danger of loss that say It was the duty OF
the Superintendent TO reject all bids In those cases
ADVERTISING AND AWARDING BIDS.
When the specifications for the contracts were
prepared by the State Engineer they were NOT SUD
mitted to the Superintendent OF Public Works. The
|
| result was that the Superintendent, who was de-
sirous OF introducing certain provisions, adopted
the device OF Inserting requirements In the adver-
| tisements. in that way more than doubling the
amount Of advertising matter. This was unneces-
sary and useless as the inclusion OF these require
ments In the contract could nave been accom-
on October i 1896 the Superintendent began ad
at and cSm 1a Win II ssy ana ina
sertions; but many OF them were advertised on the
same days and in the same issue Of the pa,p,ers;
If the Improvement involved other classes of
work. other quantities added to represent It.
| With the quantity sheets We're prepared and sub
of the work IL be done showing graphically the
method; or sometimes alternative methods. OF UNI
datons and doing other work required, specihca
tons general in their application to all contracts cts
ding sheet ana establishing the classification and
hs nd taf
| TO the i1ders and proposals asked The con-
ing the prices at which they would do the work
therein specified. Their prices were then multi
amounts extended and added up and the contrac-
tor whose proposal was the lowest in the aggregate
not represent with reasonable ACCURACY the actual
aG% Of wok to be done or the
different items. or If the plans are indefinite. are
m S M COST n of % bid is G
an opportunity Is afforded for unbalanced bids for
| NOMlNAb QUANTITIES. BID FOR
Another reason for the lack OF accuracy in the
quantity sheets is the presence OF nominal ouanti-
ties inserted for the purpose OF obtaing a price In
| case 1t should be necessary to do work Of such
| character. We regard this practice wholly indie
feasible. II is not a compliance with the law which
with all practicable accuracy" Such quantities are
| usually small The contractors almost invariably
small Quantity counts but little in eompetton
with other bidders, and II it is found necessary to
n. high rate. This is especially vicious when the
plans provide an alternative method of doing the
| terial required for doing such work in accordance
quantes frequenty in the bddns
| sheets for the contracts let under this act.
sheets and plans to represent the work to be done
was the want Of careful study OF conditions. In
were most unfavorable to the prosecution Of the
work The deepening of the canal at these points
have been Without G and ne
iigent study and yet the plans and quantities were
reason to expect any special difficulties,
n sy ss no popsr
suits and was OF but little value. The bidding
done s.' The ancsrtainties The plans and sPeciacs
tons resulted in constant sta struggle by the con
cation and for other advantages The contracts
or sx or and
made to contractors for work not specified. The
secures economical performance The provisions OF
| the law intending to compel work to be done by
| and the work went on under state Of progressive
We do not overlook the difficulty Of the engineer
ing problem. but the very difficulties required the
exercise OF degree of care and skill
| evidence of undue haste. In our opinion the plans,
and the provision of the law that no work should
be done until quantities were ascertained with all
practicable accuracy was substantially uncomplied
| with
| EXCESSIVE EXCAVATION
| II there is any quantity which could have been
| definitely ascertained before the work began. 1t
| was the amount Of excavation necessary. There
| was no reason why the measurements OF prism ex
| csvation should not be as definitely known before
| the preliminary estimate was made as after the
| completion OF the work and yet we find large
excess in the total excavation over the preliminary
araiyzed. the material borrowed and used before
| beginning excavation cost the state upward II
| probabiy as great This entire amount may
| have been wasted. as some Of the excavated ma
ENHANCEMENT. but much Of it undoubtedly was,
In hs I5 OF the we
| work for political purposes on two contracts In
We're induced accept and put upon their force
| men who came to them with tickets" from office
sa IN one the Of 'g Ike was that he
Oed few Of these men fnr as FTosiT6e esOrns
them but some ne. were taken on
Hnss men sm se at % York Of m1cRng The
| work which they did was 10 n great extent un-
| necessary and consisted Of mucking sites for
| snoiI hanks The testimony Is that
| tract about $3.50 cubic Yards OF mucking done
| Of which at least half was entirely unnecessary
| This amount was paid for at the price OF earth
| excavation The contractors were asked with
whom the arrangements were made for employing
| tho men one OF them could not remember. but the
| other stated II With one Of the sub general
| inspectors under the Department Of Public Works.
| The amount which has been improperly expended
nv the State for excavation Is incapable of definite
| entertainment. 1t Is apparently large and could
| only he reduced 10 certainty by a laborious and
careful computation OF quantities and examination
| ~ many witnesses in connection herewith. Such
| an examination and computation We have not had
the time nor the facilities to make and 1t does not
| seem necessary for the purpose OF enabling us 10
| make such q report as the act creating this Com
| mis- sion contemplates.
| EARTH AND ROCK CLASSIFICATION