Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-09-28
JAIL CONTRACT LET.
8. F. Smiths Firm Will Build
the Prison.
sNuBBED THE COMMITTEE
Council, Tables Its Recomm -n.,atlon and
Awards the Contract to Another
company. More Talk About
the Overhead Bridges .

EVERY member OF the Common Coun
Gil was in his seat last night when
President J. A. Buxton rapped that
body to order
1t was an adjourned session, and the
hrst matter takes, up was the awarding
OF the contract for the construction
OF the jail and emergency hospital.
When the council adjourned last Tues
day night Mr.. T. NJ. F,outz had pust
finished explaining to the members the
plans ana specifications of the Jail he
proposed to build. He represented the
Van Dorm Jail Company, of Cleveland
Ohio.
After the roll call Clerk Massie read
letter from Mr.. w. A. Post. general
manager Of the works Of the Newport
News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Com
pany. rendering an invitation to the
councilmen to witness the launch of the
battleship Illinois next Tuesday and
enclosing cards Of admission to the
launching stand.
Mr. 3. f. Smith. the representative OF
the Pauly Jail Manufacturing Com
pany. was then permitted to show the
plans of his jail to the council He was
followed by Mr.. W. p. Bosher. of this
city another bidder.
There We're four bids submitted for
the Jail. as follows:
Van Dorm Jail Company -. j.. SIS. 900
Pauly Jail Manufacturing Co.. $4,000
Grisburne 4 Mcclure. .......... Ii, OS0
w. P. Bosher. 1920.
After Messrs. Smith and Bosher fin
ished explaining their plans City Clerk
J. a. Alassie read the report of the
committee on bridges and grounds
which was as follows:
We. the members OF the committee
on building and grounds, beg leave to
recommend that the plans and specih-
cations as submitted by the Van Dorm
Iron Works Company for the erection
and construction Of jail building. III
the city Of Newport News. be adopted
by this council.
(Signed) A. L. Powell.
J. ]. O'Donnell.
A. z. Burcher
Committee
Councilman Mackey asked whether
the committee examined all Of the
plans and specifications and models
submitted by the builders.
To this chairman Powell replied that
the committee went over all the plans
and specifications, but not the models.
Mr.. Mackey said he did not think that
was fair. as the model of Van Dorm
Iron Works Company was exhibited at
the last meeting.
Captain George W. Fitchett as city
engineer. was an advisory member OF
the committee. and was permitted TO
address the council. Captain Fitchett
showed the superiority of the Van Dorm
Jail over Mr.. Smiths plans. Mr.. Bosh-
err. he said. had come to his Getty engin-
GERS otiice) claiming as citizen the
right to examine the plans and then
picked them to pieces. claiming he
could do the work for $500 less, but he
FitchetD did not think his plans
should be considered especially when
his original bid was $3.50 in excess of the
aside he iail
too late for him to come in and say he
could build the Jail cheaper than any
body else.
In reply Mr.. Bosher stated he did
examine the plans. but thought he had
a right to do SO and he accorded the
same privilege to his competitors. The
committee did not examine his plans.
Mr.. ODonneli replied to Mr.. Bosher's
remark. saying his original plans were
not considered for the reason that they
We're incomplete.
AT the close of the discussion Mr..
Mackey moved that the report of the
committee be tabled and secret ballot
taken on awarding the contract.
To this Mr.. Powell objected. stating
that he wanted ito let every man show
where he stood and not do anything in
the dark. ..@ a.I- wo
This remark ELECTED applause from
the audience.
MIR. Mackey's motion was not second
ed. .E5a
On motion OF Mr.. Ford the report
was tabled. # MN
Mr. Alackey again moved that
secret ballot be taken, and it brought
forth a vigorous protest from MIR.
Burcher
Mr. Ford moved that the contract be
awarded to the Pauly Jail Manufacture
ing Company, represented by b. r.
Smith.
The motion prevailed by vote of 10
to 4, as follows:
Ayes-Caffee. Cory, Doherty. Ford
Hughes, Mackey. Mclaughlin. Roane.
Thomas. Washington
Nays-Burcher Buxton. oDonnell
q Powell.
When the vote was announced the
crowd left the hall.
IT is the opinion of the committee
that the city is getting the best jail
out OF the plans submitted. MI
O. Donnell is practical mechanic and
his opinion is certainly worth some
thing. Captain F!tchett is an engineer
and his opinion should have had some
weight. The other members of the
committee who favored he Van Dorm
Jail were Police Justice ]. D. G. Brown
and City Sergeant f. w. Mlstead.
Mayor Moss. who were also on the
committee. favored the company repre-
scented by Mr. Smith The Van Dorm
Jail was larger, held more ceiis ana
better appointments.
CONTRACTS FOR BRIDGES.
The contracts for the overhead
bridges to be erected at the twenty
fifth and Thirty-fourth street crossings
Were next taken up.
Before the matter was discussed the
following letter was read from Mr.. c.
F. Doyle. general superintendent Of the
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company:
Richmond, Va. Sept. Is. 1898.
Gentlemen:
This is to give notice that the Chesa-
paake & Ohio Railway Company will
not contribute to or be responsible FOR
any portion OF the cost of the bridges
at Twenty-f1fth and Thirty-fourth
streets unless the city of Newport
News at the same time that it author
ICES and contracts for the bridges at
Twenty fifth and Thirty-fourth streets