The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-22


the contract
The following are the bids in the or
der in which they were opened:
Cuthbert & Sargent. $76,9I3
j. b. Belts. 4S,441
L. D EversOle. 1880
Black, Laird & Blackman...... 76,61
.. swanson Observation-Disclosures 1S'o4O
NJ. Heery Observation-Disclosures. 1855
Each bid was ACCOMPANIED by a GER
titled check for $500 as an evidence
that the bid was made in good faith.
The bids were for the construction OF
the entire building, ready for occupancy
by the city.
Councilman Belts is prohibited by
law from receiving the contract and
still retain his seat in the council, and
to provide against any such emergency
he offered his resignation as council
man early in the session, but the coun-
ell would not accept it until they as
certained whether or not Mr.. Belts was
the lowest bidder He will remain in
the council.
AS soon as the bids had been opened
there was a short consultation among
various members, after which Council
man Nettels moved that the council go
into a committee of the whole and ad-
jOurn to the mayors private office to
talk over the bids. This was done be-
cause a large number of interested
spectators were present, and the cOun-
Gil wished to- consider the prOba bility
of the various contractors being able
to carry out their bids.
1t had been expected that there would
Ebe other bids submitted, but the fact
that prices on building material have
been advancing for several months
thereby making future contracts rather
uncertain, prevented several cOntrac-
tors from figuring as closely S the en-
gineer's estimate required.
The estimate made by City Engineer
Wise on the cost of the building was
$77 426.2S. The average of the seven
bids was S14O under this estimate, al
no in f1osf Hot
cinity of the estimate. The lowest bid,
that of J. S. Morse, of North Topeka
was just $13 less than an even SIS, 000
and it was 81, 1925 beneath the engi-
neer's estimate
I made that estimate" said City En-
gineer Wise, "On just what 1 figured
the building would cost without allow
ing anything for profit for the contrac-
tor. 1t is extremely difficult for an en-
gineer or an architect, however, to find
the lowest prices on material. It is to
the interest of the firms which furnish
material for buildings to keep US from
knowing their lowest prices so that the
estimate will be put high. For that
reason about the only way we can find
out these prices is to keep tab on the
general market"
The law provides that the contract
shall be let to ''the lowest responsible
bidder" but the city council is left to
determine who is responsible that is
whether or not contractor will be able
to carry out his contract without
cOrding to the terms of the bid the
contractor within three days after he is
awarded the contract must give bond
that he will complete the work. One
bond must be furnished the county
clerk to protect mechanics employed,
and another must be furnished the city
to protect it, and each must be for the
amount of the bid. If the contractor
does not put up his bond within the
specified time the council can declare
his certified check forfeited and can
70
bidder.
J. S. Morse who submitted the lowest
bid, resides on Gordon street in North
Topeka. He is sick at present but his
son, Charles Morse. who is associated
with him in the contracting business,
was present at the council meeting last
night. If he secures the contract Mr..
Morse expects to ma ke his own brick,
which he says will save him about 81
thousand on the cost of the principal
material, according to his figures,
though it Is doubtful if a plant to make
brick of the required quality could be
built without large expenditure of
money.
It seems like that North Topeka. viii
secure most of the profit from the erec-
tiOn of the city building even after
fighting it so bitterly. The first con-
tract let towards it, that of leveling the
site, went to a North Topeka man: the
newly appointed city engineer. who will
superintend its construction, is a North
Topeka man, and now it seems likely
that the contract for the building it
self Will also go to a North Topeka
man.
The council considered the different
bids in secret in committee of the whole
about an hour and a half, and when it
reassembled as council, Councilman
Warner as chairman of the committee,
reported that more time was wanted
to consider the bids. Councilman Net
tells moved that an adjournment be ia
ker until Saturday evening, at which
time the matter viii be again taken up.