The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-15
s an 6 Cslsalal Blsck.

With reference to enioin.ng the board OF
public works from entering into u con-
tract with Messrs Gahan & Bsrne. OF
Chicago. for the constructor OF this wa
terwork system Messrs. Gahan Byrne
We're the oEiy bidders on this work under
the former advertisement. Their bid was
informal and absolutely void. as has been
demonstrated by the supreme court Of this
state. Messrs. Gahau & Byrnes proposal.
for the completion of this work, which
would have included ali four subdivisions.
was the sum OF 81 23s ooG. and taking the
lowest responsive bids opened by the
board of public works on April is. they
will aggregate approximately the sum of
Il, Sl.sls, which Is $Ie.33 less than the bid
Of Gahan Il Byrne
Since Messrs- Gahan & Ryrne figured
this work. the city engineer has had
added one ie-inch pipe Inc from the head
works To Swan lake at an estimated cost
approximately Of SIS. GO, and in addition
10 this pipe line there have been added
TO the work additions TO the gate houses
at the reservoir and A complete pumping
plant. cost estimated at approximately
$l5O0, This. together with the si0,5 s5 and
the N25 go. makes a net saving to the
city Of Seattle of over ti53.0o by reason
of my injunction proceedings against the
board OF public works, which necess.tated
the re-advertisement and the resulting
bids opened on April u
And analyzing Messrs. Gahan g.
Byrne's bid further. / wish 10 state that
this whole work contemplates the use of
plates and bars. In November last, when
Messrs. Gahan Il Byrne made their est
mates on this work. this steel could be
purchased in Pittshurg at a price OF sl.0s
per lD pounds. The same material is
worth today in Pittsburg s25o per loo
pounds. making an additional cost which
late bidders had To contend against on
steel plates and bars only. approximating
the sum OF si31. is4 This sum. together
with the figures above quoted aggregates
grand total ef sesi. ss7 less than the bid
OF Gahan g. Byrne for doing this work
This does not take into consideration
the Increased cost of all other material
that would be required on this work, and
u Is safe TO say that everything. including
labor. that would enter into the construc-
tion of the Cedar RIVER waterworks is 10
per cent. higher today than it was when
Messrs. Gahau & Byrne submitted their
proposal. Taking that for granted, II
would mean approximately the sum Of
Sl22.ie on the total amount OF the low
bids opened on April Il. which sum add
eel TO the above increased figures would
show that Messrs. Gahan & Byrne's Idea
or margin ON profit on work Of that
magnitude was the sum of $4l0.6 27 higher
than the ideas Of the presen, bidders, or.
In other words. approximately SO per
cent of the contr lct price.
Il mention these figures in detail for
the reason. as before stated. that | want
the people Of this city to know the exact
situation. and I do not want 10 be given
the peputation of being an objector and
ahSiInctoF IN the iettinS or THIS contract.
Our bids on subdivisions and are
absolutely formal and correct and they
are the only bids now before the board
OF public works which should be con-
s.dered on that part Of the work II II
IS not 10 be awarded to us then the only
fair way 10 do VIII be to reject all bids
upon the theory that our bid is too high
though It Is intermediate bid and only
approximately sT.6De higher than the low
est bid submitted. and about intermediate
between the three bids. one being higher
and the other lower