The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-17

Bids. were opened, FIVE in number, AZ
follows:
George +. Naber ........................Il So go
William T. Holmes. l2,!59
Charles observation-disclosures. l2,igQ
James Conrad ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1850
Lawrence COffey. ....-,..............'.. O'=sO
The bids were discussed by the COM
mlttea at length. Mr.. Watson moved
that the contract be awarded to COT
fey, the lowest bidder, and Mr.. Water
house seconded. The motion, however.
was for the time withdrawn.
Health officer Jepson called attention
to the fact that experienced men-whn
have had the garbage contract = like
Naber, Holmes and Becker. have all bid
higher than before, when they got their
contracts.
The committee went through the for
mallty of rejecting all bids, and then
Mr.. Watson renewed his motion to ac-
cept Coney's bid, at slO.2SO, the lowest.
Mr.. Williams was positive the work
could not be done with satisfaction to
the public at that price.
Mr.. Watson said 1t was the business
of the bidder II he bid for loss instead
OF a profit; the bond would indemnify
the city.
At this point the committee decided
to call in the several bidders and inter
rogate them. The first was W. s.
Holmes, one OF the present contractors,
who said he had bid slO.44O for the work
two years ago, but had calculated that
four teams would do the work, and as
a matter Of fact four teams were re-
quired during the winter months and
seven in the summer. He and his
partner, Mr.. Naber. had made nothing
out of their contract
Councilman Beckett said It was fact
that horses. wagons and blacksmithIng
had all advanced sharply since the
last contract was entered into with thu
city.
George F. Naber, another bidder,
said more garbage is being hauled now
than ever before. II anyone else
wanted the contract at the figures of
his contract he was more than willing
to let them try it. Everything has
gone up since two years ago. he claimed,
and the work could not be done now
for SlO.44O at profit.
Health officer Jepson said one reason
for the increase in garbage is the fact
that there is a similar increase in nat
ural gas consumers. With coal fires,
housewives burned much of their gar
bage; with gas fires they cannot do
this. Again, the people nowadays are
eating more than ever before.
Lawrence yconey, the lowest bidder,
was called in, and was Intercepted by
DR.. Jcpson. His age. he said, was
! twenty-four years. He claimed to %
able to do the work at his bid, SlO.2Sl.
at a profit He said he had had exper-
fence, having been employed by for
mer garbage contractor. Asked as 10
what he considered to be necessary in
the way Of equipment to do the work.
he answered that twelve horses (six
teams) would be required during the
warmer months, and three wagons and
a cart in the winter. In the central
part OF the town, and on the Island, he
believed each team could do three loads
a day.
Charles Becker, who had the contract
until two years ago. and who gave most
excellent satisfaction, was next called.
He said he had bid S11,sOO two years
ago, and that his present bid was ST.
400. The bid was higher because there
Is now more garbage to haul than ever
before. For instance. when he was
the garbage contractor he had never
visited Goosetown at all, but now that
section Of the city has to be attended to
regularly. He was satisfied he could
make no money at his bid OF two years
ago. 81, 500. He believed four teams
would be required during the winter
months and seven In the summer.
The other bidder, James Conrad. was
called, but he had left the building.
The committee Informally discussed
the matter, and Councilman Meyer
said he had once sven the bid OF n gar
basc contractor ltemlzed and included
was n certain sum for police court fines
the man evidently intending not to do
the work conscentlously.
The Watson motion that the contrac;
be awarded to the lowest bidder, Law
renee Coffey. WIS then put and de-
feated. on TIE following vote:
Aye-wclsgerber watcrhouse and
Watson.
Nay-LIst Meyer Beckett, Williams
and Mcgrlil
Mr.. Meyers motion that the contract