The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-12-20
ONLY TWO BIDS.
Library Board Rejects Both Of
Them.
Plans for the Public Library Building
Must Be Cut Down to Come With
in Mr.. Carnegie's Donation.

1.-The library board met Tuesday nigh
to open the bids for the construction Q
/ the public library building in accord
ance with the plans. and specification
prepared by Jardine, Kent q .Jardine
All of the. MEM ers were present ex
cept Mr.. Noe. Only two bids were re
ceived, as the plans call for buildins
that would cost much more than thu
board has funds in sight to pay for.
Norlander & Co. of st. Paul put il
bid of $43, 97S, and J. B. Nielsen 6
Co. of North Mankato bid $42, no.
The latter bid included 1906 for gal
and electric Light fixtures not called
for in the present bids, which reduces
it to Sal, 3O5. Messrs. Norlander ani
Nielsen were both present to represent
their companies.
The bids did not include the heating
plant, Furnishings or book. shelves,
When deductions are made for these
there is only $2S, 900 available for the
building out of Hon. Andrew Car
negie's gift of $40, 900. For this rea
son, both bids were rejected.
W. B. Craig submitted bid, but
1t was thrown out for the reason that
it was not accompanied by a certified
check for five per cent of the bid. as
required by the board. This bid was
somewhat lower than the others, but
much above the amount available.
A representative of the American
Bridge Co. was present, as this COM
pany was interested in furnishing the
steel. G. W. Babcock of Kasota was
to furnish the stone to J. B. Nielsen &
Co. had they been awarded the con-
tract This item alone amounted to
gil, 600. Mayer Bros. of this city were
to have furnished the steel, having
under bid all competitors for Nielsen &
Co. who also received bids on the steel
work from st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Chicago.
The board voted to instruct Secre-
tary Patterson to write to Jardine,
Kent & Jardine, the New York archi-
tects, and call upon them to furnish
modified plans to meet the require
ments by Jan 10Th. Mr.. Patterson
will send the letter today, and in it he
will call the firms attention to the
fact that the board in inviting COM
petition for plans, limited the cost of
the building to 500, 600, and that after
wards, on June 4th, he had himself
written to the firm stating that the
cost of the building must not exceed
$50, 900, including the heating plant,
which is estimated to cost So, 600. Mr..
Patterson will call attention to the
bids received last night and will in
form the firm that the library board
does not intend to pay for the plans
until they are made to comply with
the requirements
Since the plans were originally
made, porch was added. By cut
ting this off, about So, 900 will be
saved. The plans can be revised SO as
to cut down the size of the building
or to take off some of the ''frills,
such as stone mouldings, and come
within the funds available. The delay
will set the building back two months
or more.
Members of the board whohad fav-
ored home architect took occasion to
say, 81 told you so, to the other
members after the bids had been open
ed No other business was transacted,
and the board adjourned until the
regular January meeting.
1t is to be regretted that the New
York architects did not follow the in
struction, of the board and hold their
plans down to the figure named. This
would have saved much time and dis
appointment. A handsome and SER
viceable library building, including a
heating plant, can be erected for $50, :
000 and it was plans for such build
ing that the board had right to ex-
pect and thought that it was getting.
Col Widell was as much surprised
at the size of the bids as any other
member, as he had carefully examined
the plans and specifications and had
expressed the opinion to the board
that the building could be put up
within the limit fixed by the board.
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