The Washington times., 1902-06-11
Contractor Asked Permis-
sion to Buy Cement
Under Other Plan.
WORK ON LOCAL SEWERS
Report of Capt. Chester A. Harding on
Subject Shows That Local Govern
ment Would Make Loss By Acceding
to Demands.

Mr.. Arthur Cowsill recently called the
attention of the District Commissioners
10 an error in his proposal for complet-
ing the extension of the Boundary sewer.
and requested consideration of facts
stated, and asked that he be allow
ed TO take cement at lowest prices quot
ed in specifications or to purchase the
same in open market.
The Superintendent of Sewers has re-
ported that separate specifications for
each of the sewers in the contract let
ting of May II were prepared which
were in each case duplicates of the spec
ifcations for the same work under the
John Jacoby contracts.
These contracts" the superintendent
states, were of different dates and the
lower prices for cements quoted in the
latest one were due to the drop IN price
of cement. TO accede to the request of
the applicant would in effect increase his
prices for masonry, which are based in
part upon the cost of tie cement used.
II the Jaccby contract had been carried
to completion. there would have been a
saving to the District due to the prices
charged for cement furnished and it
would have been Just as fair to have re-
dTced the prices 20 him as it would be
to fix lower rate TO the applicant
Cost of the Work.
Capt. Chester Harding. assistant to
the Engineer Commissioner, yesterday
submitted report on the subject as
follows:
The estimated cost of the unfinished
work under the original contract in this
case is Sl34. 2Ss, as against sl35 1897 under
the proposal of Mr.. Cowsill Both of
these amounts are in part dependent
upon the purchase of cement from the
District at prices of $3.50 per barrel
for Portland cement and s10O for natu-
raj cement. Under the Jacoby contract.
the District would have recovered n
profit from the sale of cement, which
profit would have in effect reduced the
cost of the work to the District. The
District IVES entitled to all the benefits
of the original contract at the expense
of the Jacoby sureties. If the original
the work. At Mr.. Cowsills figures the
amount to be recovered from the Jacoby
sureties is approximately s1.l5O.
Loss of Profits
IF Mr.. Cowsill be permitted to bug
cement in the open market. or buy from
the District and pay the price upon
which he claims to have based his bid,
the District will lose all the profits from
the cement in the first case, and a por-
tion of the profits in the second case.
and in either case the net cost to the
District for the completion of the work
will be correspondingly increased. If. on
the other hand, Mr.. Cowsill be permit
ted to withdraw his bid altogether the
additional amount 10 be recovered from
the Jacoby sureties on the basis OF the
next higher bid will be about S12. 400:
and the sureties would doubtless be sue
cessful in declining to pay this excess
on the ground that the District failed to
accept the lowest bid at the reletting.
In view of the above. l am Of the
opinion that the District is powerless to
grant the request of Mr.. Cowsill. and
that Mr.. Cowsill must either complete
his work according to the terms Of the
specifications under which he bid. or for
felt the amount deposited by him as
guarantee"