The Topeka state journal., 1902-04-03
TRIES new DODGE
Barber Asphalt Company
Doesn't Loosen It's Hold.
Report That Dummy Bids win
Be Received.
SHOULD BE LIGHT.
Several Things That Require
More Explanation.
We're the Topeka Specifications
Made to Order?


While the city council is discussing
the asphalt pavement repair bids FRI
day evening. the lights should be turned
up.
Citizens Of. Topeka are tired Of star
chamber sessions with representatives
of the Barber Asphalt Paving company
There is no disposition on the part OF
the taxpayers of this city to give a $50
COO hve-year contract to a firn which
has just finished defrauding the city out
of thousands Of dollars worth OF work
which was justly due, according to tha
city engineers figures.
It is now the scheme of the Barber
Asphalt company to make the council
believe that it has noparticular desire 10
secure the contract for the work. There
will probably be bids from several
firms. In considering these bids, the
council should bear in mind that the
Barber Asphalt company owns and con-
trolls a great many concerns which Op-
crate under different names.
These companies are allowed to res
tain their names for just such emergen-
cies as the present one in Topeka When
the name Barber Asphalt company is
odious in any locality, the Barber con-
cern does its bidding under a mask.
If the council reject all bids, and give
80 days more time to asphalt companies
it would look like a fair deal. When
! the time comes to act, all the bids could
! be referred to a committee in whom the
/ council has implicit confidence. for the
purpose of having the Barber asphalt
bids stripped of their DISCUSSES.
At present there are two companies
/ besides the Barber figuring on the work
j One is the Abbott, Gamble company of
! st. Louis, which claims to be independ-
ent of the Barber trust, and the other
is J. Bradley & Co, Of Topeka, which
/ handles Indian Territory asphalt
1t is asserted by some that the ABB
! bOtt. Gamble company is really owned
! by the Barber trust Whether or not
to investigate. The Abbott, Gamble
/ concern makes no objection whatever
to the specifications of the city engineer
| which require a binder course il IS
l-claimed that this binder course is q
Barber company patent, and that no
company not in the Barber trust can
use it.
is planning to bid on the work, refuses
to bid under the city engineers spec1-
fications. He declares that the specln-
cations are drawn uD in the interests
Of the Barber company.
I will submit a bid says Mr.. Brad
ley and will DO all in my power to get
| the contract But I can not bid under
! the Barber company's made-tO-0rder
/ specifications. Indian Territory natural
/ rock asphalt does not require a binder.
| and the binder is Barber company
| patent. If anyone wants to know what
| sort of stuff Indian Territory asphalt is
| let them inspect the asphalt in the state
--------
! my company.
However, I believe that the city
should reject all bids, and give bidders
70 davs N ore time That is fair to all
I am interested in this matter because
| I live here in Topeka, and I don't want
| the Barber company to have everything
| its own way.
| 1t is charged by some that Mr. Brad
| ley is not as earnest in his opposition
| to the Barber company as he claims
Mr.. Bradley is said to have made for
| the Barber Asphalt company last fatA
! a detailed report on the condition OF the
| asphalt streets in town, for which work
| he received a. fee of $500. The Barber
| company claimed that this report would
be used in court to prove that the pave
| ments in Topeka were in good condition
| and that the Barber company had full
filled its contract.
Mr. Bradley was asked concerning
this charge, and while he admitted hav-
ing made a report for the Barber COM
Dany he said that he did not give a
full Endorsement to the condition of the
pavements, and that he would be will
ing to have the report made public He
said he was simply hired to do the
work, and did It to the best of his abil-
ity. Il said in that report" stated Air.
Bradley. that the asphalt paTements
were in passable condition, and with
certain repairs. which I specified, would
be up to the requirements Of the con-
tract"
Mr. BRADLEY claims that he and his
partner made the Inspection of the
streets in a buggy, ar their own behest.
for the purpose Of finding out whether
or not the Barber company had full
filled its contract.
The object Of the Barber company
win no doubt be to introduce so many
technical features and side bids into
the case that the city VIII not know
what it wants to do, and in the midst
of the contention among the council
men the contract viii at last fan into
its grip.
Representatives of the Barber COM
pany have been actively at work this
week, getting their plans laid. and there
| may be some surprising developments
/ Friday night when the council takes up
the question Of bids on the asphalt
paving repairs.