Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-06-11

BIDS OPENED
The Contract Was Awarded to the
Montana Hardware Co. az the
Lowest Legal Bidder.
FINISHED BY OCTOBER 18TH
The Company viii Complete the Con-
tract by October Thirteenth
IL Possible.

A meeting OF the city council took
place on Saturday for the purpose OF
opening bids on the steel reservoir
for the city water system. Those
present were Mayor Cook, Aldermen
Stoddard, Eldridge, Wright and
Symmes, Clerk Chandler and City At
torney Won Tobel. Besides the men,
bers of the council, A. w. War; was
present on behalf of the Montana
Hardware, J. J. Egan for the Butte
Iron Works, and C. l.. Laird for Card
& Hawksworth of Helena.
There were three sealed bids: Chas.
E. Campbell, Council Bluffs, Iowa, &c.
O9O; Card & Hawksworth. Helena,
$7,08s for reservoir and 1884 for
pump; Montana Iron Works, Butte,
reservoir. double scanned, $6,944. sin.
gle seam $6,564, ad a reduction of
$500 II thirty days extension of time
was granted.
Mr.. War;, on behalf of the Mon
tana Hardware Co., said that he would
like to be allowed more time to pre-.
pare the company's bid, though IL II
was necessary he could finish the bid
at once. Further time could not be
granted so the bid was filled out and
on being opened was for $6,4S7.50.
After some discussion the council ad-
journed until Monday to allow of the
bids being further considered.
On Monday evening the adjourned
meeting took place with the same at
tendance and resulted, after consid-
cradle inquiry and discussion in the
bid being awarded to the Montana
Hardware Co. Mr.. War;, on behalf
Of the company, stated that since put
ting in the bid, information which they
had been desirous of obtaining had
arrived, and would enable them to
make the city more advantageous
offer If they were allowed to make
the change. Anyway" Mr.. War;
said, I'VE think that we ought to get
the contract as the only home bid
ders and are willing to discount our
bid s397.50, the difference between
our offer and the lowest bid"
In order to get the matter before the
board, F. E. Wright made a motion
that the contract be awarded to the
Montana Hardware Co. under the con-
ditions mentioned by Mr.. War;. This
was objected to by Alderman Stod-
dard, who stated that he was not OBJ
jecting on account of being in the
hardware business himself, but be-
cause he thought that no bidder ought
to be allowed to make a change after
the bids had been opened.
| The bid of c. e. Campbell was re-
read and it was discovered that he had
not agreed to any specified lme and
virtually allowed himself latitude of
thirty days in the time Of completing
the contract. The city attorney said
that in his opinion 1t would not be
wise for the city council to accept the
bid under the agreement forwarded by
Mr.. Campbell, as he had not bound
himself to fill the contract at the time
specified in the advertisement for
bids, November 1st, but had stated
ION or before November" which
would allow him until the last day
In November il he felt like taking 1t.
Mr.. War; said that the Montana
Hardware Co. had not made the re.
duction in order to obtain the con.
tract, but in order to relieve the coun.
: ell Of any embarrassment In the mat.
ter. as in his opinion the city ought
to give local firm, who were paying
heavy taxes. the best of 1t in order
to encourage local enterprise.
Alderman Stoddard said that II the
bid Of c. e. Campbell was not legal
then Of course he had no further com
ment to make. The mayor mentioned
that there was a condition in the bid
of the Montana Hardware Co. that the
city could not very well comply with
that was that the excavation and
foundation for the reservoir should be
finished by August lst.
Mr.. War; stated that they were will
ing to eliminate the condition and
made the time August 31st. There
upon the bid of the Montana Hardware
Co. was accepted and W. d. Symmes
: made a motion that the city re-adver
= tise for bids on the excavation, which
at present called for completion by
October 1st. The motion was carried
and the clerk instructed to re-adver
: tise for bids on the excavation. to bs
finished by August 18th. Mr.. Symmes
l also made a motion, which was car
ried. that the city advertise for the
: necessary timber for the foundation
which was to be delivered not late,