Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-11
A Hitch in the Award Of
the Contracts.
MAY DIVIDE THE WORK
THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT SAVE
NEARLY $500, 600.
Gen. Gillespie Submits Papers in the
Case and Recommendations to
Acting Secretary Sanger.

A serious hitch has occurred in the mat
ter OF the award Of contracts for the con-
struction Of slow sand filtration plant for
the District water supply system In accord
ance with the various acts OF Congress.
General Gillespie. chief of engineers. had
decided to act in the matter in accordance
with the recommendations of Colonel Miller,
the engineer officer in charge Of the District
water supply system. 1t Is understood that
Colonel Miller's plan involved a division of
the work among several contractors
Before final action was taken, however,
protests against the proposed action were
received from Harmer & Quinn Of Philadel-
phia. who were the lowest bidders for the
entire work, at 81 ,9S7. 1873. at the last or Sec
ond competition. and from the Jewell Fill
tration Company Of New York, who were
the lowest bidders at the first or original
competition.
The bid Of the latter company for the en-
OF Harmer d Quinn, but as the bid was not
renewed at the second competition 1t was
not considered by the army engineers in
reaching their final conclusions.
May Save Nearly $500, 900.
It is understood that the reason for not
accepting the bid of Harmer & Quinn,
which was the lowest one submitted for the
entire work at the second competition, Is
that the government can save nearly $780,
600 by dividing the work of construction
and supplies among other bidders on special
items at the last competition.
The lowest bids received on the most i'm
portant items entering into the construc-
ton Of the filtration plant are as follows:
For excavation. Tally & Allen, Washing
ton, D. c., $308. 600; concrete in floors,
walls. piers and yaulting. the Brennan Con-
struction Company of Washington, D. c.,
about 100000; filter sand. L. q. Smoot.
Washington, D. c., 1916, $50; filter gravel.
L. E. smoot, $116,825.
The Papers Submitted.
Gen. Gillespie submitted all the papers in
the case this afternoon to Acting Secretary
Sanger. including the protests and his rec
concentrations as to how the work should
be distributed. Under the terms Of the COM
petition the War Department can award the
contract in whole or in part, as it deems
to the best interests Of the government, or
1t can award the work to several different
contractors and reserve parts to be per-
formed by days labor.
Owing to the urgent necessity for prornpt
action in this matter in order that the work
can be prosecuted without further delay
1t is expected that Acting Secretary Sanger
will take 1t UP at once and dispose of it as
SOOA do pOSSiulc
The provision of law increasing the ap-
preparations for the filtration plant and
fixing the limited cost, as contained in the
last District of Columbia appropriation bill,
Is as follows:
Provisions Of Law.
For continuing work on q slow sand
filtration plant, and for each and every
purpose connected Herewith, including the
preparation Of plans, and for the purchase
Of such scientific books and periodicals as
may be approved by the Secretary Of War,
5000 600. to be available Immediately and
until expended.
Provided, That all contracts authorized
under appropriations for the slow sand fl
tration plant shall provide for the compile
ton of the work on or before December /,
1904: Provided further, That the amount for
which a contract or contracts may be en-
tered into by the Secretary Of War for
such a material and work as may be nee
essary for prosecuting the work on said
slow sand filtration plant, and for each and
every purpose connected Herewith to final
completion within the shortest practical
time, or within which the materials may
be purchased and for work done otherwise
than by contract, to be paid for as appro-
priations may from time to time be made
by law. is hereby increased from 81, 76s, 4O5
to s., 469, 405''