Evening journal., 1903-06-12

NOT SATISFIED
Blame Street and Sewer De
partment Solely for High
Bids Submitted
COvLD NOT ESTIMATE ACCURATELY
Claim is Made That the Prices Run
Sewer Will Cost More If City Does
Work Than IL Done By Con-
tract.

The action OF the Street and Sewer Com
mission on Tuesday last relative TO the
Prices Run sewer matter, brings up the
question: WIN the city be benefited by the
boards decision TO construct the proposed
sewer hself. or would more have been
accomplished had the work been awarded
to a concern under contract.
This question was put TO a prominent
contractor yesterday afternoon and he
sald
"The work should most undoubtedly
have been given out for various reasons.
chief among which are;
''rhe city must, In order to accomplish
the project. purchase the necessary ma
chinery ana other implements required to
successfully perform the work. This Will
mean an expenditure OF several thousands
OF dollars. whereas. the contractor Is al
ready supplied with these things and IN
consequence the money used for this pur-
pose could be expended with FAR better re-
suits When the work Is completed the
city Will have on its hands lumber. ma
chlnery and other implements used IN the
construction OF the sewer. for which Il may
never again have use for.
again. X has been demonstrated that
contractors can get more work out OF men
than the city. Taking this important fact
in consideration i can freely be said that
the city will be obliged to expend more
money for wages than the contractor
would be compelled to do.
"Thcn there are the risks. Inconvenience
and numerous other things to be figured
on. Taking everything into consideration
I am of tho opinion that the Street and
Sewer Department Is making a mistake. d
Contractors Dissatisfied.
Proposals were advertised for. twice hs
the Street and Sewer Commissioners ant
both times rejected because Of the hiel
figures submitted. Harry A. Miller, OF thil
city, agreed to do the work for $4,000. in
cluding 50 per cubic yard for rock exca
walton This was the lowest bid submitted
the next being s1OsOOe, including rock ex
cavation. rho second bids were mucl
higher than dhe first. for instance. tn,
firm having bid for the work at 100000 IN,
first time jumped up TO si3S.OOO the second
The local man made no second effort tc
secure the work at all.
The reason for the increase OF figures ir
the bids Is said TO be tho fact that ther,
Is about $500 cubic yards Of rock along IN,
line OF the sewer that must be excavatcd
Some of the bidding firms learning tn,
extent Of rock became frightened and a.
a result the high bids followed
There Is much dissatisfaction among IN,
bidders because the exact amount OF rocl
excavation TO be made was not named IL
the specifications.
I'm this way" said Mr.. Miller. wher
seen by a reporter OF the Evening Journal
1t was impossible 10 figure accuratel,
upon the work, a gamblers chance having
been taken by all the bidders for the worl
as the comparison OF the figures submitte,
viii show"
There is but 10000 available to accom-
plish the work and o. is the belief Of r
Chalkley Hatton, consulting engineer o.
the Street and Sewer Department. that IN
sewer can be constructed with that sum
providing no unlocked for circumstances
should arise. He has been appointed a
q salary Of 81 200 for one year to supern
tend the work and Is az present on a bust
ness trip, purchasing the necessary ma
chinery and other implements needed Il
the construction OF the work.