Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-18
AWARD OF CONTRACT
BRENNAN CONSTRUCTION COM
PANY SUCCESSFUL BIDDER.
Gets the Job Of Keeping Asphalt
Streets in Repair-Pays $780,
900 Annually.

Col John Biddle. the Engineer Commits
sioner, today approved a Recommendation
from the engineer of highways awarding
to the Brennan Construction Company Ior
a term of four years the contract for max
ing repairs to asphalt payements In the
District. This contract amounts to ABOUT
$50 600 annually. bringing the value Of the
contract just awarded up to 100000.
This is the first time in the past decade
that the contract was not secured by the
Crawford Paving Company. whose engine
rollers Percy" 1'Baby" and the enormous
Henry" have been familiar sights on the
streets of the city.
The Crawford company. together with the
Barber Asphalt Company. have been looked
upon as the local representatives OF the as
phalt trust" while the Brennan Construc
ton Company first came into asphalt proh,
inence two years ago, when 1t represented
the Warner Quinlan Company here ana Sc
cured the contract for the new aspnait
pavementS during the hscai year ehoihs
June 80 1902. The Warner-Qufnlan CON
Germ, with headquarters at syracuse. N.
Y, was regarded as the only big antitrust
firm In the country at that time. The dis
covery of large deposits of satisfactory
asphalt elsewhere than In the territory con-
trolled by the so-called trust, mas mace
the market an open one.
Three Separate Propositions.
Bids for repairs to asphalt pavements
were called for this year on three separate
propositions, one for one-year contract
one for a two-year contract and the tmro
for a four-year contract. For standard
asphalt pavement on a 6-inch base, the
Brennan company bid, per square yard. as
follows One year, $1.69: two year. $l65
and four years, S1.59. The Barber Asphalt
Company bid on the one-year basis. $l0 p
two years. $1.61h. and four years, Sl.ol.
r,l. IDox-{ INV q
respectively, Sill, S1.70 and $1.69. On the
total amounts on the four-year basis the
Brennan company's bid was $4,1OO less tnan
the Barber Asphalt Company and $500 less
than the Crawford Paving Company, the
present contractors.
In making the recommendation OF award
Mr.. c. B. Hunt. the engineer of highways,
suggests a stipulation that the contract
may be terminated in two years ne
thinks this a wise thing to do, on account
of the inexperience of the Brennan Com
pany in this line of work. Mr. Hunt says:
Respectfully forwarded to the Engineer
Commissioner recommending the accept
ance of the within proposal of the Bren-
nan Construction Company, and that con-
tract in accordance with said proposal be
entered into based on the prices named for
a four-year contract.
Additional Stipulation.
''This company is apparently prepared to
furnish a quality of asphalt that will sat
isfy the specifications, but in view Of the
fact that 1t has had no experience In this
particular class of work 1t is recommended
that an additional stipulation be included
in the contract, substantially as follows:
1T is expressly understood and agreed
that at the expiration Of two years OF the
term of this contract. the Commissioners
may terminate the same II. in their 1udg-
ment, the conduct of the work has been
such as to render such course advisa BILE for
the public interests, and this condition IS
not to be considered as in any sense modi-
flying the general right to take such ACTON
as provided in paragraph % Of the general
stipulations. but on the contrary. to be
considered as emphasizing such provision
and indicating a definite period at which II
shall be particularly applicable.
1.-The prices named are reasonable ana
advantageous to the District of Columbia.
Proposals for the other big asphalt con-
tract the laying of new street pavements
will be opened July 3. and some quite lively
bidding is anticipated. -5