The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-28
EXPECT A LIVELY TIME.
Rival Contractors After the Fifth
Ward Sewer

Everything is ready now for the let
ting of contracts for the construction of
the Fifth ward sewer Bids must be IN
by 5 o'clock Monday afternoon, and
they will be oponed at the council meet
ing in the evening.
| VIM. Henderson, Sam Dolnan and J.
| NJ. Miller, the board of appraisers, have
completed the work of appraising the
property in the Fifth ward, and are now
preparing a compilation of their re-
port 1t took II days work to fix the
value of every lot. piece and parcel
of land in the district. 1t is estimated
that there are about 1,50O lots to say
nothing of pieces and parcels, in the
district.
Contractors who are figuring on the
work of building the sewer expect that
the competition will be close. This is
the time of year when all the men VINO
have been building pavementS ana
bridges and railway grades throughout
the summer are on the lookout for
good winter job; for something which
will keep their men and teams busy
during the cold weather. Sewer work
is about the only thing which is on tap.
Sewers can be built better in winter
than at any other time, because the ex-
cava ton is all done down below frost
line, and the frozen surface of the
ground helps to hold the excavation in
place.
The fact that the new specifications
throw the work open for the compeu-
ton of the cement men adds an element
of novelty to the competition, which
will very probably push the price low
er. The brick manufacturers want some
place to use what material they have
on hand, and they will make low figures
for the purpose of getting their mater
ial in in preference to the cement The
cement manufacturers would like a
chance to demonstrate that they can
lay good sewers at low price, for upon
this depends the possibility for big
line of business in the future. They
will be willing to sacrifice some of their
profits to introduce the new method of
sewer construction.
There is still another element which
may tend to make the bids low. The
old rival firms. Haskins & Ramsey and
Hanley & Richie, are both expecting
to bid on the work. Whenever these
firms clash, there is likely to be some
thing doing.
Some have held that their difficult
ties have been adjusted, but the de-
velOpments during the past few weeks
at Lawrence have not tended to con-
firm this belief. Lawrence had about
900 yards of paving to let. Hanley
& Ritchie and Haskins & Ramsey
both went after the work. Hanley &
Ritchie got $500 yards by bidding
$1.21, while Haskins & Ramsey bid
S1.22. Haskins & Ramsey got $15,
600 yards by bidding $1.22 90, while
Hanley & Richie bid $1.23. Hanley
& Richie were pretty sore about this
there was something shady about the
transa ction. The bids on the rest of
the paving were rejected by the city
council on the ground that they were
above the estimate. The recollections |
of the fight at Lawrence are fresh in |
the minds of these old rivals, and they |
will go after each other pretty hard |
at Topeka.
Out of town firms are also expected |
to enter into the bidding on the sewer !
work, but they will have to hurry if |
they keep up with the home contract |
ors. One firm at Toledo, Ohio, has |
written for specifications, and bids are |
likely to come in from others.
1t is likely that the Fifth ward sewer |
will cost about $4,000 There will /
be a lot of deep excavation, and con- |
rock blasting to be done.
Topeka will have another sewer for
the contractors to figure on about as |
soon as the Fifth ward sewer is dis
posed of. The pIats for the Sixth ward |
sewer are being prepared, and the |
mayor Will probably appoint apprais-
ers for the work at the next courc il
meeting. The city engineers estimates
VIII probably be ready by the middle
of October, and the contracts may be
let at the first meeting in November.