The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-25
ONE BRIDGE EXTRA.
County Commissioners Made Money
by Waiting for Contracts.

BY turning down the bids on the three
bridges which Shawnee county must pullu
this year, and waiting Ior several weehS,
about s205 viii be saved by the comfy
/ commissioners
About four weeks ago the bids were
advertised and the Topeka Bridge ana
Iron company returned the lowest o1Iers
81. 637 for the three. The commissioners
thought this amount too much, and con
sequently refused to grant a contract
A week ago bids were again advertised
and this time the Topeka Bridge and iron
three bridges, and one extra one IN
Auburn township which went out last
week for 1853. The lowest separate
bid on this fourth bridge was s243. So by
a process of elementary arithmetic stne
commissioners figure that they are saving
The bridge for which the contracts were
let today to the Topeka Bridge and Iron
company are as follows: One steel brldge
with a span of 81 feet over Six Mile creek
liz Auburn township; one with a span OF
60 feet over the Wakarusa in AUBURN
township; one over Soldier creek with a
span of 90 feet and one IN 14oanoulh
township over Disney creek with a span
of % feet.
work viii occupy but about two months;
all OF the roads crossing the small
streams in the county will be provided
viii GOOD massage yavs. Steel construc-
ton work is being used. the commission
ers deeming this real saving OF money
I believe it viii be the best way to do
business" said County Commissioner
Sterne this morning We might as Wen
put in good structures while we are at
it, because We viii really save money IN
the long run. The Topeka Bridge and
IRON company does good work The
specifications which the contract entails
are very particular and if followed all
the way through Shawnee county can
boast of the best small bridges IN the
state"
When the bids were offered on the three
bridges seevral weeks ago, the commits
sioners became suspicious that there was
some sort of q combine among the bridge
builders. Fourteen bids were presented,
the lowest of which was by the IoDeka
Bridge company, $500 Now that firm
SO more. 1t was the opinion of the com
rnjSsiOuerS that the three structures
should be built for about 81 800 and it
can he seen from the final contract made
yesterday that their estimates were not
Tar from wrong
According to the law the commissioners
are allowed forty days in which to ac-
cept or reject bids for public improve
msnts. It is seldom that this power is
invoked, but it was this time to a success
full point
The only other bridge which is now in
construction at the cOuntys expense is the
SardOu avenue bridge over the KaW river,
at a cost of almost S13 600. The Topeka
1t is not probable that the commissioners
will let more bridge contracts this year
unless some of the smaller bridges are
washed away by flood. I do not think
tracts" said Mr.. Sterne this morning,
unless the county is able to pay for them
without issuing scrip or bonds. That OF
course viii be the rule in case there are
no accidents in the way of washouts.
do not think that we should burden the
county with any more bonds, but on the
other hand should pay up as many of
our debts a s POSSIBLE"