The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-15

er than Mr.. Markets in some items,
and that Hudgins & Dumas were so
much under either of the others that
I feared there was some misunder-
staEding on their part as to the mean
ing of the specifications. thereupon
wrote them a letter simplifying the
specifications, going more into detail,
and particularly calling their attention
to two things, first; that the privilege
in regard to uncooked food and other
things might have to be withdrawn be-
cause of our treaty agreements with
the republic of Panama Gin case local
prices of the Panama merchants were
again reduced to a reasonable baSiS)
and second. that the low rates of
freight we had made via our steaIIaz
ship line and railroad; and also for cold
storage, were limited absolutely to
food supplies to be used by our en-
ployes; and 1 gave them an oppor-
tunity Cif they did not understand the
SpecifcatiOns) to amend their proposal.
"They Immediately amended their
proposal, raising their prices on some
items over 100 per cent, and when
they brought the amended proposal to
my Office they thanked me for having
given them the additional information
and for calling attention to points
above mentioned, also stating that they
had not thoroughly understood the
situation before and had made their
prices on cooked meals at cost or low
er, expecting to make their profits on
the sale of other good.
All Treated Alike.
simultaneously on writing this let
ter to Hudgins & Dumas I wrote ex-
actly the same letter to Mr.. Markell. so
apprehension, he also could amend his
proposal. Mr.. Markell replied that,
having a thorough knowledge of the
situation on the isthmus, he had con-
sidered these matters in making his
proposal, and stated he stood pat on
same. 1 did not write Mr. Balfe, be-
cause his prices were SO high that it
was not necessary to longer consider
him in the matter.
when these amended proposals
were received, it was found that in
every item but one Mr.. Markell was
either as low as or lower than Messrs-
HudginS & Dumas.
''In making the award took into con-
sideration not only the prices, but the
experience of the bidders, and the or
ganization for business that they now
have. I found that MeSSrS. HudginS &
Dumas have had no experience in this
business, except a three-year contract
on Ellis island, a purely local PROPOSE
ton; that Mr.. Markell has had 80 years
experience in this special field of operat-
ing railroad hotels and construction
camps on the Union Pacific, Illinois
Central, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Kansas City Southern and other roads;
that he has now large camps on TWO or
three of these roads; that he has Sucn
a large force that he can withdraw from
it suff1cient help to promptly equip the
hotels we have constructed, and will
also be in position Cf the climate af-
fects his staff to keep supplying new
men from his force in the United States
as exigency demands and letting those
on the isthmus return here to recuper-
ate, thus having a constant chain or
fresh employees going to the isthmus.
ssIn view of the fact that Mr.. Markell
has been doing for 80 years exactly this
kind of work in the states that he viii
have to do on the isthmus, it seemed to
me that even if his price had been some
what higher the company could well af-
ford to pay something for his wide ex-
perience in this line of work as against