Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-11-16
JOHN J. MokiNNON is
AWARDED BRIDGE CONTRACT

awarded the contract to build a stone
bridge for the sum of $24, 800. he to
furnish all material and go to bed rock
TO place abutments and piers, with,
out any uncertain side issues about
so much more per foot or yard for GO
ing further than four, ten or fourteen
feet and then begin with extra charg.
es. This was the element of McKin-
mons bid which decided the council
to give nim the bridge.
Just as the council begun to listen
to the reading of the bids the electric
| lights went ont and they had to rus
tie candles, and while in the glim OF
the gloom Alderman Dobbins said par.
ties had proposed TO put In public
scales and pay the city royalty pro.
vided an ordinance would be passed
to protect such franchise. The mat
ter was deferred when the lights re
turned and they went at the bridge
proposition to get through with 1t.
1t was clear from the start that the
aldermen fayoring n stone bridge were
in the majority, but II required a good
deal of parrying to get Ave OF them In
line on one plan for a stone bridge
When all the bids were read Mayor
| Mcconnell requested all the bidders
to retire TO another room. but only the
hallway was large enough to hold
tnem. and they took their chairs along
and sat down and sang by the Moon
| light" while the council went over
/ the maps, charts, bids and plans. Fl
nally, one by one, each bridge man
was called In his turn. to explain
plans which had not already been
| turned down.
A petition signed quite numerously,
| praying for stone bridge. and no 9th.
/ er, was presented to the council, and
/ this moved the mayor to say that no.
body on the north side had failed to
| sign 1t. but there were many ON the
1 south side. Mayor Mcconnell said he
was opposed TO paying more than
| $4,000 more for stone bridge than a
| good steel bridge would cost. Alder
man Dobblns said he was for stone all
the time. Alderman Casey urged
stone bridge, claiming that the differ
ence would be saved during the life of
a steel bridge.
There was much haggling over un.
certain detail as to reaching bed rock
of the river at some given or stipu-
/ lated sum.
Alderman Logan said he was for a
stone bridge. Alderman Casey then
moved to accept the bid OF Mcclellan
a. Lotus for stone bridge to cost
| $21, $50. to be 40 feet wide, without
sidewalks and without wings. Alder
I man Hanno objected, saying the plans
did not suggest a durable structure.
Mr.. Mcclellan arose to defend his
plans with facts and figures and had
a tilt with Engineer Wigglesworth.
Engineer Henderson was then called
he and Engineer Wigglesworth went
over the matter together. The coun-
Gil had already gotten an idea that
the plan was not for the kind of
bridge wanted. The Mcclellan bid and
plans were read. Mr.. Wlgglesworth.
who ought to make his name shorter
so IL would fit typewriter, said the
city plans called for bed rock and
that in the acceptance of any bid 1t
degree of uncertainty as to the cost.
The Mcclellan bid was then voted
down by a vote of to 3. Alderman
Dobbins then moved to take the next
highest bid OF Mcclellan, $23,830. and
this was voted down by vote OF 3
TO 2.
Alderman Hanno then moved the ac.
ceptance OF the McKinnon bid at $24.
500, which he said left no doubt as to
what would be done that for this
amount a bond would be given to go
to bed rock and build a bridge of three
arches forty feet wide. with substan'
tial abutments and piers. set on bed
} rock, with a fresh surface of the bed
shot of to make sure. Mr.. Hanno
went into detail, showing the durabil
ity OF this bridge and it's saving OF the
2 difference over steel bridge In a
7, few years. The plans were read and
I when the vote was taken IL was:
4 Ayes-Berndt. Dobbins. Casey, Lo
1 gan, Hanno, Balster, Rivers. Alder
e man West was not present but 1t wai
i said he would undoubtedly have yotet
Y for the plan If he had been there. HI
will be asked about It when he come
5 home.
l. 1t was decided by the council u
i meet again next Tuesday evening t.
r accept a detailed contract and suffi
s cient bond. to be given by Mr.. Nc
Kinnon, and the bridge committee wa
8 instructed to act with the city attoI
d ney and city engineer in preparing I'll
; contract and bond.
n 1t was midnight and more and an,
4 body who mad been up from earl
i morning was willing to go TO bed. Ha
l. an adjournment been taken on Nj
ID Hannos motion the bidders woul
ID have had chance to refresh then
selves before morning.
'r Following is a tabulation OF the pr
ell posais made by bidders. prepared q
1t the bids were read. by Attorney w. !
" Reese. as Clerk Russell read them. ft
r. the guidance Of the council:
BY Pueblo Bridge Co.
IS No. 1-12O-ft. span, wood floor
re- and iniata l0 ~ WIda N1A M