The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-08

/ pleted should they secure the con act.
They stated the same time that was
| given by the Topeka Bridge company.
/ They stated that they were well ac-
4 Quainted with the Character Of cons
| struction involved ins the building of
a Melan bridge, having built quite a
number Melan bridges. He also stated
/ that they were fully equipped with
| the outfit necessary to carry on the
work. and would begin on March 1
and have the structure ready for use
on June l.
After these expressions the fight
waged in the council. Councilman
Hughes arose and saids'I have nothing
against the home company, 1 have al
ways been in favor of. home industry
first and last but I think we have
had experience that unless a company
has had knowledge in the building
the piece of construction under way
that piece of work viii be dearly paid
for. have had some experience of
this sort of thing. When we let the
contract Of the building of the Audi
torium to firm of sewer contractors
who didn't know about the eonstruc-
ito of buildings but let it to them be-
cause they were a few hundred dollars
cheaper we made mistake that we
have been sorry for ever since The
Topeka Bridge company is a good COM
pany but I don't think that they have
had the experience necessary in build
ing Melan bridge. They are iron and
steel bridge builders.
Dr. Ryder then arose and stated. ct
want to see the company that has the
facilities for building this bridge, build
the bridge tell you we people who
live on the north side want that bridge
built and built quick. We don't want
company to come in and then have
to delay construction on account of
lack of proper facilities. OF course if
sentime ntality is to enter into this
thing,I believe the Topeka Bridge COM
pany should have the job, but I am
talking from business. standpoint and
ut a GO fa1
Councilman Holiday then made an
appeal for the Topeka Bridge company
saying, You have the statement of
the company that they will complete
this job in as short a time as the
Marsh bridge company I know it is
the first bridge of this kind that they
have had any knowledge of but let's
give them a start. Let's build up a
proud of. Why remember that when
we were having the Melan bridge built
Mr.. Thatcher told me that was the sec
ond bridge that they had ever built
they are building better bridges now
than they did at first. Let's go down
on recordd in favor of home industry
For my part I DON t, see what sort of
mesmerisrn this Marsh Bridge COM
pany appear to have over the council
Councilman Holiday then offered a
motion that the contract should be
awarded to the Topeka Bridge COM
pany. On a vote the motion was lost
Counciimen Green, Neil, Holiday and
Griley voting in favor while Councilmen
Kutz, Ryder, Swendson. Nellis. Howe,
Hughes and Rice voted against. Coun-
Gilman Skinner was absent.
A motion was then offered to approve
the report and recommendation of the
board of tellers. Councilman Holiday
then immediately arose and offered a
substitute motion calling for post
ponement of action on the award. The
motion on being put was lost by the
same vote as the first motion, Z against,
4 in favor.
The original motion was then put and
carried "A motion was then made to
award the contract to the Missouri Val
ley Iron and Bridge company. Holiday
said: If you want to give this con-
tract to a big bridge company outside
OF town, one that has had large ex-
perience why don't you give it to the
Missouri Valley Bridge eompany?p
The same. objection was raised that
this company did not erect Melan
bridges and on-a-xote- motion was
lost. by the same margin. II
A second motion to- postpone was pro-
posed but was lost.
Then the motion to accept the report
of the tellers was made and carried.
And finally the motion to award the
contract to the Marsh Bridge company
was presented and carried by a. vote of
Z to 4.
Councilman Holiday, who had pre-
scented the council with a set of reso-
lutions from the Commercial club back
ing up the Topeka. Bridge company in
its efforts to secure the contract, in
deep disgust said as a parting shot, I
am surprised at this action tonight l
thought that I was assOciating with
who We're standing up for
home institutions and an economical
administration of public affairs. If that
Marsh Bridge company asks for one
additional day to complete their con-
tract they will hear from this side of |
the house"
The Improvement will consist of two
spans whose total length is 1872 feet.
They will be made to conform to the
rest of the bridge.