The Topeka state journal., 1905-02-07
Contract for Sixth Ward I'm
prOYement Awarded.
Hanley & Ritchie win Build 1t
for S7S,SOO.
STAHL CALLED DOWN.
His Big Bill for Spoilers Isn't
Paid.
WaterwOrks Made a Special
Order for Tonight.

The letting of contracts for in the
neighborhod Of $780, 900 worth of public
improvements devolved upon the CITY
council at last evenings session On
account of the routine business whlch
had to be disposed of in advance all OF
the contracts could not be let
The contract for the construction OF
the Sixth ward sewer was let ana also
those of the Kansas avenue, WliioW
avenue. Park avenue, Van Buren street
and Chandler street b-idges- The con-
tract for the construction of the Il
blocks of paving aggregatins IN the
neighborhood of 5000 of work was not
acted upon but was left over for the
committees report. The committee met
this noon and viii make it's recommen-
dation to the council at this evening s
session of that body. The disposition Of
the contract for the building Of the
north approach to the Melan bridge was
left also for final adjudication to this
evenings session.
When the bids were opened up the
mayor appointed committees from
among the members Of the council TO
make a final report of their findings
Councilmen Green, Nellis and Rice act
ing in the sewer bids reported to the
council that Hanley and Ritchie were
the lowest bidders for the construction
Of the Sixth ward sewer, their price
being SIS, ,S91.61. Cook & Son bid SSz,-
224 95 and We're second, while Brooks &
Gilmore. the present contractors OF the
Fifth ward sewer, were third with a
bid of sS4, ,58s. 81. The engineers estl-
mate for the construction OF the sixth
ward sewer was SS4,69S.75-
The Topeka Bridge and Iron company
were successful in securing the MAJOR
portion Of the bridge contracts that
company being awarded oy the com com
mittee Councilmen Swendson, Howe
and Hughes, with the construction OF
the Kansas avenue bridge over the
Ehunganunga. the Van Buren street
bridge and Chandler street bridge. The
contract price for the Kansas avenue
bridge is S33745O for the Van Buren,
street bridge 81, ,994 and for the Chandler
street bridge $2,T12.
NJ f Wall secured the construction
of the bridges on Willow avenue and
Park avenue over Wards creek at a
rost each OF S392.75. Brooks & Gilmore,
the only other bidders on these bridges
handed In $4OO each as their bid
There was some brisk competition
among the various representatives OF
the various bridge companies present
over the north approach to the Melan
bridge. A number of the bidders either
failed to attach certified checks to
their bids or were above the engineer S
estimate and were consequently dls-
qualified.
OF those who entered the bidding the
Topeka Bridge and Iron company were
the lowest having entered a bid OF $22,-
7S4. The committee in returning It's re-
port to the council stated that though
the home concern had the lowest bid
still considering everything they
thought the award should go to the
Marsh Bridge company Of Des MolneS
Ia, whose figure was $4,000 The rea-
son they gave to the members OF the
council for this recommendation was
that the Marsh Bridge company woule
guarantee the commencement OF the
work by the 1st Of March and the com
pletion at an early date some time II
June The remainder of the bridge
companies could not meet this guaran'
tee The committee deemed 1t advls
able to get the construction OF th'
bridge as far along as possible 50 ina
fl might not be still under constructor
in case of high water during June
Councilman Holiday Immediately aros'
md entered a demurrer to this recon-
r7endatfOn and stated that as presIden
of the Commercial club he could no
let home industry be passed by II
favor of a corporation On a motloh
was considered best to decide TIL
awarding of this contract at this even
4ng's session of the council other bid
ders were Missouri Valley Bridge an'
Iron company, S23. 500; CrebO Construc
tion company. $3.50 and J. G. Dildlne
s53. 800 The engineers estimate on IN
bridge was something over S24-ooO-
chief Stahl came in for some atten
finn from the council. 1t was not tn
character of attention which one care
TO finger over with pleasure For som
time past the city has been payin
without 2 thought of protest the bill
which Chief Stahl has filed for securin
s.spotter" service. But the worm ha
turned and on the presentation c
Sfahi's usual monthly bill of this char
acter. amounting this time specincall
10 s112 so. Councilman Holiday raised
question as to the legality of alloWin
the bill
Il don't believe said Mr. Holiday
"that Chief Stahl has the right to PIE
sent a claim of this sort and ask Io
payment for services for which he Ia
not secured the authority TO employ
hire It's not so much for the presei
Instance as the precedent that you 1
setting here in the council. The preser
chief of police is all right but You con @
Know what sort OF chief you may haN
q, here wears to come. And there is
splendid opportunity for Doodle IN tn
sort of thing if YOU set a precedent an
hermit the chief of police to hire Whoi
he chooses and for what he chooses an
then present the claim ana you pay
here in council without protest II
not right. We are continually maxim
q howl over the condition OF the cll
treasury and here we spend over $4VV
month on something which It is q ser
Gus question in my mind Whetner
Mayor Bergundthal failed to tat
kindly to the remarks made ~ tL
rs , ~. s,,l