Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-09-04
NEW CONTRACT MADE.

Hc WdlCI COIlllIlSclOti w SNAhSS
day evening for the purpose of consid-
ering actions, with reference to the
proposed drive well system. Early In
the summer the contract for driving
thirty 6-inch wells, north of the large
city we'll, was given to j. g. Shaw, OF
Sioux City, Ia, at 75c per foot. Mr..
Shaw at that time stated that he was
engaged on another job which would
take him a week or so to complete and
would then come to Wausau. Later he
informed the mayor that he was get
ting his machinery repaired. and as
soon as repairs were made he would
come here. Then nothing further was
heard of the man for several weeks
when a communication was addressed
him importuning him to hurry up. In
the meantime all the piping and mater
ial had arrived Several times since,
Mr.. Shaw has been prodded by the
officials, and each time had some ex-
cuse for delay and made promises of
early arrival here. The officials got
anxious, but did not feel warranted in
canceling the contract, for it was a
matter of dollars and cents to the peo-
pie Of Wausau in this way: Mr.. Shaw's
bid was 75c per foot while the next
lowest bid was 81 so per foot, differ
ence of S5c Finally the commission
and officials came to the conclusion
that if the job was to be completed this
fall, new contract must be made.
Other contractors were corresponded
With and the result was that w. H..
Cater, of Chicago, who takes such con-
tracts, arrived in the city Wednesday
and met with the commission that
evening. In conference with Mr..
Cater, that gentleman agreed to do the
work at the rate of 81 90 per foot, and
the commission decided to annul the
contract with j. g. Shaw and enter
into new one with Mr.. Cater. The
papers were drawn up and signed
Thursday and the latter departed for
Chicago, to pack his machinery ready
for shipment, and the same is expected
to arrive within a day or two. The
total length of pipes to be driven is
1920 feet which will make the cost
come up to trifie over 81 900 over the
price made with Shaw
The work will be pushed right ahead
until all the wells are driven, and the
work ought not to occupy great
length of time, unless rock is encoun-
tered. As soon as a well is driven a
force of city workmen will connect it
with the main we'll For this purpose
pipes will be laid at depth of nearly
twenty feet from the surface. All of
the work in connection with this par
ticular change, as planned by the coun-
Gil, will be completed this fall. Then
what the result will be, remains to be
seen. If, as is hoped, the water arising
from the great depth in the drive wells
has the effect of stopping the growth in
the pipes, and eventually cleaning
them out, it is possible that consumers
of water may this winter get another
supply which will leave a "brown"
taste in the vicinity of their palates.
The pipes for the enforcement mains
are being shipped to the city. They
have been in process of manufacture
for several months at plant in
Bessemer, Ala. They will be unloaded
from cars and distributed along the
streets where they are to be laid, and
as soon as a sufficient force of workmen
can be secured, the work of digging
trenches will begin. The first mains to
be laid will be from the pumping
station along route to East hill.
The two improvements mentioned
will necessitate a great outlay of
money. According to the estimate
made at the time the council ordered
the work done the figures given were
as follows:
80 6-inch 800
Reinforcing pipes and pump. IA, 200
East hill stand pipe..................... S,770
Total, $34, 40