Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15
" If We Don't
Get That Con-
tract, I'm Going
to Go 1t Alone ="

mark that had made the older and more expe-
rienced man speechless.
Il know we've done anything of that size
before he continued but that's reason why
we shouldn't begin The Prudential Bank Building
with its sixteen stories is only two eghtstory build
1ngs, one on top OF the other, and we have put up
scores OF TOUR STORY buildings We've never been
anything but little builders and this is the day of
sky-scraPers We must put up sky-scraper if we
want big business
But who'll go on our bond for a mlion-dolar
contract"
There's the rub, Sheedy. don't see the way
out yet, but think [ can find a way. Now, Mike
Sheedy, remember this, the young man was sitting
up straight now, shaking his fist in the others face
If we don't get that contract, as good pretty
soon, | m going to go it alonel"
This what Sheedy dreaded. He was prac-
teal builder of the old school, who began life a
brcklayer. Haynes, after his graduation from the
Institute of Technology, had been glad to get into
partnership with man who already had a business
and Sheedy had been glad to have with him young
man with sound technical training As Sheedv &
Haynes they had done small but profitable bust
ness for four five years, when the Prudential
Bank Building was projected. 1t was the first sky
scraper to be proposed in the city, and large con
tracing firms from New York and Chicago were
known to be getting ready to bid. Many of the
local contractors had been frightened out of the
competition when they learned that the Weaver
Construction Company, with offices in New York
Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington had been
figuring on the plans. Sheedy was as tirnid as the
rest. Haynes had the audacity of youth, and also
youths ignorance of those great risks which make
age hesitate. Fortunate ignorance and glorious
audacity! So Sheedy, with slow and hestating
speech, replied:
Well, John, if you think could carry that big
lob-and it is bigger than you magine-we might
bid. But must make the bid high. We can't
take any risks We haven't the capital to lose
The young mans manner changed. His threat
had done its work. Sheedy had consented, and
with the old builders reputation for square work.
Haynes hoped that their bid would receive consid-
Grafton on its merits. But the bond different
matter.
That evening he was found in the library of Henry
Staple head OF the biggest cotton mill in the state
and an old friend of his father The two men were
looking over a lot of papers covered with figures.
There it is, just nine hundred and eleven thou
sand dollars and ffty-three cents-that is what it
will cost to put up the building, with due allowance
for all possible contingencies. | have correspondent
with the steel mills, and they tell that they
deliver the steel whenever want it. They have
just signed agreement with their men, and will
not be delayed by strike in six eight months,
anyway. Our stone and brick have on hand
all of that sort of thing that shall need and
own employees are loyal and will stand by us. Now
we propose to bid just nine hundred and eleven
thousand dollars and hfty-three cents, and