The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-23
RICE GIVES IT UP.
st. Joe Contractor Won't Do
Topeka Paving.
Turns Work Over to John
Richie of This City.
TO USE LOCAL BRICK.
However the Price Has Been
Hammered Down.
Contract, Includes twenty-five
Blocks Of Paving.

The contract for the twenty-five
blocks of brick paving has been sublet
by H. M. Rice of ST. Joseph Mo-, sto
John Richie Of Topeka.
For the first time in the history of
paving contracts in Topeka an entire
years contract of paving has been
sublet
The value of the contract is .$S3,-
091.19 under the contract figures. This
however, includes curbing, gutter and
rolling in addition to grading so that
the paving contract for the paving
only will not run up to this figure.
The action of Rice in subletting his
contract marks out the fact that the
local paving trust though it was given
a staggering blow still manages to
hold its own
Though representatives of Rice re-
fuse to say anything it is claimed at
the city hall that Rice found it i'm
possible to get his paving brick into
Topeka at a figure which provided for
fair margin of profit.
Topeka brick is still supreme so far
as Topeka paving is concerned and
the local contractors still manage to
hold the local contracts. Rice, how
ever accomplished one thing, he
hammered down the price on the paw
ing from a cent and a half to three
cents and a half each, per square
yard and in that way secured for
himself the thanks of a large num-
Der of property owners who are tax
ed by the Improvements to be put in.
"I don't know anything about it," said
Willis Edison of the Capital City Wit
rified brick company. L heard ithat
Rice found it pretty hard uphill work
getting his brick, though 1 don't
know. 1 understand that he has his
own brick kilns at St Joseph, or rath-
er Mr.. Halsey has" Halsey is the
father-in-Iaw of Rice.
Mayor VIM. Green received word
today that a deal had gone through
between John Richie and Rice for
the transfer for the latter's contract
to the former John Richie, who is
expected to return to Topeka at once
and that he would be prepared to look
after the situation.
Rice when he came into Topeka
and secured the twenty-five blocks
of paving at prices varying from
S1.23 n for paving south of the Kan
sas river and $1.27h for North Tope-
ka was the first outside contractor to
ever turn the trick. His bid complete
ly took the local contractors on their
feet Ritchie who was the next low
est bidder. 1t was generally expected
would secure the contract until Rice
appeared on the scene.
Following the award of the contract
NEGOTIATIONS
with local Manufacturers for brick but
seemingly no satisfactory price could
be obtained and Rice then stated that
he would import his brick. Consider
able delay was experienced after this
announcement and yesterday the first
shipment of brick should have been
received from st. Joseph. This was
the information given out to the pub
lie. 1t is evident. however. that nego-
tiations have been pending between
Rice and Richie for the transfer of
the contract and that satisfactory
sort of understanding was arrived at
1t is claimed by the mayor and as
sistant city attorney that the sublet-
ting of the contract will no wise in
terfere with the paving and that it
will not entangle the city into any per-
picking situation.
we haven't anything in our con-
tracts against subletting them" said
Assistant City Attorney Ralston.
From a legal standpoint there is no
danger to the city
1.-The contract will remain just in
force as if Mr. Rice would actually do
the work. said Mayor Green. "A1l of
our estimates Will be allowed in the