New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-23
LOW BID FOR BIG DAM.
W4TER BO4RD SURPRISED
Contractors Estimate Millions Be
lozo That of Chief Engineer.

o-o n. 17,,a bids submitted for the construction
| of the great Ashokan dam in the Catsklll noun
tains at the outlet TO the enormous reservoir
which is 70 provide the new and greater water
supply of the city. Two OF the blus are pe'o"
the estimate of the chief engineer of the board
rxro1ao Smith. three exceed Mr. Smiths esti-
mate.
The names of the bidders and the amounts
hid follow. together with Mr. Smiths estimate;
Co and Winston Co ssg 1000 90
Stewart X rbaugh-s hnnley Co IS9'9SlS'oo
O'Rourke Engineering and Construction --o m
Mr. 90 smitb,s estimate :............. 12,85oooo 90
Mr. Smiths estimate was prepared with an
allowance of 10 per cent. profit to the contrac-
tor and the bids were probably submitted Dy
the contractors with allowance for 10 per
cent nroft as is customary in such cases. The
lowest bid that Of the John Peirce Company
Is SO far below the estimate of the chiei en-
gfneer that much surprise has been cauSeo III
official circles and there viii be the most care
full Investigation before the contract is awarded
to any of the five bidders.
The John PIERCE Company built the Hall OF
Records and has also had the contract for the
interior work on that building and on the new
public library building in Bryant Park. 1t has
also done much stone work. but the general
opinion is that the firm is a building concern
rather than one accustomed TO undertake con-
tracts of the present type
RAILROAD AND DAM CONSTRUCTION
There is a vast difference between building
construction and the construction of great
uaterworks dam In the former case the con-
tractor can take his earth for filling and grad
ing purposes from almost any spot, the length
of haul and accessibility of the deposit being
the chief considerations In the case or the
DAM however, the earth must be OF especially
high grade. All stones above a certain size
must be removed, and the quality OF the soil
must be fine. Gravel soil cannot be used owing
to the percolation of water through such ma
teral
The manner of the construction of railroad
earthwOrks is different moreover. Carts with
earth can be run TO the proper place and
dumped, while IN the dam construction the earth
must be placed I'm layers, each layer must be
wet down and packed, and the whole must be
Of a solid character. The cost OF this extra
work Is considerable and when taken into ac-
count naturally results in increase in the bid
of contractor. There is impression that
the PIERCE company did not take the great dr.
ference between railroad and water supply dam
construction under proper advisement. Some
practical engineers familiar with the conditions
say that the company, should the contract be
awarded 10 it, would do we'll to break even on
the work. and that a profit would be out OF the
question. under most favorable conditions
There have been many instances in the past
Of the awarding Of important contracts to re-
markedly low bidders. and Of much consequent
embarrassment and delay for both city and con-
tractor II is understood that II is the recol-
lection of previous lettings OF contracts TO bid
ders whose prices fell below the citys estimates
that is causing the discussion OF the present
situation in the Board of Water Supply There
IS no disposition to question the standing
sponsiblIlty Of any one of the contractors. All
have done well in the past. and all are now en-
gagged contracts OF the greatest Importance.
There - simply n feeling that the Pierce esti-
mate possibly made too low account OF
n certain absence of experience in the work
involved.
NO REMEDY FOR CITY CONTRACTORS.
There is practically remedy for a contrac-
tor VINO faces loss a result OF too low an
estimate on city work The city cannot change
the terms Of the contract TO increase the com
pensation IA private corporation can. The
Pennsylvania Railroad, after once changing
contractors has felt Itself Obliged to make
concessions to the present builders on some OF
its work in Hudson County. In the case Of city
contracts. however the only thing the contrac-
tor can do TO try TO save himself is TO spar
for time II he delays there is 4 possibility Of
a change in the plans becoming necessary in
which case he can possibly make enough add
tional profit the work TO compensate
him wholly or in part for the loss the
original contract.
II there is much excavation in the work
tracted for, profit be made IN some cases
by filing in low lying ground in the neighbor-
| hood with the excavated material IL the con-
tractor has made too low estimate he may
delay the work to await the demand for
earth to fill in such low lying ground
The contract cost OF the section Of the Harlem
River Speedway from both street to High
Bridge was $500 900; the actual cost to the city
was nearly 81. 100000. and n dispute over GER
tain notifications of the contract and the speci-
hcations resulted In a suit that cost the city
further considerable sum-
This is only instance of bids in the
past which failed to allow the contractor an
adequate profit, with the story OF the trouble.
delay and additional cost to the city q con-
sequence. There have been many other in
stances and, while 1t is not limited that the
Board of Water Supply anticipates any repeti-
ton OF such experiences with the John Peirce
Company. should 1t receive the contract, there
is a decided disposition to avoid any such posi-
bility by the fullest and most careful examina-
ton of all the bids. The estimates OF MIR. Smith
Will be studiously compared with the estimates
as indicated by the bids. of the contractors.
The bids all, it is understood, carefully
made up, and 1t is said that the Board of Water
Supply is favorably impressed with moro than
one of them.
OPEN HEARTH RAIL ORDERS LARGE.
New Bethlehem Company Mill Will Soon