New-York tribune., 1907-01-13
FOUR CANAL WORK BIDS
GREAT INTEREST SHOWN.
Contract Likely to Go to ". j. OiUer
and Il. ". Bangs, of Ne7O York.
from The Tribune Bureau. !


Washington. Jan. 12.-The widespread inter-
est shown in the opening of bids for the Pan
ANA Canal construction contract in the offices
of the commission at to-day was most
gratifying to officials IN charge of the work
The great crowd of engineers contractors and
representatives of out OF town corporations filled
the rooms occupied by Chairman Shonts and his
staff flowed out into the hall and resolved itself
into little overflow gatherings down on the side
walk in front of the building. AS soon as the
bids opened most of the throng melted
away. leaving only few attorneys. who re-
manned behind 10 present briefs or arguments
for clients whose claims may still have some
weight with the commission.
1.-THE keen interest manifested in the bidding
is a source of great satisfaction to the commits
sion." said Joseph B. Bishop secretary Of the
commission 1.-THE very fact that four bids wers
received from responsible contracting firms for
such a colossal project is in itself a matter OF
qualification A great many very well Informed
persons predicted that we would not get any
bids at all from firms or individuals who would
be able to undertake and carry out such gigan-
tic piece of work. The commission thought
that 1t would receive about two good BIDS and
would have no cause to complain had no more
than couple been received"
DIGEST BEING PREPARED.
AS soon as the bids were announced Chair
man Shonts instructed the attorney OF the COM
mission to prepare digest of the bids which
would contain the salient points in the
tracts upon which the proposals were asked.
the of the various contractors who bid
for the work, the assumed titles under which
their bids presented. to conceal the iden-
tity of the contractors until the day of formal
opening; the financial standing and backing OF
the contractors, and last. the various projects
with which the bidders have been identified
during their business careers.
Although it is assumed that ". J. oliver, OF
Knoxville. Tenn, and Arson NJ. Bangs OF No.
3 Nassau street, New York, the lowest bidders,
will get the contract for the huge task of
struction the commission must first examine
with the greatest care every detail of the pro-
posals made by the firm 1t is expected that
attorneys for Oliver & Bangs. as well as legal
representatives for the higher bidders, will ap-
pear before the commission within the next few
days TO make representations In behalf of their
clients
''The mere fact that one bid looks lower than
another at first glance does not prove that 1T Is.
when ali considerations are weighed" remarked
an official of the commission to-day There are
so MANY sections and sub-sections to be handled
and so many features of time and manner Of
work to be considered. that 1t may be several
days before the commission can arrive at a per-
feet understanding of the real inwardr,ess' OF
the bids opened to-day. 1t is a magnihcent VIM
dication Of the commission that some of the
greatest contracting firms in the world should
compete for the work"
BASIS OF THE BIDDING.
The basis on which the contract will be
awarded is a percentage of the cost OF complet-
ing the work. Bidders are required to accom-
4I,afr wit check
5000 OOO and the successful bidder is required
to give bond in the sum Of 50. 10000 10 protect
the government from any loss.
The government expressly reserved TO itself
the control of sanitation and engineering, and IN
the matter Of quarters and the subsistence de-
partment so directly connected with the health
and wellbeing of canal employees, the right Of
rigid supervision is retained.
In no event" says Chairman Shonts, "can
the contractor be allowed to make these depart
ments an Independent of profit" The
government likewise retains the department of
materials and supplies, and so far the Pan
anna Railroad is concerned 1t expressly was de-
cared in the letter of invitation bids that It
could not wisely be turned over to the contrac-
tor The work to be done by the contractor.
therefore, has been confined to the actual work
Of construction.
It is believed by the commission that the esti-
mated cost of completing the canal will be
terialIy reduced by the application of new prin-
ciples of construction, which will be discovered
the work progresses.
The proposals provide a system of rewards
for the completion Of the work In shorter time
than the contract calls for, and this, 1t is con-
tended will effect a saving sufficient to offset
the entire percentage required TO be paid the
contractor the estimated cost of the work.
For some time it has been known that several
members of the commission believed Z per cent
the estimated cost of the construction would
be fair remuneration for q contractor under
the form of contract prepared by the commits
sion. The lowest proposal. that of William j.
Oliver of Knoxville. Tenn, and Anson M.
Bangs, of New York City. who offered to do the
work for 675 per cent Of the estimated cost. Is
even lower than had been hoped for
Granting that the estimate of Sl4OOOOOOOs for
the construction Of the canal, which has been
frequently spoken OF in Congress- is accurate
the remuneration OF the Oliver-Bangs Combina-
ton would be S9.450,000 In case 1t to
ceive the contract. Much discussion has been
caused by the great difference In the four bids
received. they ranged from $40 TO 2S per cent
THE BIDS RECEIVED.
The following among the bids received
for the completion of the construction Of the
Isthrnian Canal as announced by the commits
sion:
Bid No 2, of william ]. Oliver, Of Knoxville.
City BID 6s o e 1e s per to bs
hxed as provided in contract
The statement furnished by these bidders shows
that the assets of william J. M Oliver exceed ms iia
Lnson NJ Bangs exceed his liabilities by more than
fuhs Bsngs sthts hsys tha o4eds a and
means OF credits more than ample to hnance an
5e S,cS viii be furnished commission If desired
This bid was accompanied by certified check on
the Commercial Natlonai oaiih' oi washington -
William ]. Oliver has been IN the th i af