The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-12
DARK GENT
IN W0ODP|LE
COMES OUT
LAMBERT LEADS HIM FORTH
AS SCHEME TO CALL BIDS
ON PLANS FURNISHED BY
BRIDGE COMPANY.

Preliminary to the consideration
of the report of the investigating
committee on the Mission avenue
bridge, Councilman Lambert last
night brought forth the colored
gentleman in the woodpile when he
asked that the council accept a
set of free" plans for the Olive
avenue bridge from the National
Bridge Co., and have contractors
to bid on the same, along with the
plans prepared by Engineer Rails
ton.
A spokesman for the generous
hearted bridge company was on
hand and told how strong his insti-
tuition was. Asked by Councilman
Ostrander how it was that they
could afford to furnish plans free,
the bridge company agent said
that they would collect from the
contractor by inserting a clause in
the contract that he pay for the
plans
Councilman Lambert's motion as
to the bridge company's plans fol-
lowed the reading of a resolution
introduced by Peter Nelson that
the city Immediately proceed to
advertise for bids on the Ralston
plans, in order to get the work
started. Lambert, Mohr, Dalke and
Funk championed the admission of
the plans of the bridge company in
competition, and Nelson withdraw
ing his opposition, the resolution as
amended to ask for bids on both
the Ralston plans and the bridge
company plans went through.
A number of citizens who were
present as interested parties in the
building of the Olive avenue bridge
protested against the admission of
the bridge company plans, and
urged the council to adhere to the
Ralston plans previously adopted.
who is to pass upon the bridge
company's plans" was asked a
number of times, and finally Coun-
Gilman Funk responded, THE
board of public works"
Some one then wanted to know
when the board of public works
had qualified as bridge engineers.
During the discussion as to &C
cepting the new plans, there was
frequent applause from the people
interested in the new Olive bridge
when the Ralston plans were men
toned, and applause from the con
tractors supporters in the rear OF
the house when the Ralston plans
were hit, or the bridge company
plans approved.
The Mission avenue report was
taken for consideration as com
mittee of the whole, with Ostran
der in the chair After the reading
of the committee report, Engineer
Ralston gave his defense as to the
manner in which the bridge was
built. He cited the records to show
where the council had given the
board of public works full swing in
the building of the bridge, and that
the board had turned the whole
thing over to Ralston. In order
that there might be no chance for
subsequent kicks Ralston showed
that he had called the council out
to the bridge and showed them the
conditions as they had developed
and that no protest was made at
the time.
Ralston said j. S. Phillips, presi.
dent of the city council, told him
to go ahead, use his best judgment,
and that it was not necessary to
call the council together every
time there was some little change
in the bridge plans.
Ralston attacked the accuracy OF
the report of the committee and
showed where he had used so cent
more concrete than it specified and
20 per cent more steel; that his
final report will account for over
$500 more in sacks than charged
to him by the committee. He show
ed that the cost per cubic yard of
the Mission avenue bridge was low
er than the Howard street bridge,
built under a private contract, and
that longer bridge has been built
at Mission avenue than Washing
ton street at As per cent less
money.
In reply to Ralston, Councilman
Lambert called the Mission avenue
bridge gold brick and said that a
bridge worth $4,000 to $4,000 has
been foisted upon the taxpayers at
a cost that may run to $4,000.
Councilmen Mohr and Funk and
Attorney j. p. Perkins grilled Rails
ton, and at midnight the session
was continued until next Tuesday
night, at which time Ralston is
asked to make complete report
on the cost OF the bridge.
TO WHOM 1T MAY CONCERN