The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-13
CONTRACT GOES TO U. s. WOOD
 PRESERVINGCO.
Former Action to Award to Silliman & Godfrey Rescinded Because
 of Ordinances.
CITY ATTORNEY CLEARED
 UP THE ATMOSPHERE

CITY ATTORNEY CLEARED
 UP TIE ATMOSPHERE
 The Amount Saved by City by Letting
 to Lowest Bidder is $44I.8O but Con-
 tract is not Binding upon City Unles! Grooved Rails are Laid by Connecti'
 cut Company.
 By vote of 3 to the Aldermanic | Street committee voted last night to reSclnd its former action in awarding
 the contract for furnishing American creosote wood blocks to Silliman & Godfrey. By the same vote it voted
 to award the contract to the U. s. Wood Preserving Co.,, whose bid was five cents a square foot less than that of Silliman & Godfrey. The city is not bound by the contract unless grooved rails are laid in Main street.
 By the action of the committee in changing it's action the sum of $441 is saved to the city. Aldermen Griffin and Bertilson did not like the idea of the committee changing it's position. vote was taken: ''I don't see iany use in doing this. The committee is apt to change again as soon as it gets hold of another string"
 Alderman Bertilson was real angry because the committee changed it's mind, and before the meeting was over he was in a, state of mind to build a fence around the Third district and have it set apart from the rest of the city.
 The opinion of City Attorney Thomas M. Cullinan rendered to the committee last night, showed that the committee had not conformed with the city ordi- nances when it voted to award the contract to Silliman 6. Godfrey. He said that this firm had been been ''the lowest responsible bidder"
 There was considerable discussion between the Mayor and the members of the committee relative to the merits of wood blocks and when they had fin ished Alderman Fletcher declared he had heard nothing that proved to him that the contract should go to the highest bidder.
 Alderman Tague said he wanted it understood that he had voted for American creosote wood block at previous meeting because he believed as Alderman Fletcher was absent when the bids were opened he had voted to break the tie for the Silliman & God frey bid although he would have pre- ferred to have voted for the lowest bidder. He said that he was willing at this time to vote to award the con tract to the U. s. Wood Preserving Co. providing there was no chance that the American Creosote Co. could col- lect damages.
 City Attorney Cullinan did not see how there could be any comeback
 Alderman Bertilson said that he had was satisfied that American creosote blocks were the best.
 Alderman Griffin said he had seen U. s. wood block laid in New Haven and that it was in deplorable condi- ton, and he was not in favor of it. The Alderman said that when it came down to a question of lowest bidder, the Barber Asphalt Co.,, which. had offered to supply wood block at $1.66, was really the lowest bidder. Direc- tor Biltz said the Barber bid did not comply with the specifications Aas it provided for a water delivery and that the city had no way of handling de- livery by water without extra cost. He said that blocks to cover about 5, 900 yards would proba bly, arrive at once ana 1t would necessitate the pill ing of the material along the curb stone in Main street and blocking up the street for several weeks. He said that car shipments were preferable because they brought the blocks in 300 yard lots and that they could be laid as fast as they were un1oaded. 5 Alderman Griffin moved that the contract be awarded to Silliman & at $1.90 per square yard, said to be binding on the part of the city only if grooved rails are laid. The motion was lost with Berti1sOn and Griffin voting for it, and Hartley, Fletcher and Tague against.
 Mayor Lee next asked Director Biltz which was the best wood block. He replied that he had made examinations of pavements in Springfield, New Ha- ven and this city. As for the Wyck- ] off block laid in this city he said it had stood up we'll, but because of the Ilx fvr sk 1,r <@f ion that it was softer block than that | of the U. S. Wood Preserving Co. As l for the latter block he said it was laid in this city on Berkshire bridge l and on the Stratford avenue bridge. | On the Stratford avenue bridge he be- | lieved the block was given as hard | as it could be given any place | in the country and it was wearing block in Springfield that had been down since 1901 and it was in good | condition. There was no doubt in | his mind that the U. S. Wood Preserv- block pavement and had laid more wood block in this country than any other concern. As for the American ,reosote block he declared that it had U. s. Wood Preserving Co.'S block.
 The Mayor then asked which was he block for the city to buy-the U. 5. at $1.S5 a square ward, or the hat the U. s. block was the proper block to purchase under the condi- ions.
 Next the Mayor put the same ques- ions to City Engineer McKenna, and le agreed with the director that both blocks had stood the tests they had been put to.
 On the motion of Alderman Fletcher he action of the committee taken on March 26 awarding the contract to silliman & Godfrey was rescinded on he ground that the bid was not the owest, in compliance with the city or finances. The motion was carried.
 Alderman Fletcher next moved that he bid of the Wyckoff Pipe & Creo- oting Go. be rejected, the Wyckoff pecffications not being satisfactoryI