The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-04-17
SPECIFICATIONS
NOT CONSIDERED
BY FISCAL COURT
Bidders Must Go 1t Blind on
the Kind of Bridge County
Wants.
Blue Print of One Bidder is
Adopted.
ONE CONTRACTOR wITHDRAws

without a single specification and |
no plans. excepting a blue print fur
lnished by former Road Supervisor
Bert Johnson, now one of the bid |
ders, the fiscal court has invited bids 1
for the construction of a concrete
bridge over Clark's river, giving the
bidders twelve days in which to visit |
the site. take measurements and pre- |
pare specifications, as best they can
with the. meager blue print, and fur
Irish their bids, not knowing whether !
the material they suggest and the
manner OF construction will be satis-
factory to the fiscal court. II Is said
by engineers that specifications for a
bridge will I'LL good sized book and
detail plans must be drawn to show
the character OF the structure. The
water is said to be too high now to
AFFORD a chance to take measurements
and soundings, and some engineers
declare the time Is too short in which
to prepare the bids, with specihca-
lions and drawings. II the work could
start at once and be carried on with
out interruption.
Eight bids for the construction of
concrete bridges over Clark's river
and Perkins creek were in the pos
session of County Road Supervisor
John Thompson when fiscal court met
this morning in special session for
the purpose of awarding the contract.
Each contractor furnished his own
plans and own specifications, but the
bids were not opened and a blue
print made by Bert johnson, formerly
county road supervisor, and one of
the bidders. of the proposed Clark's
river bridge was adopted by the fiscal
court. No specifications are men
tioned with the blue print, more than
that the length of the bridge, the
height and elevation figures are on
the blue print.
The action of the court In adopt
ing the blue print of Mr.. johnson.
led to Mr.. James Caldwell. of the
Caldwell Concrete company. with
drawing.
/ hO NOANQ W POotbOAC
the opening of bids until the next
regular meeting, which will be May 4
The county has no plan of the bridge
and County Judge Ligtfoot proposed
that Mr.. johnson allow the county TO
use his plans. Mr.. Johnson drew
forth a blue print of the bridge and
on motion of Magistrate c. w. Emery
II was adopted.
Neither the plan OF the Caldwell
Concrete company. nor OF any other
bidders, were considered. Mr.. Cald-
well withdrew his plans.
The postponement will give bid
ders chance to bid on the bridge,
according to the blue print, but II
Twas stated by an engineer that the
thine was so short that IL would be
Impossible to get bids from local bid
lders, much less from foreign bidders
At the present stage of the water II
Is quite impossible to get sufficient
data for a bridge.
Steel Equipment.
The bids OF the Van Horn Iron
Works and the Art Metal company
for the equipping OF the circuit
lclerk's Office with steel files were
Opened, but the placing of the con-
tract was left with the special COM
lmittee, consisting of Magistrates
Emery, Broadfoot and Gholson. The
Art Metal company bid $1,IO6 on
1.-THE complete job, while the bid of
the competitor was $1.OS5. The plans
lof the two firms were different and
II was left with the committee to de-
lcide which was the cheaper bid.
To Protest Raise.
The ten per cent increase on real
estate In McCracken county by the
state board of equalization was re-
ported. and County Judge Lightfoot
appointed F. NJ. Fisher. County As
SCISSOR Troutman and Richard Davis
Ito go TO Frankfort and protest
slagainst the increase. County Judge
.ILightfoot himself will attend IN |
II In a few months County Judge
|, lLightfoot will retire from office. and
the court appointed Magistrate Bur
nett 10 secure an accountant 20 CO.
loperate in checking up the Office. pre-
Iparatory to turning 1t over his sue
: lcessor.
z A bin Of Sheriff John OgllvIe for
5 ls44155 was allowed by the court
o lTbe bill originated as the result OF an
: Terror in making the settlement with
L 1.-THE county