The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1909-02-10
BRiDGE CONTRACT
UNDER SUSPICION.

Representative Harrison of Green.
wood Claims That Wyse Ferry
Bridge Will Cost $1,000
Too Much.
Under the above heading The Co.
lumbia State on Thursday published
the following interesting article on
the steel bridge for which contract
was let several weeks ago:
Is there graft in bridge building?
Ia there an understanding among
bridge builders that certain territory
is to be allotted to each?
Isit true that bids submitted in such
respective territory are merely 'com-
plimentary?"
Is it fact that after contracts are
let, alterations are made by which the
successful bidderg gets a large percent
age of profit?
The above questions have for months
been puzzling some young engineers
of this State, men of unimpeachable
integrity. The first issue was made
yesterday at Lexington, when Hon.
Wade G. Harrison of Greenwood ap-
peared before the grand jury and
charged that the county is being
mulcted to the extent of $1,000 in one
bridge contract, the total value Of
which is S1s, 800.
In ether words, Mr.. Harrison sub
mitted for others proposal to dupli-
cate the work for $11, 900, and in prov
ing his good faith he offered a certi-
fed check for 81 900 as forfeit
The grand jury complacently heard
the statements but had taken no ac-
ton up to last night. 1t is expected
that developments will follow today.
Following the great food of last Au-
gust, some young engineers saw that
many thousands of dollars must be
spent at once in replacing the bridges
washed away. Purposing to engage
in legitimate business, they decided
to try to get as much of this work as
possible under legitimate competition.
In visiting several localities they were
.astonished at the conditions prevail.
ing at the awarding of contracts upon
the basis of alleged competitive bid
ding. :,
among the bidders, which was in it.
self suspicious, and some openly
taunted others with bribing and offer.
ing bribes to county officials. Gradu-
ally these novices began to get the
idea that it was useless to submit bids
unless they "stood in" with the inner
circles, for should they be 80 fortu.
nate as to submit the lowest bids they
would later find that all sorts of obsta.
cles had been placed in the way of
their getting material.
This matter came to the attention
of Mr.. Harrison. He has quietly been
making observations for several
months and has had the assistance OF
others who have been as sincerely in
terested, and the result has been that
they think they have a clear case.
Mr.. Harrison will at later time sub
nit to the general assembly some affi-
davitslwhich will give support to his
bill to have all proposals for bridge
contracts reviewed by a competent
engineer or board of engineers.
Mr.. Cosgrove in the house and DR..
Crosson in the senate have bills along
the lines of the reforms advocated by
Mr.. Harrison.
Some time ago Mr.. Harrison was
Informed by Mr.. Thos. w. Cothran of
Greenwood that Mr.. J. w. Burgett, a
bridge contractor, could give some
v-luable information with reference
to the letting of bridge contract in
Lexington county. Mr.. Burgett later
in person confirmed to Mr.. Harrison
the statements made in Mr.. Cothran's
letter. MIR. Burgett furthermore con-
frmed these charges in a conversa-
ton with Senator Niels Christensen,
Jr.
Mr.. Harrison had conference with
the new supervisor in Lexington and
made Photographic copies of the rec
ords in the matter. Yesterday the
grand jury Of Lexington county noti-
fed MIR. Harrison that his presence
was desired. Accordingly he went to
Lexington and invited Senator Chris
tensen to accompany him to confirm
certain statements. These were in
effect as follows:
uoO d was w w ooAo W
Lexington county over Saluda river
at Wyse's ferry, about nine miles
northwest of Columbia. That Mr..
Burgett conferred with the former su
pervisor, G. H. Koon, and that the
supervisor stated "he expected some
thing out of it,: Burgett accordingly
raised his figures on hauling from
$3.50 to $500 and let the supervisor
have the hauling. Burgett claimed
that he submitted the lowest bid S15,-
400, but that the Carolina Engineer
ing company of Burlington, N. O.,
got the contract for $4,000.
Burgett stated that his agreement
with the supervisor was that Burgett
was to submit bid in blank land the
supervisor agreed to put the figures
on the bid when he opened it," He
claims that this was done and that he
was the lowest bidder.
When this became known to Mr..
Harrison he advised the Southern
Highway Bridge company Of Green
wood and they made al investigation,
and later submitted report with a
bi1-accompanied by check for
$1,000 to guarantee good faith-in
which they agreed to build the bridge