The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-08-13

The council last night decided to
reject an exceptionally low bid for put
ting in the Sixth street sewer for the
sole reason that the successful bidder
was an outside man. This action was
not taken until the matter had been
aired, and the opponents Of such
course had reminded the council that
the interests of large number of
property owners ought to be considered
as well as those of one local contrac
tor. The outside bidder, who showed
himself to be very gentlemanly and
good natured in spite of the time and
expense wasted in coming to Mankato,
asked to have his check returned, so that
he could take the first train out of
town. The councils action was looked
upon by many present as mistake,
and two local bidders who were present
said that they did not uphold it, and
one thought the council had done
wrong.
The board of public works reported
favorably upon the curbing and gutter
ing of portions of certain streets, and
estimated the expense as about 65
cents a lineal foot. The report was
adopted, and the matter was referred
back to the board of public works I'M
der order No. 2.
The board presented a report of the
bids on the Sixth street sewer, and
the award of the contract to L. H.
Skiff of Brookings, S. d., the lowest
bidder.
AID Pass moved that the award be
confirmed. This was not seconded, and
Aid Mahowald moved that the bids
be rejected and new bids called for.
He thought that it could be done
cheaper later on,
Would Leave the Money Here.
Mr.. Skiff said that he intended to
buy material of local dealers, and hire
local men and spend the money here.
This is the best time to do the work.
Later, the days are shorter and in the
spring there is danger of trouble with
water.
Engineer Wilson stated that the bid
was $500 lower than the estimate.
Mayor Meyer did not see that there
was any reason for throwing out the
bid.
AID Pass said that the city had
called for bids from everybody, and
Mr. Skiff had come in good faith and
had put up check. The bid was low
one and this is the cheapest time of
the year for building a sewer.
Mr.. Skiff said that he had the equip
ment and was ready to 60 to work in
week or ten days.
The motion to reject the bids was
! carried, four to two, Aids. Lloyd and
Pass voting no. Aid. Pass called it a
| 'skin game" and not right. He called
| it dishonest.
Mr.. Skiff said that if the council
had told him that it did not want
outside bidders he would not have gone
to the expense of coming here. He had
to meet outside competition in his city.
Property Owners Get Worst of 1t.
Mayor Meyer said that the trouble
with Mankato has been that too much
thought has been given to the contractors
and not enough for the interests of the
property owners who have to stand the
bleeding" for the benefit of local con-
| tractors. He was glad that Mr.. Skiff
had come.
B. T. Monson denied that there was
any local association of plumbers to
keep the prices up.
Mayor Meyer said that there had
been an association, and if Mr.. Mon
son did not know about it, it was
because he was new in the business.
The city had been at the mercy of
"a similar combination of cement men.
AID Eichstaedt moved that public
necessity requires that the block on
Fourth be paved with tar macadam and
that the matter be referred to the
board of public works under order No.
l, and this was carried.
Ladies' Seminary Encouraged
Rev. A. F. Winter addressed the
meeting and desired assurances that
! the water and sewer systems be eX
L
tended to the location of the proposed
new ladies' seminary of the Evangelical
Lutheran Educational association.
Aid. Hampl did not wish to def
nitely go on record unless the site was
known.
Rev. Winter named the four sites pro-
posed
City Engineer Wilson thought that
the Mcmahon hill site could be reach
ed by way of the proposed new Sixth
street sewer.
Aid. Eichstaedt said that as long as
the citizens have gone down into their
pockets and raised bonus to get the
plant, the council would not be so
narrow as to refuse to extend the sew
er and water systems, He moved that
it was the sense of the council that the
city extend the systems to any reas-
enable distance, and this was carried.
A number of property owners on
Poplar street petitioned that this street
from Pike to &c" streets be sprinkled
the rest of the season. and the council