Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-01
NOT DECIDED
AS TO PLANS
Council Defers Action on the
Method of Securing Bids
for Filter Plant.
PROPOSITIONS ARE MADE
Three Engineers Submit Figures for
Making Sketches-Prince Is
Allowed Amount of Bill.

The city council is undecided as
to the best methods of procedure to
secure plans, specifications and bids.
for the construction of the proposed
mechanical filter plant on the hill
propositions were submitted last
evening by John w. Alvord, George
L. Prince and City Engineer Wallace
Treichler, for the preparation of the
plans. Mr.. Alvord wired from Ke-
nosha that he would do the work for
$1,000, and begin Immediately. Mr.
Prince proposes to prepare the plans
and supervise the work for three and
one-half per cent of the cost, the
city to pay an assistant whom he will
appoint to personally direct the work
or four and one-half per cent of the
cost If he assumes all responsibility
Tor the supervision, and pays his as
sistants. The city, under his propo-
sition. must pay his expenses if he
rs required to leave the city in the
interests of the construction work.
Mr.. Treichler proposes to prepare
the plans and specifications in detail
for $500. He provides that the plans
so prepared shall be passed on by
the engineers of the filter companies,
and by at least one of the prominent
engineers of the country who shall
have designed and successfully oper-
ated at least four filter plants.
other Plans Proposed.
Alderman Blochlinger proposed
that the plans already approved be
revised to meet the requirements of
a plant or the hill and that the bid
ders submit their propositions on
these and the report of the engineers
as basis. Alderman Tuckis object
ed that if this method is pursued. the
city when the bids come in will be
just where it was before, and it will
be necessary to again employ an en-
gineer to determine which of the
plans is the best. He favored the
idea advanced in the report of the
engineers, that steps be taken to pre-
pare the plans in as much detail as
possible, so that when the bids come
in there will be an easier and fairer
comparison of price.
Alderman Thompson proposed to
inform the companies that made bids
on the plant at the river site that the
city wants plant on the hill, and let
them make plans and specifications,
considering the report of the engi-
neers and the specifications on which
they first bid.
Would Eliminate One.
Alderman Tuckis firmly adhered &c
the idea that the city should have the
plans prepared in detail by an engi-
neer. But | will say in open coun.
Gil that | am strongly opposed to the
employment of one of these engi
neers," he said. Later it developed
through an explanation made outside
of the meeting that the alderman:
objection to one of the engineers
is due to a report to the effect tina
there was change made in the or
der of the bids recommended in case
the city decided to go ahead with thu
work on the river front. 1t was re
ported that the order of the cOmpa
MES was changed between the TIM
the report was finally agreed upon b.
the two engineers, and the time TIN
report was submitted to the cit,
council. AS all bids were rejected
the change is of no consequence. ex