Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1910-06-10
THE PRISON JOB

for the installing of the cells in the
new prison which has been the
cause of a large amount of crltl-
.ism owing to the fact that there
was a difference of about S1O,OO0
between the bids. The bid of the
Nevada Engineering Works being
accepted over that of the Mesker
Brothers.
Mr.. Douglass said: "The entire
matter is this. We gave the con-
tract to the Mesker Brothers
several years ago to install the cells
in the old prison and the work has
never proven to be satisfactory.
The locking device never worked
satisfactory to the Warden and has
caused more or Less trouble all the
time. When the cells were
built at the present prison, this
same company bid on the work and
agreed to replace the old locking
device. This they never did and at
this time there is about $500 of the
money held up which will never be
paid to them until they make good
on their contract. The locking
device on the new cells at the old
prison is not of the class that we
should have and for this reason we
are not inclined to believe their
promises.
When we advertised for bids
we stated that a certified check
should accompany every bid in an
amount of five per cent of the price
bid. This Mesker Company sent
an individual check which was not
certified nor was it endorsed and
was simply a valueless piece of
paper as far as we we're concerned.
TIE plan and specifications also
ca led for a model of 1.-THE locking
devices and the cells or detailed
specifications and drawings but the
company ignored this part of the
matter altogether and all they filed
were two or three blue prints.
"Stoddard favored the Stewart
people and their bid while !
fayored that of the Nevada Engin.
eering Works forthe simple reason
that it was a home concern and be-
lieved that it would be best to keen
the work at home. In order to
settle the matter Stoddard voted
with me to give the contract to the
Nevada Engineering Works. | am
satisfied that the state is going to
get a good job, a piece of work
that will be everlasting and will
also save a large amount of work
in the future in locking up and
turning out the prisoners each day.
I'VE did not consider the Mcsker
Company as bidders who should be
considered for the simple reason
that every piece of work that they
had done for us in the past had
proved to be cheap and unsatis-
factory and we felt that they could
not be depended on at this time.
The law reads that we should build
. modern, up-to-datc " prison and
felt that we could not comply
this portion of it by giving
the bid too this company.
What in the world is the use of
building a new prison if it is not TO
be any better than the one we have
now. Had this company have
given us a good class of cells and
locking device when they installed
The cells in the old prison it would
been different as they could
been taken out and used in
he new prison but rs il now they
are almost a loss to us. You can
see that we we're stung
vice and did not feel that we
doing our duty to the state
~ falling into the same trap.
we are aware that some of the
knockers of the state are crying
but as far as we are concerned
whole matter is open to invcsti-
for we have simply given
bid to the parties who we
believe will be best fitted to do the
work and will do it in the best
manner.
This matter of the building of
he new prison is one that has held
for a long time and one over
which / for a long time have lost
/ large amount of sleep trying TO
tudy the matter out. For ovor
Eighteen months the build;no ,o.