The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-07-30
| G O N TIN u E D
r o
P A G E. O N f
CLAIMED THE BRICK

when making bids he will take sec
Ond quality brick into considera-
ton, and therefore make his bids
that much lower.
The Hill company didn't want to
get this quality of brick. That is
very easy to discover by looking
into the circumstances surrounding
their negotiations for the brick to
be used on their job. but, by de-
sire to obtain brick at less than the
standard price. they We're forced
into position which scarcely
leaves them loophole.
When the contract was let, a
couple of months ago. the price was
$4,000. and was $4,000 below the
estimate although they would not
offer to put in about 100000 worth
of sewers, etc, which the next low
est bidder was willing to include
in his figures. The competition for
the plum was keen in the extreme
and some people resented the Chi
cago company butting into local
territory.
But they landed the contract. and
Immediately negotiated for the
quantity of brick that they would
require for the gutter and the
pavement. Figures were received
from the Denny-Renton Clay Co.
and We're about to be accepted, and
the brick ordered, when Charles
Oudin of the American Fire Brick
Co. of Spokane offered to furnish
the bricks at lower price. Nego-
tiations with the Denny concern,
which has headquarters in Seattle
were called off and the million and
half brick ordered from Oudin.
The first week in July the Hill
people were informed that they
couldn't get the required brick
from Oudin, as his plant was in
adequate to supply such large
number in the specified time. So
the wires were STARTED buzzing
between Spokane and Seattle and
the Hill company was informed
that 1t would be impossible to get
any of the first quality brick be-
fore October 1. This would be too
late to complete the job on speci-
fled time and some alternative was
sought. The Denny-Renton COM
pany finally offered to give some
brick which wasn't so much in de-
mand, and which is is claimed by
contractors is what is known as
second quality brick.
M'CARTNEY's STATEMENT.
The Hill people asked City En-
gineer Mccartney If he would pass
the brick. Friday night, July 8,
with Commissioner { Armstrong,
secretary of the board of public
works, he went to Seattle and in
spected the brick, His decision
was that It woui 10, and accord
fngIy The brick was ordered, and
what isn't already IN Spokane is
on the way. I'm speaking of the
reason fox allowing the use of this
brick City Engineer Mccartney
SAID this morning:
'Iil stake my reputation as an
engineer on the brick being good
enough for the purpose-for | am
allowing it to be used only for the
gutter. In fact, it is really bet
ter brick for the purpose than first
quality brick, as it is harder being
brick which was nearer the fire.
II, therefore, will not absorb water,
and although / will admit that it is
not as good looking brick, it is
lust as serviceable. and though
warped. as long as it isn't used for
paving Il will be quite good enough.
II knew that there there would
be a holler about this brick as
soon as allowed it to be used, but
I am watching that Brownies addi-
ton Job very closely. visiting 1t
practically every day, and you can
take It from me that no brick will
20 n there that isn't good enough.
I didn't want to hold up the job
till next year.
ssThere are twto or three blocks
where this brick cannot be used. on
ACCOUNT Of the grade, and here
there viii have to be more regular
bricks nut in. These can be OBJ
tanned from Oudin, ~ ] inspected
sOme bricks which he. had ready
II his place yesterday. and about
10000 viii be hard enough for the
purpose 49,.
brtchs, a. far as he knew and had
beou Informed, were not any cheap
~ than the first quality bricks.
Ho admitted. however, that from
1ho standpoint Of the Denny peo-
- ~ bricks sold to the Hill peo-
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