The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-05-16

by vote Oh ten 10 three LhO SAtJ
council last night awarded the con-
tract for the construction of Fargo's
proposed filtration plant to James
Kennedy for $s6,22O. Aldermen Bo-
lene, Bowers, Cupler, Frenette, Green,
Harrington, Jardine, Mcdonald, Peter
son and Stewart favored Mr.. Kennedy's
bid and Aldermen Cooper, dollhouse
and Sonquist voted against It, Alder
man Hanson was not present at the
meeting, being out of the city.
The session last evening was
stormy one. w. ]. Price Of the Fargo
Plumbing & Heating Co., one of the
competing contractors stirred things
up and exchanged words with Mayor
Lowell and James Kennedy, the sue
cessful contractor.
The AIlis- Chalmers Co. was awarded
the contract for the pumping engine
at $12,625. The boiler contract was
awarded to the Minneapolis Steel &
Machinery CO. for $7,547, and the
proper officers of the city were order
ed to enter into a contract with these
firms for the instruments authorized
by the council at the session last
evening.
Opening Of Meeting.
The meeting opened with the re-
port of Charles Burdick, the consult
ing engineer employed by the city to
assist in the investigation of the bids
In his report Mr.. Burdick gave sum-
mary Of the bids very briefly and
recommended that the bid of James
Kennedy be the one accepted.
Burdicks report also showed the
city how the expense of the filtration
plant could be curtailed II 1t was de-
sired to do so by the council. He sa1d
that the council could, as one big item
of expense, curtail the cost to the ex-
tent of $4,000 by doing away with the
softening features of the plant. How
ever. he did not advise this but simply
offered it as a suggestion. He also
gave a number of other suggestions
along this line and cited the disad-
vantages in each case.
The report of the fire and water
committee was then read which was a
resolution that the city council accept
the bids Of James Kennedy for the con-
struction of the filtration plant; Of the
Allis- Chalmers Co., for the pumping
engines, and the Minneapolis Steel &
Machinery Co, for the boilers at the
price named in the resolution, respect
lively, $s6,22O, $12,625 and $7,547.
Wanted to Hear Contract.
Alderman Sonquist then arose and
asked to hear the contract read which
was proposed for the city to enter
into with Mr.. Kennedy. Mayor Lowell
explained that the contract had been
drafted by the engineers employed by
the city and pains had been taken to
look after the interests of the city as
well as safeguarding the contractor
He stated further that the different
items had been gone over carefully
and the engineers had arrived at the
conclusion that Mr.. Kennedy was the
lowest bidder on the plant.
The contract was then read in full
by City Auditor Orchard.
Alderman Frenette wanted to hear
from someone regarding the figures
for the plant He was DESTROYS OF
knowing how the city was going to
pay for the plant IL 1t was to cost sc
much as the resolution seemed to In
dictate.
The mayor explained that 1t was
possible for the city to use some o.
the money appropriated for an cleo
trio light plant since some OF thu
funds would go toward supplying
power plant which would furnish
power to the electric light plant.
Price Starts to Talk.
w 7 rrioa rosa and asked the coun.
ell if he could have few minutes t
talk to the body as a bidder and {
citizen.
To this Mayor Lowell replied to Mr.
Price, that, in view of his having beer
heard by the water committee and th'
engineers of the city, furthermore hay
ing addressed communication to th'
citizens, it would be presumed that h
would ask for very little Of the coun
ellis time, and trusted that he woult
| not exceed thirty minutes.
First" said Mr.. Price, II want t
publicly express myself. I was no
properly heard by the engineers. a
was stated by the mayor"
| The mayor objected to the use Q
the word properly by Price and sai'
( that he did not want to be misquoted
To this Mr.. Price stated that he wa
not at the council meeting to b
| quizzed.
4 Mr.. Price continued: II was no
i heard on the power end of this con
tract After the engineers had bee
Il in session and when was talking t
them the city engineer was called t
the long distance telephone. Later h
was seen coming from the office 0
the mayor. He left me in the mean
time with the water committee. ! wa
not given the opportunity to bid on tn
revised plans and specifications.
was given to understand that Kennel
was the lowest bidder and that tn
committee was going to see II his bi
could be cut down.
II do not think that the city's In
terests are being conserved in allow
ing this contract. regret THAI I ar