The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-11-23
CITY MAY BUILD WELL LATER
cleary, White, Newman Company and
Carroll Brothers of Chicago the Only
Bidders-Place the Price Above
S34oO.

| Bids were opened by the street as
sessment committee of the common
council on Friday afternoon for the
construction of the receiving well
which is to be a part Of the trunk
sewer system and the two bids re-
ceived for the work were so far above
the estimate Of the city engineer as
to give the impression that there was
a mistake in the bids. The two bid
ders were the Cleary, White, Newman
Company, contractors for the sewer
and Carroll Brothers of Chicago a
company not known to construction
work in Kenosha. The Cleary, White,
Newman Company nosed out the other
bidder for the job by a little over
$500, but the contract price offered is
nearly three times the amount of the
estimate of the city engineer Of the
cost of building the well.
The bid of the Cleary, White, New
man Company was $3,46425 and that
of Carroll Brothers 1895. Carroll
Brothers had no communication with
the city engineer before placing the
ibid, but the Cleary, White, Newman
Company secured two sets of the blue
prints for the we'll and it is supposed
that the second bidder secured his
facts from the contracting company.
City Engineer Baltzer's estimate Of
the cost OF the well was $3.50. When
seen this morning the engineer said:
f'sI was very much surprised at the
two bids we received for the well and
on the face of it the bids would indi-
cate that the competition was not as
keen as could be desired by the city.
The cost Of the work as named in both
of the bids is out of all reason. The
of excavation and the putting in of
1119 cubic yards of concrete. When
we placed the estimate at $1,250 we
felt that we were giving the contrac-
tors plenty of margin. The excava-
tions for the work at fifty cents a
cubic yard would amount to $500 and
giving the contractor the same price
as paid for the concrete in the trunk
sewer it would be worth a little over
$1,100. I believe that this concrete
Gan be put in at a figure under $40 a
yard, the amount set in the sewer con-
tract. We have advised the contrac-
tors that we will not recommend the
letting of. a contract on the figures
named in the bids and if necessary it
seems certain to me that the city can
construct ~this well at cost far be-
low the amount named.'
The Cleary, White, Newman Com
pany seems to hold that this well must
be a part of the trunk sewer contract
as they hold that the contract pro-
vides for an increasing of the amount
of work to be done and that the speci-
fcations bid on provided for the build
ing Of this well as one of the Eek
tras' There seems to be little doubt
but that the company has asked all
that the work is worth and it is prob
able that the city council will have an
open break with the contractors before
permitting them to get contract at
several times the estimate of the cost
of the work. The probability of the
sewer being finished on time is not
great and if necessary the city could
| leave the construction of the well over
until next spring and it is possible that
at that time other bidders will be Sc
cured who will be able to give more
advantageous figures.
At the same time the committee
opened bids for the building of the
sewer on Racine avenue. Bernard and
Iversen were low bidders for the work,
their bid being $1.54 per foot. 1t is
probable that this contract will be LET
by the council on Monday night in
order to allow the sewer to be COM
pleted before the end of the present
year.
There were no objections to the paw
ing of Exchange street between Dem
ing and Pearl streets and this matter
will 90 forward at once