The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1911-05-25
MAY CHANGE SPECIFICATIONS
Contractors Appeal to Officials for Aid
When Ready to Start Work and
Promise to Make Equitable Settle
ment if Plans are Changed.

Fearing an indefinite tie up on the
trunk sewer as a result of the strike
in Chicago which has put an end to
the movement of building materials
the officials of the Cleary, White, New
man company this morning appealed to
the officials of the city to take into
consideration the proposed change in
the specifications for the sewer which
would result in the cutting out of the
brick invert. The matter is now in the
hands of the engineers of the city and
the company and it is possible that a
special meeting will be called at which
the aldermen will take up the propos-
ed change in specifications and make
some definite settlement of the matter.
President Cleary of the company was
in Kenosha this morning and in speak
ing Of the matter he said: E'We are
ready to start work on the Kenosha
sewer, but we are tied hand and foot
on account of the strike in Chicago
We have placed orders for brick, but
have been given no assurance that
shipments can be made inI>three months
and if the council insists on this part
Of the specifications it will be neces-
sary for us to delay the work Of
starting the sewer until brick can be
secured. We have dene everything in
our power to secure the shipment of
brick to Kenosha, but the brick con-
Germs are ninty days behind in their
orders at the present time and we shall
be forced to wait our turn. We believe
that we can give the people of the
city better sewer with the brick in
vert left out. Authorities agree that
the concrete invert is just as good and
even better than the brick and that it
will wear longer to say nothing Of the
much smoother job that can be given
with the sewer completed entirely of
concrete.1 The specifications cali for
a twelve inch concrete sewer, but if
the brick is put in this must weakened
as the brick and the mortar used in
laying them will take up six inches
of this. We want to be fair with the
city and to this end we are willing to
cut our contract to a reasonable
amount. I believe that if the matter
is properly presented to the people
that they will see it is to their ad-
vantage to make the change"
The officials of the company have
suggested that the contract be reduced
$1,000 if the change is made, but this
figure does not meet the demands of
the city officials who hold that if the
change is made it should be made on
an equitable basis and that the amount
deducted from the contract should be
exactly the difference in the cost of
the two inverts The cost of the brick
invert from the standpoint Of the ma
terial is figured at $500 and the cost
of the concrete would be considerably
less than this amount. The engineers
of the company and the city are to
make figures in regard to the differ
ence Of the cost using the different ma
terials and then the council will be
able to act intelligently.
The machinery of the company began
to reach Kenosha this morning and it
is stated that the work will be started
the middle of the week.. Of course if
the city council insists on the brick
invert it will be up to the contractor
to live up to the very letter Of the
contract.