Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-12-12
PAYING COMBINE AT LINCOLN
Capital City Also Feels Effect Of the
Wood Block Combination.
INCREASED PRICE is PAID
Outside Firms Have No chance to
Get Any OF the work Because
OF the strong CLIQUE
witch Rules.

The exposure or the Kettle River and
Republic creotots wood block paving COM
bire IN Minneapolis has led TO an inves-
tisadon not only in Omaha, but has also
thrown some light on the situation at
Lincoln, II Is asserted that the brick
paving combine has dictated prlces Sc
leeted contractors and raked off sub
stantial bonus each year An Omaha firm
Is mentioned IN the exposure
Two firms. Abdel q Roberts OF Lincoln
and NJ. Ford & Co. OF Omaha, have been
doing all the bidding on brick paving IN
Lincoln, once or twice another firm has
entered the field, but has found the com
bine too strong TO successfully combat
Local contractors have admitted that
they are at the mercy OF the combine,
are working with It aud have been forced
to aeaulesce in its plans, although they
believe IN less hampered competition.
Taxpayer IL Bumped.
The contracts let during the summer
were grabbed by the combine at price
limited only by the estimates OF the city
engineer. These prices were from 10 TO -
cents per yard higher than two years
ago when two Independent firms were
/ furnishing material. The average price
this year is 10 per cent higher than In 1905
and 1909 In 1919 Lincoln put In Sls2 00o
worth OF pavement and this year II was
considerable more, The increase in the
cost paid by the taxpayers, win go az
profit into the treasury OF the combine.
Combines Power Absolute.
Three years ago the cotfeyvllle, Phoe-
nix and Buffalo brick manufacturers
furnished much material, allA OF which
stood the tests OF the city engineer. Now
no paving brick is offered In Lincoln that
Is not made by the manufacturers In the
combine The three companies mentioned
are included In the combine and inde-
ptndent companies. which fought the com.
bine for a while are now under control
and when bids are submitted by them II
Is with the quality provision that owing
TO excessive demands no brick can be
furnished this year"
Omaha Contractor Approached.
IAN Omaha contractor who has beer
combining his efforts to Iowa during the
last two years talked with an official
OF the PurlnEton Brick company about
securing that brick at reasonable price,
says the Lincoln Journal 'He was told
that they could do nothing for him In
Lincoln or Omaha but the official added
that II the contractor would go out int
undeveloped territory and work up
business he would be taken care of.
How scheme il Worked.
AS told by contractors who have triet
repeatedly to break in on the business
the scheme is this The Lincoln terri
tory for combine brick is in the hand
OF an Omaha firm, since the departur,
OF Hugh Murphy. for Denver and omahI
work only. This firm secures quotations
which no other firm can obtain, and car
: underbid any Of them, 1t does not do al
the work. Favored contractors can OBJ
: tain the various kinds OF brick controlie
; by the combine and this includes prac
tically all Glasses Of paving brick within
; reach Of Lincoln, but every such favore
contractor must pay a royalty for ever
yard Of brick delivered TO him. 1t is sal
TO range from 6 to 10 cents per yard, de
pending on the make of brick. This 1
, included in the price OF the brick, an
: ID not paid directly by the favored con
tractor. r.
Promotion Fees Paid,
! Another expense which the contracto
must figure when he bids is the cost q
promotion 1t has been developed that I
! Minneapolis and other places where cree
" sote block is used this cost reached a
high as 80 cents per yard. In addition on
man works up the districts. Tie is said I
: get cents per yard for his work. TIL
contractor must pay hiIu. II oontraC
with. the city could be landed by fri
= using brick not in the combine he woul
9 not be compelled to pay this promotio
charge. But II he uses combine brick h
paws the promotion charge or viii fin
himself unable to get the brick. HehC
any property owner approached by II
official promoter with a proposal to sig
petition for pavement must know thu
he will pay the generous wages OF thu
promoter In the end"