The Detroit times., 1913-12-16
ASPHALT BIDS
ARE CONFIRMED
WITHOUT FUSS
Unsuccessful Dealers Make No
Protest to Committee. but Will
Probably, to Council
TROUBLE EXPECTED FROM
CREOSOTE BLOCK MEN
Would Hold Up Asphalt Contract
and Substitute Their Own
Material


The common council committee on
streets. Monday morning, confirmed
without comment d. p. w. Commits
sioner FenkelPs recommendation on
bids for next years supply Of asphalt
and huxing oil. The stage was set for
the annual renewal of the fight among
the asphalt bidders, but for some un.
known reason no attempt was made
to have the confirmation OF the bids
held up. pending the usual hearing.
Attorney Allan III. Frazer was pres
ent in the meeting. supposedly as the
representative OF one Of the disgrunt-
led bidders. and Attorney James o.
Murtn. representing William Thomas.
who claims to be an agent OF the U.
b. Refining company. bidders on Mex
lean asphalt. called on COMMISSIONS
Fenkeli before the meeting to protest
against the recommendation by the
commissioners OF the Barber Asphalt
company's bid on Bermudez. but no
attempt was made to present argu.
ments before the committee.
The bids as recommended by the
commissioner call for purchase Of l.
600 tons. more or less, Of California
asphalt from the Standard Oh CON-
pany. at $685. ton. and the Quanti-
ties Of Mexican asphalt from the U. 3.
Asphalt company. at $1S.16 q ton, and
Bermudez from the Barber Asphalt
company. canal and lake shipments.
at $2S.06 a ton.
Commissioner Fenkell was quoted,
Saturday, as sayinu that he would hold
up the bid Of the Barber company on
natural asphalt until he was satisfied
that the company was giving the city
the whole benefit OF the tarin reduc-
ton. amounting to 3l.66 on what Is
known a. long ton--2,240 pounds.
h. G. Mckay. state representative OF
the Barber company, Monday morning,
supplied the commissioner with fe-
ures obtained in Chicago. and after
studying the table and listening to Mr..
McKay's explanation. tho commission
er declared that he was satisfied with
the company's bid.
There are 90 many ways of ex.
planning the effect OF the tariff reduc.
ton on the contract price OF natural
asphalt. that II is hard to determine
Just what II q fair price," said the
commissioner. However, ! am salts
fed that the Barber company is giving
the city the benefit Of the reduction
which amounts to approximately $1.6(
per ton"
There will likely be protest filec
with the council before Tuesday night
against the commissioners recommen
| a. totv ~ rY,
the manufactured product declare the
Barber company has a monopoly on
natural asphalt, excluding any at
tempts at competition.
City Asphalt Expert Proctor de-
clares that the proposed attempt to
block the acceptance Of the bids by
the council IL backed by creosote
block manufacturers, who hope to hold
up the asphalt bids until after the
frst Of the year and then substitute
creosote block. II Ii even limited that
Jake" Haarer. former u. p. W. COM
missioner, IL interested In the propo
sition and that several aldermen have
been "seen" by Haarer and his friends,
the plan being to hold up the con-
tracts until the new committee on
streets IL appointed. and then, II GER
tain council members get on the COM
mittee. to push across the creosote
block deal.
The Sun Co. is the lowest bidder
on nuxing oil at S12.75 a ton In tank
cars. There will be no fight over the
commissioners recommendation on
oil.
It Is possible that o fight would
have been staged before the commit
tee, had II not been for the rumor
that an attempt would be made to
delay the matter until the new COM
mittee 10 appointed next year. Aid.
Dingeman and Allan are rival can
didates for the council presidency. Aid.
Heating. chairman Of the committee
on streets. is a staunch Dingeman sup
porter Rather than allow the asphalt
bids to be mixed with O number Of
other things that have become q part
OF the aldermanlc fight, the Dinge-
man supporters on the committee
showed the bids through In double
quick time.
In previous years the city has used
a large quantity of Bermudez asphalt
in preference to other brands. but
next year Asphalt Expert Proctor pro-
poses to cut the natural product down
to 80 1-3 per cent. giving the bulk
OF the business 10 the companies hand
ling the artificial product.
Il look for q howl from the unsuc-
cessful asphalt bidders every year."
said Proctor.
I'm all my dealings with the asphalt
concerns and with the city have been
absolutely honest, and that Is why
have the nerve to select my own ma
terial without regard TO the threats
made by agents Of companies want
ing business In Detroit. This year
we used Mexican asphalt for the first
time, and We will use more OF II next
year. am always anxious to have
all the companies bid for our business.
but | know the quality OF the material
that want to go into the clty's
asphalt pavements. Any time they can
show me good material that Is reaF
sonable In price. am more than Will
ing TO try II. As far as the threats
OF dissatisfied agents go. do not care
a whoop what they say. II the city is
not satisfied with me then I Will re-
Sign. but | won't stand for few peo-
pie around the city hall telling me
What stun to buy and where to buy