Mower County transcript., 1913-08-06
BRIDGE | B R J 3:
BUILDING
=. }& .I5 5ntss~a ss
/ GRA!FTERS
Combination of Bridge Builders
Alleged to be Holding up
County Commissioners -Ex-
perience Of Houston County.
(FrOm Caledonia Journal }

kns (V lOm CdlouOul8 JOuTQal -
lt looks as tho the bridge building
grafters will have pretty slim picking
in Houston county hereafter if one of
our! county commissioners has his way
about It. They tried to hold up the
county for ridiculously large sum in
their bids which they submitted re-
Gently for constructing a bridge in the
northwest part Of the county. One of
the commissioners, who was on the
committee to look over the bids, made
= motion to reject the bids and it was
carried. Those who were present when
the bids we're opened then went their
way. The commissioner, who moved
that the bids be rejected, later received
q call over the phone, while at the
hotel, asking him to meet certain
party who wished to speak to him. He
h4d no more than left the hotel and
was walking up the street when he was
approached by Lacrosse party who
Voluntarily agreed to cut his bid down
from $1,000, or thereabouts, to $3.50.
The commissioner continued on his
way when, he was accosted by q st.
Paul party and he desired to change
his bid from $1,000 to $780, Things
became mighty interesting about this
time and said commissioner expressed
his opinion of the dishonesty of the
whole affair. He LII q lie it plainly
known that he did not approve of such
proceedings, and that the right figures
should have been submitted in the first
place. Finally one of the representa-
tiyes of bridge company offered said
commissioner 800 on the side if he
would give him the job at the reduced
figures. The CRATER soon found out
that he had made q big mistake as the
Commissioner he offered the graft to
has q conscience that nothing but what
is absolutely right and fair can pene-
tIAte Apd mind that can express itself
inn most active and forcible manner
The com missioner We have been re.
ferring to became thoroly disgusted
with; the whole affair by this time and
he therefore ordered the county auditor
to communicate with the state high
way commission and secure the address
Of firms that could furnish the super
structlre for the iron bridge which the
their bidsfor A letter was received
furnish the superstructure for the iron
O4AA80 AVA POOO oUO do VIC 0UOSSl uCLNk 9
could be put in: for less money than the
upper portion of the bridge, it is esti.
mated that the bridge could be built
for shout $500. Some difference from
the figures which the bridge building
grafters submitted.
There is considerable complaint be.
ing made in every county in the state
pertaining to the combination formed
by the bridge builders. 1t seems that
they have divided up the territory and
arrange their bids so that each firm
secures work only in certain counties
designated by the combination.
Our County commissioners, who pro.
poses to sit on the combination when
it comes to doing the work for Houston
county, suggested that the county com.
missioners thruout the state form an
organization and devise some plan OF
make arrangements with a firm OF
firms to furnish the superstructure fol
iron bridges at certain agreed price
according to different sizes. We are
told that the plan would be a hard
matter to carry out as not all county
commissioners thruout the state are as
conscientious and public spirited az
one of our county commissioners has
proved to be on more than one oc.
casiOn.