Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1913-05-02
CITY COUNCIL REJECTS ALL BIDS
FOR LAYING OF BIG PIPE LINE


Monday night was the letting of the
contract to lay the outflow pipe from
the septic tank to the creek, a dis
tance of two miles, lacking a very
little, which is to be laid with 21-inch
tile and for which purpose an appro-
priation Of $4,000 was recently made.
Bids were submitted as follows:
Bash & Gray, cost, plus Is per cent.
Jno Stiffler, Wichita, =. E. ..s1S,7OS
McIlvane G Ramsey,
MCPHERSON :. :. E. :. 1882
Marshall Bros,
Las Animas, Colo :. :. 2S,O65
Morrison Bros, Kan. City :. 1900
Owing to the fact that none Of the
bids were within the limit Of the
money available for the purpose, the
lowest one, that Of Morrison Bros,
being 5000 too high, and after one
member of the council had pleaded
to be informed as to what cost plus
Is per cent" means, as a cheap me-
thod of attracting attention to the
vacancy which occupies the chair
back of his desk, the council acted
on a motion to reject all bids. The
motion carried, all voting AYE" ex-
cept Lewis. There followed a mo-
tion to readvertise fore bids to be
opened next Monday night. This mo-
tion carried with a proviso that esti.
mates be accepted upon basis of &C.
ment tile, also on basis of regular
standard tiling. This closed for the
time being the question of laying the
big pipe.
The gas franchise matter was TAX
en- up and it developed that of the
several restrictions to the franchise
as proposed by the council at a spe'
cial session previously held to act on
this matter, none had been accepted
and that the franchise had been re
turned by the gas company for adop
ton in the exact form in which it was
first presented by them. Perhaps
the most important of these condi
tions was that the city had asked fol
bond of $500 to guarantee compile
ton of the plant within one yea
form the date the franchise became
effective. This provision was refus
ed by the company and they agre'
merely to have the work of construc
ton we'll under way within one yea
and furnish no bond. This ordinances
was adopted in sections and all vot
ing AYE" on the measure as
whole, except Councilman Hans, witt
wished to insist on the $500 bond.
In connection with this matter Car
tain Lewis offered for consideration
another section making the franchis
not transferable except with tn
consent of the city council or com
mission. This measure was the caus
of considerable discussion and wa
lost on tie vote, the mayor decid
ing the question by voting mo-"
Sam Kellam appeared before tn
council on behalf of himself and 9th
ers of his neighborhood, asking TO
an extension Of water mains to reacl
Ibis block. The matter was present
ed two years ago, was promised a
that time and the work had been pa
tiently awaited by the parties inter
ested for that length Of time. Gid
dings. who up to this time had no
had an opportunity to make himsei
more than ordinarily obnoxious, EN-
braced this opportunity by getting u
and vigorously opposing this meas
ure. After good nature had been lm
posed upon. almost to the limit tn
measure was passed, six voting aye
one no. and one refusing to vote.
At this iuncture Giddings aros
and offered a motion that the counci
20 into executive session, which maj
ter was treated as a joke and re
ceived just the amount Of considera
ton to which it was entitled.
A couple of hours were spent il
a useless discussion of claim 0
s35OO which Bash & Gray hold
against the city. This bill is the ou
come of actions Of the Mistake Br
gade who played so important a par
in the construction of the sewer an
has been the subject of informal ra
chewing at most all session OF tn
city council this winter. The unit
mate end Of this controversy prot
ably will be that the major porto
of this claim will have to be paid. !
provisional measure was adopted
this meeting providing for paymer
Of a claim amounting to nearly $40
| said to be due the Palmer Constru'
| ton Co.
During this seance the usual info
| lmaIitv was In evidence. the usui