The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-03-27
CONCRETE BRIDGE
STEEL BRIDGE
Which is Best For Hand County
to Build

N>eN~e ~ Seo
made to the County Commissioners.
They must be built for the actual
needs Of the county. And since the
question is before the people, is it
not well to examine it upon its
merits, and cut cut both the person
al spite and politics so far displayed?
There has been considerable mis-
information injected into the subject
for above reasons. which has led to
unfair criticism of the County Com
nissioners, who consist of honorable
men. pioneer citizens and Taxpayers,
DESTROYS of performing their duties
for the best interest of the county
and with credit to themselves.
Upon request of numerous local
ties. the Commissioners proceeded
to supply them, as directed by the
state law. chapter 90. page 102,
session laws of 1911. They careful
ly complied with the law by adver
Using for sealed bids. and accepting
the lowesG responsible bidder. Sew
eral good bridges of steel structure
have been built, and another con-
tract let for 1913.
After some inve stigation as t. the
work of the Commissioners in build
ing bridges. and their new contract,
the Press cannot see but what the
local officers have fully complied
with the law, and that Hand county
has secured her bridges about the
same as they we're secured in other
localities, by open competition
among bridge builders and contract
Eors.
This state law directs the Commits
Sioners to ecure complete plans and
specifications for bridges, to show
sizes, describe style, material, con.
s%truction. etc, and to keep said
plans on file in the auditors office.
This was done in January 1912, and
such plans have been there ever
since. These plans are as complete
in all details. both for steel, and
concrete bridges, as can be made of
variable sizes and variable conditions
so that any contractor can make out
a bid in a very short time. They
are standar I'D, approved by compe
tent eng ineers, and are guaranteed
to stand any test required.
Then the Commissioners were
next required by law to advertise in
official county papers for sealed
bids. They did this for four or five
weeks. to obtain bids for the 1918
bridges to be put in. ANYBODY
could bid on this work, either locsl
or outside contractors.
The result was sealed bids from
five outside bridge companies, but
no local contractors, and as the Iowa
Bridge Co. was the lowest respon-
sible bidder. their bid was accepted
and the com pany puts up a $1,000
bond to make good.
This Is the same method pursued
by the County Commissioners here.
tofore, and the same as followed in
other counties and states.
The process was entirely open and
competitive. The Commissioners
did exactly what any business mar
or organization does when they have
a building enterprise of any kind on
hand. Five different companies put
in bids. The Commissioners select.
ed the best offered, according to
their judgment. Then some wise
guy with a 2x4 experience, saws
"Oh, yes, all those companies are
together" Haven't you heard that
same remark about your local
merchants, your local bankers, your
local doctors? Who really knows?
Why. the wise guy, of course! To
illustrate: While builders were
erecting a modern brick in the city
a year or two ago, one of these wise
guys standing in front of the build
ing was heard to remark: ugh,
those fellers couldn't build All out
house for me-" Those ''fellers" he
referred t, were experienced build
ers. under $40. 900 bond, and we're
building all over the northwest. 1t
is doubtful if the wise guy had ever
built an out house or paid for one to
be built! Critical knowledge? Why
sure, he had it to throw at the
birds.
The plans at the court house min
utely describe all the details of
standard steel and reinforced con-
crete bridges. To furnish any other
than standard clans and specifica-
tons would be foolish, of course.
because any competent engineer
could readily discover their short
comings. The Commissioners called
for bids on these plans, and have,
as stated, accepted the lowest bids.
These bids cover both steel and
concrete bridges. Steel bridges are
bid upon by the foot. according to
the length of span. size and depth
of abutments. weight to carry. etc.
Concrete bridges. reinforced by
steel rods, are bid upon by the yard.
They vary, of course. because span
may be 80 feet. or rs feet; the depth
of piers NAV be 8 or Ia feet; the
width of wings may be g or 16 feet;
according to the ground. and weight
to be carried.
The Iowa Bridge Co was lowest
among the five bidders, both on
steel and concrete bridges. for Hand
county's 1917 contract. This COM
PAW has contracts in five counties
of South Dakota. to which they