The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-04-10
COMMITTEE WILL INVESTIGATE
Former Alderman, Now a Contractor,
Tells Council of Alleged Combine to
Keep Contractors Out Of Business in
Kenosha-Meeting Is interesting,

provement contracting business in Ke-
nosha, appeared before the common
council on Friday evening and alleged
that combine Of material men and
contractors had been made to put an
end to competition in letting contracts
for street paving in Kenosha. lie
charged that the Barr Brick Company
of Streator, ILL.,, making a paving
brick which has been specified for use
in Kenosha work, had refused to sell
him brick at the same prices quoted
for other cities in the state and for
this reason he asked to be relieved
from his contract Of paving Salem
avenue with Barr brick and that he be
permitted to substitute another brick.
The proposal of the contractor was
turned down and the council voted
unanimously that the street must be
paved with the Barr brick but at the
same time special committee with
Alderman Il. J.. Sullivan as chairman,
was named to look into the claims Of
conspiracy made by the ex-alderman
and contractor. Wade held that in all
cities in Wisconsin with the exception
Of Konosha Number l Barr brick,
could be bought at see a square yard
but that the price quoted to him by
the company was soc a square yard
Wade stated that Richardson and
Swartz Milwaukee brick brokers'. had
offered to sell him the Barr brick at
the low price, but that President G. c.
Barr had refused to permit them to
make such sale.
The claim of Wade was fatty denied
by G. G. Middleton of Streator, H.,
the general selling agent for the Barr
company, who was in Kenosha Friday
afternoon for conference with Mayor
Head, He declared that the brick had
boon offered tt Wade at the very same
rate that they were being sold to any
other contractor in Kenosha and that
the rate was little lower than the
rate at which the brick were being
sold to contractors in Chicago. Mid
dIcton declared his willingness to
produce invoices to show just what
price had been charged for the brick
and these will be laid before the coun-
Gil on Monday evening. The former
alderman admitted that he had made a
bid for contracts for improving Salem
avenue and Grand avenue without
asking brick prices from the manu-.
faeturcrs. He declared that the brick
company was interested in other con,
tractors in the city and that for this
reason he was being Disseminated
against. Wade was informed that if
he could prove the existence of the al
legged conspiracy he could get more
in damages against the brick company
than he could make on the contract
with the city and for this reason the
council insisted on the use of the Barr
brick if for no other purpose than to
bring out the facts in regard to the
truth or falsity of the allegations Of
Contractor Wade
AS United States Judge Kohlsaat in
the United States Court in Chicago
had handed down a decision declaring
"Pionoer Asphalt to be an infringe
ment on patent and with trouble in
sight if this filler was used the coun.
ell gave Wade the right to use
Sarco" filler on the two streets.
The investigation Of the brick prob
lem viii be made most thorough one
as any combination to raise prices IN
Kenosha would result IN decided in
crease in the cost Of pavements to the
people of the city.
The council received an Indefinite
claim from Mrs, Lucille Ellis for dam
age done by the recent floods on the
south side and the matter was referred
to the committee on claims.
Let Contracts for Building.
Acting on the recommendation Of
the committee on fire department the
council awarded the contracts for the
building of the new Elizabeth street
engine house to Ludwig Klemm and
Kaelber and Kraft. Under these con.
tracts the building viii cost in the
neighborhood Of $1,000 and the con
tracts will provide that it be eomplec-
cd and ready for occupancy BY the
first Of next August 1t has been
limited that the city may get into a
court action on account Of this build
ing but the committee seemed to be
wiling to face such contest. The
contract price is about 5000 more than
the price for which Ernst Anderson
offered to construct the building.
To Force Sewer Work.
The committee on sewers was order
ed to take action at once to force con
tractors to begin work on sewers on
tho west and southwest sides Of the
city People in that section have been