The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-06-03
CHOICE OF THREE MATERIALS
Sewer Committee Is Placed in Charge
Of Building Sewers in an Advisory
Capacity to the Street Assessment
Committee Aldermen in Hot Tilt.

Albert II. Prange of Grand Rapids,
Mich, was awarded the contract for
the construction of the extension OF the
trunk sewer and for auxiliary sewers at
the adjourned meeting of the common
council on Friday evening and the total
cost of the proposed improvements will
be $107 626. 70 this may be added a
small amount necessary for concrete
foundations where the soil is found to
be of such a nature as not to admit of
the laying of the sewer pipe.
1t is expected that the sewer will be
constructed Of segment pipe of the type
manufactured by the American Sewer
Pipe company of Akron, Ohio, but the
contract, as ordered, will give the con-
tractor choice of three materials.
The three materials are segment pipe
of the type manufactured by the Akron
American Sewer Pipe company, mono
lithic concrete, or reinforced concrete
pipe. The understanding is that the
sewer is to be built of the segment
tile, but should the manufacturers of
this tile refuse to contract with Prang
at proper price for the supply of the
tile, he is given the privilege to use
either of the other forms of construc-
ton in the sewer with the understand
ing that the contract price is to be the
same as that offered for the segment
pipe.
The contract for the sewer was let
with but two aldermen-Joachim and
Smith-voting against it. These men
believed that there should not be any
restrictions placed ON the kind of tile
to be used in the big ditch.
While there was no open break be-
tween the aldermen and the mayor at
the council there was an underlying
feeling of distrust manifested. Since
the first bids for the sewer were opened
there had been a regular convention of
pipe men in the city and their activi-
ties in button holing officials of the city
had caused lot of comment. Several
Of the men who sought to sell pipe to
the contractor were at che meeting of
the council on Friday night and one
of them went so far as to question the
legality of the action of the council.
No real facts in regard to the battle
Of the tile men were brought out, but it
was understood that the tile selected
had met the demands of a majority of
the street assessment committee and
the report was signed by the full mem
bership of the committee.
Contractor Prang was present at the
meeting and he was given chance to
let the council know just what he ex-
pected and in return he was given to
understand what would be expected
from him. Evidently the conditions of
the contract met with his consent as he
declared his willingness to accept the
contract. He asserted that it was his
plan to use the American = segment
pipe provided he could get it at fair
price.
The council went further. By an
unanimous vote the aldermen decided
to give the sewer committee wider
powers in the regulation of the build
ing of the big sewer and it was named
to act with the street assessment COM
mittee in connection with the extension
of the trunk sewer. This will make a
committee of six and it was the ex
pressed action of the council that no
special work should be ordered or no
change made in any plans without the
majority vote of this enlarged commit
tee. The charter gives wide powers to
the street assessment committee, but
with the building of the big sewer this
power must be shared with the sewer
committee.
The mayor and city clerk were in
structed to enter into contract with
Prang for the sewer just as soon as he
filed a proper bond. 1t is expected that
all formalities in connection with the
signing of the contract will be closed
up before the next regular meeting of
the council and that the work on the
sewer will be started early in June.
Prang is thoroughly experienced in the
laying of the segment pipe as he laid
ten miles of this class of sewer during
the past year.
Under the contract the Prang COM
pany will build all of the eleven sewers
and none of the work will be let to To-
cal contractors. This action was made
necessary by the fact that Prang had
bid on the contract for the entire work
and his bid did not permit the division
Of the contract.