Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-15
7. w. KEYS, OF LA SALE,
MAKES OFFER FOR
ABOVE ESTIMATE
WILL READvERT|SE
NEW ATTEMPT TO BE MADE BY
COUNCIL ON MAY, rs, WHEN
NEW BIDS WILL BE RECEIVED
keys OFFER BEYOND LEGAL
LIMIT.


The loop paving went back to its
Old place In the air this morning
when the board of local improve,
ments. sitting in conjunction with the
city commission, were unable to let
contracts for lcpaying the downtown
district AT the letting, or rathe.' the
opening OF bids. there was only one
firm in the field for the work. r. w.
Keys, of La Sale, constituted that
lone bidder, and his figures were of
such imitation that there was not a
moments consideration given of his
estimate before official steps were tak-
en- to reject the offer and order the
city clerk to re-adyertise for new
letting, on May 25
Mr.. Keys in his bid announced he
would do the work for $flS,3ls,33
Just about $4,000 over and above
Public Engineer Farnsworth's esii.
mate. Why such an offer was made
proved an unfath6mable conundrum to
members OF the council. The law
states specifically that contracts can
not be awarded where bids are in ex.
cess OF ten per cent Of the estimate
fixed by the engineer, while Mr..
Keys figures would almost run fonr.
teen per cent greater than the highest
amount allowed by .aw.
As soon as the SUM total OF the
Keys bid was made known it was
Immediately. recommended by Mayor
BrsdfCfd that the offer be rejected
forthwith and minus more ado MIR.
Keys had enclosed n certified cheek
for ten per cent Of the total cost and
Il was hastily returned TO him while
the council and Improvement board
went thru the process of adjourning
as summarily as possible.
Many at Meeting.
A large delegation of supply and
equipment men were present when the
lone bide was opened and read They
came to Ottawa from all parts Of the
Middle West in hope Of landing a
slice of the large plum to be appor
toned out by the commissioners
There We're only two other eontrac
tors on hand at the timeJ w. LeiS
and r. r. Ball-neither Of whom how
ever cared to tackle the big proposi.
tion by bidding for 1t. The absence
of other contractors precluded the
possibilities of pool" according tt
local oflicialdom and as result there
Is some doubt whether or not an.
more favorable results can be secure,
at the next opening of bids atho the
mayor and his colleagues are hopeful
OF getting at least one bid within The
estimate when the second letting take
place.
Engineers Figures.
Minus court costs Of s61697s FIR
gineer Farnsworth has estimated tha
the "lCop" should be placed for $1O2
S29.61. Mr.. Keys bid in the lum
was $11S,318.33, a grand total of SIS
48Ss72 over and above Mr. Farms
worth h'ssfigures.
When the meeting was called TO ol
der hush fell upon the assemble
/. crowd.
Mayor Bradford asked: "Are ther
any gentlemen here who desire I
make Il presentation TO the counc
before the meeting Is called to O
der?"
Mr.. Keys, who sat in the rear of tn
executive, dug deep into his pOckt
and withdrew therefrom O. closel
sealed envelope and handed it to b
honor, without words aceompanyin
the proffer.
The envelope wa1 turned over
City Clerk Curtis. who began rea
ing the itcmized charges for all spe
inrations. When he reached the fin
sot of figures in which Mr.. Key
plnced the lump cost" at $llS,3lS.7
the hush became even more husht
that wag. broken only when u
mayor announced the bid was far ov'
the engineers estimate and that u
co,,ncil AhOuld refuse 1t without was
ne more time.
Commissioner Campbell moved u
rojectment Of the bid and the mot''
carried unanimously. 1t was then
dered that the second attempt at q
ting a contract let be made on Frldo
May 25. This motion carried o
the council as well as the hoard OF
cal improvements. adjc>rned.
There was little disappolntme
manifest in city circles at the 'u
affairs had taken. All commissloVe
rublic Engineer Farnsworth and !
mayor had received tips that j
such a twist was probable IN the pr'
osition md we're ready for the bl
when the AK fell.