Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-03
WARE BIDS Low
ON one SECTION
OF SUBWAY JOB
'McNichol Offer Smallest on
Two Other Parts Con- .
sidered Today
PROPOSALS TABULA T E D
Contracts Cannot Be Awarded
Until Service Board Grants
Convenience Certificates

Senator Ware was lowest bidder for the
6rst time in one of the three sets of transit
rontract bids which were opened this after
noon BY Transit Director Twinnge- With
the exception of small contract totaling
a9s0o for foundation work on the Frank
ford elevated. the Ware firm has never been
among the low figures since work on the
hiqb-speed system has been started.
Although Senator Ware was the lowest
hidder on one contract, No 104. Senator
McNchol was the low bidder OH two Nos.
i03 and 204.
The bids were for three sections of the
Broad street subway between South and
Stiles streets.
The bids are for the following work:
Contract No. 103-575 linear feet of two-
track and $500 linear feet of four-track sub
vay in Broad street from south of Filbert
street to Buttonwood street, incluoing one
station.
Contract No. 104 - 1885 linear feet of
four-tracl subway in Broad street from
Buttonwood street north to Stiles street, in
cluding three stations.
Contract No. 204 1850 linear feet of
four.track subway. merging into two-track
subway in Broad street from South Penn
square to south of South street, including
two stations.
The bids submitted follow:
No 103-Phiadelphia Subway Construc-
tion Company (Vare), S2.845.OOO Keystone
State Construction Company tMcNchoD
s2S15.240; Smith. Hauser & McIsaacs. New
York, ss,O9O,1OS; Underpinning and Founda-
tion Company, New York. $3,282.767
No 1O4-Phiadelphia Subway Construc-
ton Company. $2,SS5,000: Keystone State
Construction Company, S2.901 go; Smith
Hauser G. McIsaacs. s3171,505; f. f.
Smith, New Rork, s3,272,575 Underpinning
and Foundation Company. New York
So 1S5,992 Dock Construction Company
Hoboken. s3,44S,000.
No. 204-Philadelphia Subway Construc-
ton Company. s3.495OOo; keystone State
Construction Company tMcNichoD. S3.326.-
400; Smith, Hauser & McIsaacs S3.491,3l2 /;
Underpinning and Foundation Company;
$3,S71,555.
- COMMISSION TO ACT
Almost coincident with the opening of the
bids Chairman William ID. b. Ainey of the
Public Service Commission. announced in
Harrisburg that Il g commission would take
prompt action upon the citys applications
for certificates of public convenience for the
various lines in the high-speed system. The
commission he said. will certainly take the
matter up either at the executive session to-
day or the one tomorrow.
Any further delay will mean that the
Director will be unable to award contracts
although bids have been opened. Three con-
tracts for the subway delivery loop have
been hung up for two months awaiting ac-
ton by the commission. The Director opened
the bids the second week of February, but
has been unable to proceed further on ac-
count of the commissions long delav.
Both Mayor Smith and Director Twining
expressed the hope today that the State
Legislature will take favorable action upon
the two transit bills introduced last night
by Representative Hecht. The measures
are designed to strengthen the cty's posi-.
ton in the transit lease negotiations with
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
As the situation now stands. transit follow.
ers admit that the transit company has the
upper hand.
WHAT BILLS PROVIDE
The first bill would empower the city to
take over the existing street railway facili-
ties by exercise of the right of eminent
domain. The second provides for an amend
ment to the State Constitution which would
give the city power to exceed its 10 per
cent borrowing capacity if the proceeds are
to be used in constructing, purchasing or
condemning any existing public utility or
part thereof the only provision being that
the utilities must reasonably be expected
eventually to yield sufficient net profit to
pay interest and sinking fund charges.
These bills, it is said. have the approval
Of Mayor Smith. Senators McNichol and
Ware, Transit Director Twning and Chair
man Gaffney, of Councils Finance Commit
tee. The constitutional amendment il
passed at this session of the Legislature
would have to be passed again in 1919 and
then. put to vote of the peope.