Imperial Valley press., 1918-08-10
TRUSTEES OPEN BIDS
FOR FIRE HALL.
JONES WINS

The Board of City Trustees met ir
adjourned session last night, all The
members being present. The meeting
was held for the purpose Of opening
bids for the construction Of the addI.
ton to the fire station and, on the
motion of the mayor, which was sec
onded, the secretary opened the bids
which had been sent in. These were
as follows: N. p Sorley, $2400; w
P. Jones, 1897; J. A. Thomas, S2087
each of the bidders having enclosed
the necessary faith money.
1t will be recalled that during last
May. when bids were advertised for
and when the bid of Mr.. Thomas was
accepted, Tie Capital Issues commit
tee, through its member, John Per
rim, requested that the city set aside
the proposed improvement, on the
ground that the government conslc-
cred such work, unless absolutely
necessary to the welfare of the COM
munity, non-essential. AT that re-
quest the work was called off, and
Mr.. Thomas, who bid $3.50, was cis-
appointed, and only recently has the
board felt the urgency of completing
the engine house, hence the adver-
tisement for bids, with the result
above mentioned.
Trustee Egerer made an eloquent
plea for Mr.. Thomas, claiming he
was entitled to the contract. under
the circumstances attending the for
mer called-off work.
City Attorney l.arew advised that
the board could accept a higher bid
provided there was not too great dis
purity and that ere contractor was
considered irresponsible.
Trustee Bucklin. who came fIomSar
Diego to attend the meeting, roicee
his objection to the reoopening of tn'
lids and could see no good reason tol
accepting any of them, when the for
mer bid made by Mr.. Thomas wa
nea rly $40 lower than the lowest
hid received at this meeting. He
vital Importance, which matter wa:
still held in abeyancC pending th'
close of the war.
4 Mr. Thomas, who was present, eX
rlained how materials had advanced
and said he could not afford to make
lower bid. asking for the work If i
could be conscientiously given to him
Trustee Reams made a motion tC
ccept the Jones bid and Trustee
Sones seconded the motion. 1t car
red all voting in the affirmative eN-
cept Trustee Bucklin, and it was So
ordered.
/ The Board at the meeting last
evening took up the matter of light
less nights" requested by the State
Fuel Commission. After discussing
the provisions of the new law, OF
which there was rot a very definite
knowledge by any one present, the
matter was deferred to await ins!ruc
tions from Mr., Schwabacher at Sar
Francisco.
! The Press representative made ;
equest of the board to give its en-
dorsement to the Victory Day move
ment being champIoned by this pape1
and by other business houses OF th'
city. Mr.. Bucklin moved that th'
board acquiesce in the matter Of cele
brating Victory Day and do al il
its power to further the meritoriou
proposition. Mr.. Scnes seconded tn'
motion and it carried.
City Clerk Van Way made a state
ment to the effect that the city hat
now invested in Liberty Bonds 5000
Of the first issue and $4,000 Of tn
second issue, the last named sum hav
ing been diverted from the filter tun'
il order to have the city lend its ak
, t. the national government, That a
the filter payment must soon be com
, pleted, the contractor being ready L
ilstall the machinery, which was sool
to be placed, he asked permission t
sell the bonds and re-divert the mon
ev to the proper channels, and san
thtat by making sale on todaT's man
ket the city would lose approNlmdtel
$3.50 This matter had the endorse
ment of the board and the city cier
was authorized to sell
The meeting then adjourned to NEE
inspecia session August y at |
: O'clock in the morning. when tn
1 equalization committee will make ne'
: annraisements.
+. The next regular meeting will b
rcld Wednesday. AUGUST IA.