Baxter Springs news., 1918-05-03

Also on account OF the TACT thi
the five months delay, under VIZ
thine conditions, has caused the cal
collation. of contracts we had for ms
terials and machinery to do the worl
Also on account of radical change
in conditions of material and labO
due to the war, such as are provide
against in our contract.
We request payment in full for nG
terials furnished and labor perform
ed as per contract
Yours truly,
The Plummer-Adams Co.
BY Will +. Plummer.
Explanatory
In further explanation of the above
we beg to say that this action ha'
been forced upon US us shown by the
attached letters, hut that it is best
for all concerned that this work be
put in allegiance for the present.
For the clearer understanding on
The part Of the old and new council.
wen we think it advisable to make
a statement of the facts:
In the first place the contract was
entered into and so far has been car
ried out in perfect good faith on the
part of both parties so far as they
were able, as is evidenced by the fact
that we furnished labor and mater
ial in the amount of over $20,000.00
before We had any certainty that the
City would get any money under war
conditions; and on the part of the
City everything has been done that
he law and conditions would permit
When this contract was awarded it
appeared the thing TO do. Our bic
was S1S,600.00 under the next lowest
offer and the City had a seemingly
good contract with some bond brok-
ers for the purchase of the bonds
md an arrangement for money to be
advanced on the Engineers estimates
)ending the delivery of the bonds.
here was not embargo on the use of
:ars, and such work was not at that
line disapproved by the Government
s it is now. The agreement for fur
.ishing money was repudiated by the
brokers' and the contract for the pur-
hase of the bonds expired March 1st.
While there was not enough water
available at that time to make the |
sewer system of any use, franchise |
had been granted, very advantageous |
% the City, which promised plenty |
If water within year. This fran
,hise having been cancelled there is
not today water, except in the bus
ness district, to carry the sewerage |
% the outlet and the supply cannot
reasonably be expected for year and
possibly for two or three years under
he conditions. The sewers, except
n the business district, will be of no
lse and we hear of a growing feel
ng on the part of the tax payers
hat the work at this time should be
opposed in a manner that would put
he contractor in a bad position.
The work was started by US in a
lrge way and we have much money
invested in a large and well equip
ed cantonment and good outfit of
ools and supplies. We brought in
Ugh salaried straight time trained
hen, and our overhead expense on
he necessarily small force has been
ut of all proportion. Our contract
J for the entire job and we expected
D be able to work a large force.
After the contract was awarded the
'ity, no doubt on good advice as to
he law, separated the mains from the
lterals and there being. no lateral I
loney on hand we have been compel II
ID to work only on the mains for I
We months, in a season in which the |
ne mains ordered built first, being G
/ a creek bottom, were largely under e
ater. v
In an effort to complete the mains
lat will relieve the bad situation in t
lie business district, we have stuck v
, the work under the worst possible L
,nditiOns and at a great disadvan- t
Ige to US. The worst of the work
almost done, p
It was intended to put an excavat- n
e machine or two on the work and
II bid was based accordingly. We +
ranged for the machines but being s
iable to go ahead with the work Il
thin any reasonable time We have h
st them as shown by the attached k
tiers, and cannot at this time Sc Fl
re others at any reasonable price a