The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-06-15
Ryder's Report.


Following is the report which Mr.
Ryder made to the Mayor and the com
missioncrs:
"Inasmuch ns no bids We're filed for
paving the six streets recently ndver-
tised. up to . p. M. June 10, the hour
set In the advertisement, all procedure
up to this point would seem to be- void
and as | understand the situation new
procedure will have To be Initiated, ana
that at once il the streets are to be
paved this season.
"The streets involved are "H' 81. s.
w: "K" 81. $. w; 5th. Ave, ~ W.;
&C" St. 5. w; 3rd. Ave, n. W. 18TH,
lave, ~ w: and :. Washington. The
estimates ON these streets We're S2.l0
for asphalt top streets and $40 for
brick. When / assumed the duties Of
the office of city engineer, the pre-war
prices were Sl.Sj for asphalt. "B' ST..
y. w. was let for $21O for brick, ac-
rording to the records. The advance
in materials and labor necessitated by
raising the estimates above referred TO
TO the figures given, namely S2lO ana
S34O. These prices We're high enough
to allow a fair margin of profit at the
time to allow a fair margin at the time
the estimates We're made i as
sured myself of this when | made them
and checked my own figures by refer
ring each and every item TO "a reSpon-
sble contractor who assured we that he
would bid on the work at the prices
given. However. during the interval
elapsing between the dates of the cs-
Inmates and the hour for the letting, l
understood that advice was given that
common labor would advance to so and
GO cents per hour and that Il freight
rate advance of about 25 per cent was
due for July l. The high prices paid
i'm the wheat fields and the demand on
labor and teams by the opening of the
new old field west of the city Is ot
course a further reason why contractors
refuse to Bid at the prices.
ITO sum up: it seems to be an
economic condition for which no one
is directly responsible and the only
remedy seems to be TO raise the estl'
mates to such point where they viii
attract bidders under the present and
anticipated conditions. TO accomplish
this. is will. | believe, he necessary TO
make "A flat increase of from 20 TO 20 |
per cent. This is an increase OF approx |
imately 40 per cent over pre-war prices
and is such n considerable item that 1
believe the property owners should be
rullv advised at to the conditions and
added costs.
THE pavement situation really IS sefl- !
ous" Mr.. RYDER further states. 'Ihe
people want old eth street paved. There /
are three more streets waiting Tor plans
to be prepared. I'm addition to that'
there is Sth avenue northwest. ana { |
street from Sth 18TH avenue. that nave
also been ordered paved. Petitions are
pending on West Main, West Main ana
9th avenue, northwest
Fixing McLish street.
Commissioner Carter is finding time
beside hauling off the cans. cutting the
weeds of the city. and bailing IN" city
hay. TO work on the street at the end
Of NcLish. connecting it with the east
end of the county. The grading ~ he'
ing done by the city, and the Chamber 1
Of Commerce with the business men OF
Ardmore doing the Gravelihg. This 'Oo
feet will connect the end of McLish with
the county. and make the houleVards
TO the new oil fields more passable'
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