Arizona republican., 1921-06-17

foot cost would be, taking as basis the most recent bid for the same specifications. The property owner is vitally interested for his property is pledged and he should bt given some final say both as to type of pave ment and as to the cost.
 Unfortunately, the proceedings do not provide for such estimates being given either upon signing of the pe- tition or at the time of publication of notice of award of contract. It is quite true that the proceedings may be halted by the protests of a ma jority frontage. yet very few people can read a notice of award and esti- mate therefrom what their paving costs will be. Many overlook the extras in the way of curb, gutter. drains, alley and street intersections and city engineering costs.
 Problem of Lower Cost
 Our city engineer estimated that the paving alone was only 50 per cent to 65 per cent of the entire cast.
 It was this card which would supply the above need that the com mission voted to discontinue The problem now confronting us is ob- taining lower costs. In my opinion this will be impossible unless compe- tttl0Il 10 ScCuIGu " It'll tIliS CEk0 III view the commission has authorized me to submit the question of calling for alternate bids to Wood and Oak ley, bond attorneys of Chicago. It seems to be a mooted question as to whether or not it is possible under our present laws. and if these attor- neys render an adverse opinion, then it behooves us to ask the next legis- lature to remedy this matter.
 'Competition cannot be secured by bringing up these jobs in small Quan titles or by piece meal. A contractor will not move into Phoenix for a small job, but I have been assured that if all the jobs in process are brought up at one bidding that there will be some who will sharpen their pencils in line with present labor and material costs, give us price with reasonable profit and go after the work in earnest.
 Tt seems to me that the time has arrived in the growth and develop ment of this wonderful little city for municipally owned and operated paving plant. I am gathering some data on this subject now and have quotations on most of the equipment needed. The outlay is comparatively small when the great saving to the Glly Is c0HS1OeTeds f1OWGNeTs sOel0I c competing with contractors on new
 work 1t would be necessary to obtain 1 legislative action permitting the city to create a revolving fund to carry on 1 the work until each paving assess ment issue was sold.
 .As stated early in my term of office most earnestly ask for citi- zen cooperation. To have the gov ernmeflt that we desire we must in- lterest ourselves in its affairs and see I to 1t that it in great measure re- 1 fleets our ideals. There is one million 1 in costs at stake to the property hold CTS of this city and l am thoroughly
 convinced that if we all pull togeth- CT and give this matter most serious 1 thought and consideration that very 1 substantial saving can be made. 1 Maintaining that he favored the continuance of the card system all l though Of the opinion it was not matter of very tremndous importance 1 Commissioner Fred O. Adams said: Our trial Of the card system has l showed that only about half the people respond Then, too, the esti- mates on the cards cannot be accu- rate and are apt to prove misleading All the commissioners are doing everything in their power to bring about reduction in paving costs. !, Adams for Revolving Fund Commissioner Adams advocated thu