The Brunswick news., 1922-07-18
STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
(By W. R. Neel. State Highway En-

1 SAACSA-y
Truths half told are dangerous
weapon. 1t would seem that those
wishing to destroy the usefulness of
the Highway Department are willing
to go to this extreme.
What is back of this attack that has
been carried on so persistently by a
small minority from year to year?
Only time can tell.
In explanation of the much discuss
ed Form "B" Contract, l wish to set
forth the following for the general
information of the public:
| first wish to call attention to the
fact that the Form "B" Contract was
devised at time when conditions
were extremely abnormal and as soon
as conditions again reached a SEM
biance of normalcy its use by this de-
partment was discontinued, the last
contract having been awarded by the
Highway Department on this form of
contract November Sth, 1920.
There was a time when the use of
Form "B" Contract became advisa-
bic when the prices OF road building
materials and labor fuctuated from
day to day Not only did labor and
materials tluctuate but freight rates
were constantly changing. With
tese conditions it could not be ex-
Iccted that the contractors could
closely estimate the cost Of a job, and
certainly they could not be expected
to submit a close bid | was reliably
Informed by contractors that on ac-
count of the many uncertainties con-
fornting them at this period it was i'm
possible to secure a bond when they
submitted a close bid. This was also
natural position for the bonding
companies to take. All of this result
ed in bids so high that | was not long
er willing to approve same, although
the counties and the pubic were clam
oring for the road work to continue.
With these conditions confronting
the department, after a careful con-
5ideration, the Form "B" Contract was
put in use First the contract was
submitted to the Bureau of Public
Roads as it was desirous of using this
contract on Federal Aid work After
it had been carefully studied by the
legal department of tie Government
aid having received the approval of
the Solicitor OF the Bureau OF Public
Roads Washington. d. c., its use on
Federal Aid work was authorized.
An audit of the books of the High
!. ay Department shows that the use of
/ this Form B" Contract resulted in a
net saving OF money to the public in
rUad building, which was the result
desired.
! | wish to positively state that the
4. ices and profits shown in any Form
'-B" Contract are those bid by the
lContractofs and can in no way be con-
! trolled by the Highway Department
ihe contracts are awarded i'll open
competition. | wish to state, however
tlat the profit shown on the Coweta
county contract is a very rea~ enable
cne. being less than ten per cent ol
tue total cost of the job Anyone al
ell familiar with work of this charac
ter will agree that it is less than th'
g5uaI amount estimated by contrac
tors.
1t has been stated that the count
was charged $4,000 for years mul
/ iced. This statement is untrue. Thi
gure was used by the contractor l
his bid showing his estimate OF tn
ice of feed for one mule for yea
mis- part of the contract had staml
cd on it the following note: If at tn
end of the month the bill for feed
.uund to vary from that given IN es'
mate of cost then the estimate OF co
= will be changed accordingly. ii
esult was that considerably less thu
$4,000 was paid. The Highway u
=, partment had on each job a comp
tent accountant who was under bon
-. | wish to remind you that IN IL
IS much as $500 was charged Tor l.
tent OF a team of mules and drlv
oats were selling for $1.65 per bus
80 el, and corn as high as $2.00. The
ore. pou can readily see that an
:; innate of $4,000 for feed for mt
IN working on grade work with feed
:. this price is not so absurd as 1t IN
- seem at nrst glance. However,
stated, this department took eve
precaution to save and, therefore, p
bo vided that the actual cost be asc
70 tanned by an accountant.
;ts AS to the other criticisms in rega
~, TO the carrying out of the form
NO Contract in Coweta county, | wish
10 state that the terms of the eontri
inn are very plainly set forth in the G.
ha tract and upon these terms the G
an tractor submits his bid. Should th'