The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-13
AUDIT OR|U N
BUILDERS ARE
HELD SECRET
Harrison Votes Against
Award to Building Promo
ter, Who Gets Contract
For Part of Structure.
Plans Sub-LeaSeS

/ WHO Will Dullu TIE CITY duulIoIluHi
and have no assurance that con-
struction will be handled by a re-
liable construction company, de-
clared Commissioner William l..
Harrison at an adjourned meeting
I, of the commission Friday after
noon, when contract for steel and
brick work was awarded over his
protest to D. E. Manasco, building
promoter, for $4,000. Manasco
said foundation work would start in
10 days.
Commissioner Harrison's state
ment came after motion had been
made by Commissioner w. E. Dick
son, who has handled the project
throughout, that the contract be
awarded to Manasco. AS the mo-
ton was about to be put to a vote,
Commissioner Harrisons rose and
declared he thought it pertinent, in
asmuch as Manasco is not conf
tractor, that the commission should
have some more information as to
who would do the work and how it
would be done. Commissioner
Dickson after the meeting affirmed
the assertion that commissioners
did not know to whom Manasco
would sublet contracts for steel and
brick work, declaring that "his was
the lowest bid and / suppose he will
now proceed to advertise for bids
ON the other work"
Manasco Makes Statement
In the meeting, after Commission
er Harrison's statement, Commission
err Dickson called on Manasco to
make a statement, declaring that he
had told him previously that IL he
were awarded the contract he would
have to furnish bend. Manasco said
his bid was covered by the largest
steel construction company in the
country and that brick work would
! be done by one of the most reliable
firms vi Birmingham. He refused to
, give their names. He said he would
/
that he was a contractor. having
$4,000 worth of work now under
construction.
The meeting was held after sew
eral adjourned sessions had been
carried over and protests had been
made by a number of citizens that the
auditorium was being unnecessarily
delayed by the commission. 1t was
attended by all the commissioners,
and began at 1855 o'clock.
Commissioner Dickson was the first
member of the board to speak. He
announced that three bids had been
received on general construction.
exclusive of heating. plumbing, and
wiring. He said these bids were:
Ford Construction company. $4,000;
Day G. Sacks, s322,000 and Inglenook
Construction company, $4,000.
One bid for s97.sOS was received
on brick work from Charles Hall.
he said, and two bids were received
covering brick and steel work, or en-
were according to Dickson: d. E.
Manasco, s191,OO0 Atlanta Construc-
ton company, s201,650.
Saving Marked by Dickson
1--WE have decided that several
thousand dollars can be saved by
awarding contract for enclosing CT
the building separately from interior
finishing. We have figured that Mr..
Manassas bid on enclosing of the
building will result in a cost Of $685.
$50 for the structure complete, and
that the Atlanta Construction com
panys bid will result in total cost
of $3O4,610."
Dickson asked some OF the COM
mssioners to figure the difference,
which was declared to be s10,650.
Dickson then moved that the contract
be awarded to Manasco.
Commissioner Harrison rose. Since
the matter has gone this far, I be-
lieve that there are some phases
that should be investigated before
awarding the contract, and especially
in view of the one to whom it Is pro-
posed to award it. What we are prin-
cipally interested in is proper au-
ditorium. We want II to be free
from any imperfections, and want it
to measure up to the plans of the
city. In order that this be done, 1
think 1t advisable that the work be
given to a regular building con-
tractor.
Harrison Not Satisfied
1.-THE man to whom 1t Is proposed
to award tne contract mas never, so
far as l know. had any experience
in erecting buildings of this kind or
, character. He has not the reputation
of building contractor. Therefore.
] think ii very pertinent that
we should know something OF
the manner in, which this building
will be handled, who will build It,
etc. We have no assurance on any
Of these points. and l am not salts
flied at all on the matter.
| Especially. In view of. the fact
tha the matter has gone along so
1 far. 1T seems that we could pause for
moment t. consider this phase of it.
| 1t has passed the stage of talking
inow, and has reached the point where
+ we are called upon to name the man
| who will construct the building and
who will determine whether 1t Is safe
land adequate. Therefore, l think we
! should have some more information.
and that is what | am rising for at
4 this time
| Commissioner Dickson replied Il
told Mn Manasco several days ago
! that If he were the lowest bidder. he
would be required to make bond, and
j. he said he understood that. Mr. Har-