The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-27
THREE ASSOCIATES.
BACKING HARRISON
FOR EARLY ACTION
Speedy Start of Auditorium
Construction Urged by Com
miSSionerS--Va Keuren
Checking

Belief at the city hall that build
ing enclosed" contract for the audi
k torium would be awarded Charles w.
Hall and the Virginia Bridge ana
Iron company at the Tuesday com
mission meeting gained in strength
considerably Friday when d. IL.
Manasco withdrew from the fight ana
it appeared that the Atlanta Con-
struction company, the only other
low bidder, was practically out OF the
running. Leadership of Commissioner
William L. Harrison appeared TO
make sure this action would be taken
and that actual construction would
be started with minimum or lost
time.
The only other course open to the
commission Is to reject all bids and
advertise for new ones, as advocated
by Mrs. Mary Echols. 1t appeared
highly improbable, however, that this
course would be adopted, as MRS.
Echols seemed to stand alone con-
tending for it. Her four colleagues
seem to be in favor of wasting no
more time than absolutely necessary
now in getting the building under
construction. 1t was said definitely
by four commissioners Friday that
If E. B. Van Keuren, engineer. en-
ployed by the city to check the BIDS
and plans, can determine which of
the figures already submitted is the
lowest they will vote for awarding
the contract accordingly. Mr.. Van
Keuren said later, after having had
the bids of Charles w. Hall and the
Virginia Bridge and Iron company
interpreted, that he was certain 1t
would be possible, although some
points were apparently indefinite,
J,&tn ,tt,n "a hid6aT
The bid of the Atlanta Con-
struction company Will be ex-
planned to the commission and Mr..
Van Keuren Saturday morning by
]. w. Leroux, president. who could
not reach Birmingham Friday, owing
to the suddenness of the commits
sion's action in resembling the con-
tract with Manasco.
No Chamber Reply
While no reply had been received
fl ON the Chamber of Commerce to
the commissions letter late in the
afternoon, it was said by President
D. E. McLendon that a conference
would probably be held between the
commission and the chambers special
committee Saturday morning. Pres
ident McLendon said the city would
lay it's action before the committee.
and he expected that it would be
raticfactorv and M checkinP of MANS
bv an outside exnert wouId he de-
n,anded
II vas noip+ed ont that rescindinp
of tbe contract with Manasco re.
noved tho first obiection of the
chamber and that emn1ovine Of Mr.
W ISarran wbioh u,as officioI1X, an.
nonnced Eriday would meet tho s,,o-
nestion ~ have the Mans thorourhIv
cbaclyed wbiIe Mr. Van Keuran Will
~ 10 nnderstood cbeeix tho MANS only
fron, a., onoyiroerfng stondnoipt IL is
aIso nndarstood that thew will he
thorouerbIv cbec,,ed srcbitecturallv a {
asl,ed ~, 80 cbauhor rrbis wa.
Iearned fron, re1iahIe source
III ouastfon 1y,s onan1v and fro
o,,entlv asked at the citv hall as In
wbv there should now he any delay
in getting tbe auditorium under con-
str5,etion II Il can .hes ,seertained that
reliable renutabIe contractors are
low bidders ON the work 1t was
shown that tho nrice of steel has al
ready advanced 80 TON since bids
were received in January and that
is NO assurance mat cost of steel and
other materials will not be higher.
pI,r. Declared safe
Obiection 10 tha architect,s nlans.
first -aised NV Mrs. EchoIs. received
dash of cold water when Mr.. Van
Keuren who has already studied
tben, daclared that tbev were
Fundamentally sound and safe He
said that soma cbanras might have to
he made. but that thew might. in