Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-07
MEMORIAL BRIDGE
BIDS ARE OPENED
IL Submitted for Construc-
ton of Six Piers and Four
AbutmentS.

Bids for the construction Of six piers
and four abutments for the Arlington
Memorial Bridge were opened THIS
morning in the office Of public build
ings and public parks Of the National
by Maj. J. A. c. Mehaffey. as
sistant to the director of the office of
public buildings and public parks.
Mai. Ulysses 5. Grant, Sd, director
Of the office and executive omcer Oh
the bridge commission, was preseht
at the opening of the bids, Whlch
the beginning of the work 1or
the initial construction OF this great
memorial.
Twelve bids We're received from con
struction firms in various parts OIL me
country. The Rhinehart Dennis GO.
of Charlottesville, Va, bid 81 .792,4S3.44.
This firm asked for $50 days to com.
plete the construction by the so-caIleo
open Golfer dam method.
Seeds & Durham of Germantown,
Philadelphia, Pa, bid $2,l9',f4' ana
estimated the time at 80 DAYS by the
open Golfer dam method. They oHer-
ed also to build il by sealing with
air.
Offer Caisson Method.
The Blakslee Rollins Corporation OF
Boston. Mass. offered to build the
piers and abutments for 81, 345 900 In
go days by the caisson method
The Triest Contracting Co. OF New
York City offered to build for $Z,oS'.-
700 in $50 days by the caisson method.
The Arundel Corporation OF Baiti-
Tnfl CT q 4
CO.. from Pitt shurgh, in a Joint bid of
Tered to build IL for S2.2s9.ooO in 55o
days by the caisson method
The Missouri Valley Bridge and
Iron co. of Leavenworth. kans., sub
mitted bid of SO ,022 900. The firm
will require 730 days, using the Gals
son method.
II. p. Converse & Co. Of Boston sub
mitted a bid of 81 .299 900, the work
to be completed in $50 days, using the
caisson meshod.
John GIL g. Son of Clevela nd. Ohio.
offered to build the structures for
81 I45 900 in $40 days by the Golfer
dam method.
New York City fled a bid of $2,04o,-
900 and asked $40 days, using the
Golfer dam method.
adelphia offered to build for Sl,98S, 600
in $50 DAYS. using the caisson method.
The Bravo Contra citing Co of Pitts
hurgh submitted a bid of sl,791 500,
requiring $50 days by the caisson
method.
John Gill & Son submitted second
hid of s2.565. 900. requiring $50 days
by the caisson method.
no-
The bids will be examined imme-
dIately for comparative purposes to
determine which is the lowest bidder,
when all of the details are taken into
consideration. AS basis for con-
$50 days will be taken as
the period of time to consider the
various angles of the bids. Under the
specifications as prepared by the
bridge commission, the successful
will be paid $500 a day for
each day short of the contract time
in which he completes the structure
and will be required to pay the Gov
eminent as liquidated damages, $500
for each day over the specified time
that he consumes in the construction.
The six piers are to be located at
intervals in the river from point
near the Lincoln Memorial to the
Virginia shore, and they will extend
from the bedrock foundation to what
is known as the turn of the arches.
a few feet above the mean low-water
mark The four abutments are To-
Gated one on the Potomac Park shore.
one on the Virginia shore and two
on Columbia Island.
Every effort will be made to pre-
pare the contract in a short time. to
Lot ofr rt
begin within a few weeks for the
structure. which will take about five
years to complete. Contracts for the
bridge spans and approaches are to
be let separately when the other work
progresses to the point where it may
be carried forward without hamper
ing the pier and abutment builders.
The decision of Controller General
McCarl on the matter OF some of the
contracts made in connection with the
bridge will not in any way AFFECT the
work proposed in the bids submitted
today from going forward promptly,
as no legal technicalities have been
found in this part Of the work.
Seek McCarl Suggestions. =
Some efforts will be made to get con-
structive suggestions from Controller
General MC1dTl as 10 now the AIRING
ton Memorial Bridge Commission may
proceed with its work on this struc-
ture without running afoul of the law
in a technical manner, as Mr.. McCarl
has suggested already has been done
in the employment Of the architect
for designing the bridge.
1t was pointed out that the fault
found with the method of retaining
professional services in connection
with this construction were purely
technical. and, in the belief of the
bridge commission officers, Congress
did not intend to deny the officers in
charge of construction Of the bridge
as they have retained.
While there Is no disposition to get
into an extended controversy on the
matter, presidents are being examin-
ed, and, in fact, have been found, for
the employment of such professional
services. All of the papers which
might give the controller additional
light on the subject. in the Offices of
the bridge commission, will be sub
mitted, and Maj. U. S. Grant, Sd, ex-
ecutive officer of the body charged
with building the bridge, said he
would make an effort to get a per-
sonal interview with Controller Nc
Carl to discuss the whole matter with
him. Maj. Grant said that there never
was any doubt that the bridge COM
mission was we'll within its authority