Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1910 — Page 1

No. 106.

Ok Princess theatre HOB PHILLIPS, Proprietor. Wat oh This Space Every Sap

LOCAL HAPPENINGS. Free band concert tonight by the boys’ band. See those fine prunes at Rhoades’ grocery for 5 cents a pound. „The high, school hoys will go t(> Wheatfleld to play baseball Saturday. The richest thing yet, “Frou Frou” sugar wafers, Home Grocery. Fine''white clover honey, 15 cents a pound, at Rhoades’ grocery. Use A, & K. Best flour and be happy 61.50 a sack at the Home Grocery. Mrs. Mary Lane returned to Chicago today after a short visit with her brother, A 1 Peters, south of town. Fresh Fig Newton Cakes' only 12c a pound. JOHN EGER. G. A. Rainier and wife, of Brookston, came this morning to <aisit their son, Dr. A. P. Rainier, at Remington. He met them here In an automobile. AH- styles of Oxfords and pumps for men, women and children at Fendig’s Exclusive Shoe Store, opera house block. W. H. Blodgett, the Indianapdlts special writer, was here yesterday getting a write-up of the bridge graft investigations We take pleasure in fitting shoes to feet that are hard to fit. Shoe fitting is our specialty. Fendig’s Exclusive Shoe Store, Opera House Block. Will Knox, who graduated from the pharmacy department of Chicago University last week, secured good employment at once in the city. Mr. and Mrs. George Shell hart -returned to Winamac today after a short visit with Dave Hines, and family. We keep almost everything in foot wear and are always pleased to get you what you want if we do not have it. Fendig’s Exclusive Shoe Store, Opera House Block.

United Clothes Are Built Right

Every inch of the material which goes into the manufacture of United Clothes is critically examined. If there is the slightest defect; if an inspector has the least idea that a fabric is not absolutely perfect he rejects it. —Every of the company and every workman in the shops is im : bued with the ambition jto keep United Clothes at the head of the procession. For thirty years the Richman Bros. Co. have made United Clothes and every year they have made them better, until now the man who goes to the custom-tailor for a suit of clothes is the exception. The man who knows buys United Clothes and saves from $5 to sls. Let us show you the new Spring and Summer styles.

T«vfc Fifteen and Twenty Dottan C. Earl Duvall, ** nss, &„ a . The Only Exclusive Clothier, Finisher, and Hatter iu This City.

The Evening Republican.

TONIGHT’S PROGRAM —♦— PICTURES. Taming a Husband. — 7 — Indian- Act. SONG. t —i Love He Just a Little.

A can of Van Camp’s Bauer kraut 9c at the Home Grocery. Mrs. Edward Ferger, of Indianapolis, is spending today as the guest of her cousin, Mrs. G. F. Meyers, and her aunt, Mrs. Kennedy. Mrs, ‘ George Hershman and baby returned to Crown Point this morning after a*ten days’ visit with the family of Smith Neyell, of Barkley township. For this week only. Oun regular 15c imported Singapore Pineapple' Cubes for 40c. JOHN EGER. John B. Ellis, of near Monticello, came today to visit his son, J. H. S. Ellis, and his daughter, Mrs. A. H. Hopkins.Mrs. M. E. Thompson and Mrs. F. A. Ross went to Chicago this morning to see the Milroy statue which has been about completed by Miss Mary Washburn. St. Paul, Minn., elected Herbert P. Keller mayor, defeating the democratic candidate by 5,000 votes. It is the first republican mayor elected in St. Paul for 14 years. H. W. Jackson had mighty good luck in a pig trade be made this year. On Dec. 17th he bought a stag, paying sls for it. Today he sold it for $32. Who can beat this? If you want good shoes at low prices ask to see our bargain shoes. We always have broken lots which we close out at great reduction. Fendig’s Exclusive Shoe Store, Opera House Block. Mrs. J. W. Childers went to Keener, township today to attend the closing of the old Shortridge school, which her daughter Mary taught. The Keener township schools, are out this week, having had 8 months in that township. Wilson Shaffer is the owner of a mother pig that recently gave birth to 17 pigs. One was dead when he found .the mother and five have since been Killed by the mother laying on them. Eleven still live and are healthy aud strong.

’ : .*■ ,> % -r?—o- —•r7T I ~-

Bntorcd January 1, IWT, aa aaoond-olaaa man matter, at tka port-ottoa at Talari a, under the act of March 3, 187*.

Don’t Assume That Every Person is a Grafter, ’Bat Give All a Chance and Reserve Your Condemnation. Every person in Jasper county is entitled to know anything they want about the business of the county. They are entitled to know how the money is spent, ancL how the contracts are let for the' things the county buys. They have a right and not only,the right, but access at any time to the books of the county. There is at this time a great amount of discussion about bridge, graft.' Taxpayers should, know all about the bridge contracts and the Republican has decided to enlighten them as nearly as it can on f the subject. Following an Interview with Prosecutor Longwell a few days ago, the Republican published a statement that proves to be incorrect upon investigabridge f contracts let to one bridge company showed a disparity in price between $595 and $1,289, while the more expensive bridge was only 5 feet longer than the other. The table published herewith shows all the bridge

Date Bridge Co. Township. Width. Bid. * Book. Page. June* I,* 190?. Wtnamac Milroy 40 $ 710 6 652 July 6,1908 r Winamac Milroy 40 778 6 '.555 Sept. 9, 1908. Winamac H. Grove 50 848.50 6 664 Oct. 7, 1908. Winamac Keener 50 789 6, 573 Oct. 7, 1908. Winamac Union 50 789 6 574 March 1, 1909. Winamac Milroy 70 1400 7 26 April 6, 1909. Attica Walker 30 429 7 91 April 6, 1909. Attica Keener 30 429 7 91 May. 4, 1909. Winamac Marion 60 n May 4, 1909. -Winamac Walker 40 i May 4, 1909. Winamac Walker 40 f May 4, 1909. Winamac Keener 30 / 3214 7 47 Lump bld May 4, 1909. Winamac Keener 30 \ May 4, 1909. Winamac Keener 30 / July 5, 1909. Attica Walker 40 575 7 98 July 5, lfio9. Winamac Walker 40 610 . 7 99 . Aug. 3, 1909. Winamac Keener 30 497 7 104 Sept. 6, 1909. Winamac Kankakee 45 913 7 118 Dec. 6, 1909. Joliet Wheatfleld 70 1640 7 141 Dec. 6, 1909. Attica Walker 55 1289 7 142 Dec. 6, 1909. Winamac Barkley 40 789 7 145 Feb. 8, 1910. Winamac Marion 90 1737 7 152 # Feb. 8, 1910. Winamac Marion 60 1194 7 151 Mch. 7, 1910. Attica Marion 66 1222 7 154

RENSSELAER, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1910.

BRIDGE CONTRACTS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS

' vw..>v.. .» .. ■ When Let, To Whom, The Size, Cost, Etc., and a Discussion for the Public Good.

LET US BE FAIR

contracts that have been let In Jasper county since June, 1908, at which time the Winamac Bridge Co. first entered the local field. The table gives the date of the letting, the successful bidder, the township in which the bridge is 'located, the length of the bridge span and the record book and the page of the entry. The further specifications for the bridges cannot be given, but for the purpose of comparison they are Jiere discussed, and they may be consulted at the office of the county auditor. It will be seen that on July 5, 1909, the Attica Bridge Co. waß awarded a contract for a 40-foot span bridge in Walker township for $575. Also that on Dec. 6, 1909, the same company was given a contract for a 55-foot span bridge in the same township, for $1,289, or $714 more than was paid for the shorter bridge. This is evidently the disparity that Prosecutor Longwell referred to when he discussed bridges with the writer in a recent interview. Mis statement was to the effect that there Was only 5 feet difference in the length of the bridges. It will be seen that the difference was 15 feet. The 15 feet difference might seeps at a glance not to justify such an advance in price, but bridge plans and specifications cannot be conceived at. a glance and a little examination makes the reason for the disparity apparent. The 55-foot bridge is what is called an eskew bridge, meaning .that It does not cross the stream at

right angles but is built on a slant, with the corner tubes and piling skewed around to make the- bridge straight with the road although crossing the river on the bias. These bridges are always more expensive, more difficult of construction and consequently cost more. " On the longer bridges the metal is all heavier, and an examination of the specifications will show that the longer bridge is composed metal ffom 25 to 100 per cent larger in its measurements than the shorter bridge, which would make it'cost in metal weight about twice what the smaller bridge cost, would add to the expense of construction, the expense of hauling and transportation and doubtless make all the difference that is showii by the increased price. In the letting of both of these contracts the Winamac Bridge Co. had in competing bids. For the shorter bridge they bid $6lO and it will be seen that on the same day and in the same township they were let a contract for a bridge at that price, but “for particular" bridge the Attica Bridge Co. bid less and was awarded the contract. Again in December the Winamac Bridge Cb. entered a competing bid for the 55-foot span.* The bid was for $1,650, or $361 more than the successful bidders received. Thus it will again be seen-that another company figured the difference in

the construction of the two bridges to be $1,040. Most of the smaller bridges have lumber backing, which holds back the dirt at the edge of the bridge. Most of the longer bridges have metal backing, which is much more expensive. The 55-foot bridge had metal backing. The specifications for the 40-foot bridge were not at the auditor’s office this morning, being in the possession of the prosecuting attorney, but wooden backing was required on other 40foot span bridges. There are bridges and bridges, and the price can not be based on the span length. It will be noticed that on March 7th, this year, the Attica Bridge to. was awarded a contract for a 66foot span bridge $67 less than was paid for the 55-foot span for which the contract was let in December. The latter bridge is in Marion township, with a shorter haul and a straight bridge instead of an eskew bridge. Bridge men base the price of their bids on the amount of metal in them, the length of the haul, the time of construction, and it is possible that a bridge might be of shorter span and still more expensive to construct. The table published herewith shows that some 50-foot span bridges were bijilt for less than 45-foot span bridges. It is probable that some 6-room houses in Rensselaer also cost-lean than some 5-room houses. It is the material and labor and not the length or. size that costs.

Th« Prettiest Moving 1 PI store Show In the City. BXX WAHHBE, Proprietor.

The Republican is heartily in favor of an investigation of bridge contracts and if there is a crooked thing in connection with the letting of any contract we want it exposed and will help to acquaint the people, whose servant we are, with the fact, but we are opposed and we believe all respectable people are opposed to branding men as criminals and grafters without evidence against them. Chas. T. Denham, John F. Pettit and Fred Waymire, the commissioners of Jasper county, are men of the highest standing in the county and in their communities and we are unable to see a single thing in the letting of the contracts that should cast a shadow on any of them. We believe that they have acted honestly and faithfully as the business agents of the people at all times and that the imputations that- some would heap on them are unwarranted. That they are largely for political effect there can be no doubt, and the Republican believes that All fair minded people, republicans and democrats alike, will not be guilty of passing judgment without the proper investigation. Prosecutor Longwell is looking into the matter, having become convinced that graft exists. He is presenting his evidence to the grand jury and it will soon make a report. Whatever is uncovered that smacks of dishonesty will be given to the public and the Republican will shield no guilty man. It never has, and never 'will under its present management. it is the public duty not to accept the Imputations of men who have political hopes as their motive. The Republican is glad that Prosecutor Longwell is investigating the bridge matters. The county commissioners of Jasper county are the agents of the public and their public conduct is of right the property of the public. But it is unfair to them to point out the fact that one bridge contract was let for $575 and another for $1,289 without letting the people know what the specifications were that made the difference in the price. That the commissioners did not check up the Bader bridges carefully can not be gainsaid. They went to the scene of the bridges when they were completed, saw they were completed and ordered the bills paid. The commissioners are not engineers and doubtless would not have discovered even after quite minute investigation that some of the bridges were not according to specifications. It has required an expert to make this known. Probably there was not a man in Jasper county qualified to judge steel weights by measurements. The com-

Meek's Bargains 200 Pairs Women’s Shoes or Oxfords, 01 OP were $2.00, $2.50, and $3.00. . NOW OIiUU 75 Pairs Boys’ Patent Leather Shoes, 01 Tr were $2.50 and $3.00 NOW Ola I 3 100 Pairs Girls’ Shoes, sizes % l / 2 to 1, ftr A were $1.25 and $1.50 NOW OjC 75 Pairs Men’s Shoes, Patent or Vici, 01% TP were $3.00 and v 53.50. . . . . NOW oZiIJ And Many Other Lines at Big Reductions. See Ours Before Yon Buy. Fendig's Exclusive Shoe Store Opera House Block

TONIGHT’S PROGRAM —♦ — PICTURES. The Enchanted Castle, a comedy. > SONG Say, Do Yon Lore Me, Dear. I

Grocery Satisfaction If your grocer pleases you in every particular, you diave no cause for changing. Even WE can do no more than that. But if you think some of making a shift, we would be glad to give you the best service of which we are capable. Often and often we have turned now-and-again customers into steady patrons. And we lose a surprising few of the really particular grocery buyers, who once become our customers. . Try us on anything you. like. McFarland & Son Reliable Grocers.

missioners realize, that they were not as careful in this matter as they should have been, but it is probbale that it would have cost in the neighborhood of $25 to SSO per bridge to have them measured and compared with the specifications and they have never before thought this expense justified. Now, however, they are decided that the bridges of the future shall be measured by competent engineers. It is probable that this action will result in a higher cost of bridges but the commissioners believe it is essential in the protection of the public interests and of themselves as well. That bridge contracts in this county were let low enough there is no doubt and except for the work of the Winamac Bridge Co., which some engineers say was both inferior and evasive, there is no indication that there is any guilt on the part of any person. The disparity of prices is accounted for readily by investigation of the specifications. There will be a social and entertainment at the Catholic school hall Thursday evening, May sth, under the management of the Christian Mothers of St. Augustine’s Catholic church. The program will be free, consisting of music and songs. Ice cream, coffee and sandwiches, and home made candy will be served. There will also be a fishing pond. All are cordially invited to attend.

VGL.XIY.