Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 106, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1910 — BRIDGE CONTRACTS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS [ARTICLE]

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

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

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.

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-

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.

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