Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1916 — HOSPITAL CONTRACT WAS NOT AWARDED [ARTICLE]

HOSPITAL CONTRACT WAS NOT AWARDED

Only Two Bids Received Which Board Consider Too High—Adjourned Meeting Thursday.

The hospital trustees, C. H. Pecic, of Remington’; F. E. Lewis, of Kersey, and E. P. Honan, L. H. Hamilton and J. D. Allman, of Rensselaer, met Monday and opened the 'bids for the county hospital construction. There were only two bids, one by M. V. Brown, of Rensselaer, and the other by Frank Medland, of Logansport. John Halladay, Of Rensselaer, was figuring with Mr. Medland. The bids were not based on just the same result, Mr. Brown having figured on the installation of the elevator and Mr. Medland had not. The Medland bid was figured to be $237 less than that of Mr. Brown’s without the elevator. Both bids wfere in excess of $15,000 exclusive of the elevator. One elevator man was present and his estimate was $2,900 for the elevator. The board considered this too high. There were a number of brick men present, including Frank Timmons, of Remington. The architect, Alban W. Coen, of Chicago, was also present. The board decided not to award the contract but to wait until after Thursday, and a meeting was called for 8 o’clock a. m. of that day. It may be decided at that time to award it but present indications are that it will be readvertised for a later date. Mr. Coen, the architect, insists that the prices ottered are too high and that the building should .be completed inside the $16,000 which he estimated. Over and above this will be the price paid to the architect, which includes him superintending the building during construction. There will also he some other expenses and the board wants to keep within the appropriation. *lt will be determined at the meeting Thursday whether the contract will be let on the bids opened Monday or whether the construction contract will be readvertised and let at a later date.