Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1905 — CONTINUED TO AUGUST 24. [ARTICLE]

CONTINUED TO AUGUST 24.

Hitch In the Iroquois Ditch Proceedings—Contract Not Yet Closed. CLAIM MADE THAT THE SALE WAS ILLEGAL. t People Who flust Pay for Improvement Disappointed at Delay.

The i>eople interested in the making of the big Iroquois ditch had scarcely begun congratulating each other on the success of the sale ere a protest against the entering into a contract with the successful bidder was filed by M. M. Hathaway and the Taylor Dredge Co., who, it is generally believed, were encouraged to do so by a party here who is not assessed one penny for the improvement. This, and the talk that it has since raised over the legality of the sale and the probable effect it would have on the sale of the bonds, caused Stewart & Son, the lowest bidders on the work, who had put up a bond for $2,500 to enter into a contract and bond to execute the work, to get scared, and they signified their intention Thursday morning of doing nothing further in the matter. Later in the day, however, we are told, they promised to come here Monday with their attorney and meet Judge Thompson and discuss the matter. The cause was then continued by the commissioners until Aug. 24th for further action, and it is hoped by every friend of the improvement—and their names are legion that the sale will go through, otherwise it will have to be advertised and re-let. The contention of the “parties” who filed the protest was that the ditch should be sold or offered for sale by allotments, and that the sale as made was illegal. E. B. Sellers was brought over from Monticello Thursday to advise the commissioners, and we are told that his views coincided with Judge Thompson in most everything, and the Judge says the proceedings were perfectly legal in every way. They both agreed that the protest filed by the outsiders was of no effect because they were not interested parties to the construction of the ditch, and had therefore no legal kick coming. As to the legality of the bonds, we are told they also agreed, and that local parties stand ready to take every one at 5 per cent, interest. In fact Judge Thompson told the commissioners that he would take SIO,OOO worth himself. The county attorney also filed a very voluminous opinion, holding about all the proceedings illegal and vaid and recommending the discharge of the engineer and the appointment of a more qualified one. It is said that one of the commissioners had wanted J. F. Bruner appointed engineer, .and possibly this may have had something to do with this part of the “opinion.” Bodette came on Wednesday and filed hie bond and is ready to go ahead with the work, but of course the sale with Stewart & Sons must be closed for the lower section, before anything else can be done, and it is possible that Bodette would have to execute his bond to the Stewarts instead of Jasper county, as he really gets his contract from them. In view of the brief account of the sale given last week a more extended account may be of interest, and we herewith give the more important matters connected therewith: The bidding was open to everyone and being at public outcry there is no room for any one to kick. The writer was present at the sale and everything seemed to be open and above board. Judge Thompson acted as auctioneer and Engineer Lewis and R. D. Thompson as clerks. The work was first offered in sections and then as a whole. The estimates for the various sections of the main ditoh were as follows: Rock, sl.lO per cubio yard; earth above the rock, 25 oenta; main ditch, 7 cents; Gifford and Pinkamink laterals, 7 cents; Davisson lateral, 9 cents.

The entire work of the main ditch was sold to H. H. Stewart & Sons of Kokomo, at — 87| cents for the rock work (22J cents below estimate); 9| cents for earth above rock (15| cents less than estimate); 6 cents for main ditch (1 cent less than estimate); 6.70 cents for Gifford and Pinkamink lateral (.30 cents less than estimate); 8.20 cents for Davisson lateral (.80 cents less than estimate). The three small laterals, mostly tile, near the upper end of the ditch were let to Nim Hopkins and E. S. Thornton (Thornton lateral); Harry R. Kurrie (Kurrie lateral); D. H. Yeoman (Yeoman lateral) at $325, $2,000 and $370 respectively. The dredge work on the main ditch was agreed by the Stewarts to be let to Bodette, and he put up a certified check for $2,500, the same as the Stewarts, to comply with the further requirements by entering into a contract and filing a bond in double the amount of the contract within six days. The bidders on the main ditch were M. M. Hathaway and Sternberg & Son of Winamac; The Taylor Dredge Co., of Louisville; Ed Bodette of Toledo, Ohio; and Stewart & Sons of Kokomo.

Hathaway dropped out on 17 cents for earth above rock and 99 cents for rock. The Taylor Dredge Co., dropped out on 97.90 on rock, 17.90 for earth obove rock, 6.89 for main ditch and 8.85 for the three laterals. When the lower section was put up separately, the Taylor Dredge Co. was SI.OO on rock and 20 cents on earth above rock, and separate bid was on main of 6.98 and 8.98 on the three laterals. Bodette dropped out on 93 cents for rock; 10 cents for earth above rock; 6.20 main ditch;6.7o Gifford and Pinkamink laterals; and 8.25 Davisson lateral. After this several bids were made by Stewart & Son and Sternberg & Sons, the latter’s last bid being precisely the same as Stewart’s except J cent higher on the rock work, or 87.50 per yard. (In the brief account of the bidding published last week a typographical error made us say that Sternberg’s last bid was 77 50 instead of 87.50, the correct figures). To be more precise, the main ditch estimate is 57,925 yards of stone work, and the saving on stone work is $13,183 50 over the estimate. The dirt above the stone is estimated at 25,365 yards, and the saving on this is $3,931.58. The dirt or dredge work on main ditch is estimated at 855,796 yards, and the saving on this is $8,557.99. Outside parties made a standing offer of 3 cents per yard for the stone after it was excavated, and this price was guaranteed the contractors if they desired to own the stone, they stated otherwise and therefore it belongs to the improvement. This would amount to $1,737.75, making a total saving on the main ditch of #27,410.79. The Gifford lateral was estimated at 39,238 yards, and the saving here is $902.48 over estimate. Pinkamink lateral, 31,325 yards, saving $720.48. Davisson lateral, 74,650 ‘"yards, saving $597.30. Grand total saving over estimate for the entire ditch of $29,631.02. Wanted—Middle-aged or elderly woman to take charge of home in the country in family of two. For name of party enquire at The Democrat office or ’phone 517-1. We are nearing the end of the moat successful and greatest clearance sale ever inaugurated. Chicago Bargain Stork.