Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1907 — HOWE DITCH SOLD [ARTICLE]

HOWE DITCH SOLD

Price Considerably Under Estimated Cost. SEVERAL UDDERS WERE PRESENT But Contract Ooes to B. Qllmore of Near Lab at 5.89 Cento Per Cubic Yard.

The sale oKthe Howe ditch, generally called the Wakarasa, brought out quite a number of bidders Wednesday, and was carried on at intervale all afternoon. Ephriam Gilmore, who owns some 3,000 acres of land near Lee and whose assessment is over $5,000, was the low bidder on the final show-down and was awarded contract at 5.89 centsrpe yard. There Were some eight bidders all told, and the price was started at the estimate of 6.85 and hammered down to the above figure. Steroberg & Son were the next lowest bidders, their last bid being 5.90. It is generally conceded that the ditch-sold at a low figure, being some $5,000 below the estimate, but there is some doubt expressed as to the contractor’s ability to get to work and dig the ditch in a satisfactory manner and within a reasonable time. Had Farmer, Gundrum or Sternberg got it, the opinion is that the work would be pushed right along from the start, the two former dredgo men now having idle dredges that could be put to work as soon as they could be moved to the ditch. It is hoped that the parties in- . terested will be agreeably disappointed, however, and that Mr. Gilmore will begin throwing dirt on his contract in a few weeks.