Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1917 — BIDS WERE ALL WAY TOO HIGH [ARTICLE]

BIDS WERE ALL WAY TOO HIGH

Barnard Ditch Did Not Sell Be* cause of Increased Labor Cost. C. J. Hobbs, engineer in charge of the construction of the Barnard ditch, has thus far been unable to let the contract for the work, the same having been advertised to be sold last Thursday. All bids submitted are far in excess of the estimated cost, which is said to have been caused by the rapidly increasing cost of labor and coal and all other r elements entering into the work. The estimated cost of the work was 7 cents a cubic yard, but the lowest bid filed thus far is 10.7 cents a cubic yard, and the »work cannot be let for more than the estimated cost. Mr. Hobbs and the attorneys in charge of the sale of the ditch* feel that someone will yet take the work at the estimated figure, and will continue to offer the same for sale from day to day for the time being at least.