Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1905 — BIG DITGH BID OFF. AND AT PRICES WAY UNDER THE ESTIMATES. [ARTICLE]

BIG DITGH BID OFF. AND AT PRICES WAY UNDER THE ESTIMATES.

After a long and bitterly contested bidding matoh, the construction of the Iroquois ditch was awarded Fri, afternoon to Stewart & Sons, of Kokomo. Their bids, and the viewers’ estimates per cubio yard were as follows: On the rock work, their bid $0.87J per yard. Estimate sl.lO per yard, Dirt above the rock, estimates 25 oents. Main ditoh, 6 oents; estimate 7 oents. Gifford andPinkamink Laterals, 6 and .70 cents; estimate 7 oents. Davisson lateral 8 15 cents Estimate 9 oents.

The bids aggregate about sls- - less than the viewers’ estimates.

As soon as Stewart and Sons gave the necessary $5,000 guarantee it was stated that Ed Bodette would take the dredge work, and Stewart & Sons, the rock, and the contraots were being «o drawn up. The three small laterals, near the upper end of the ditoh were let to nearby property owners, and all at the viewer’s estimates.

Nim Hopkins and E. S. Thornton got the Thornton lateral, a tile ditch for $235. .

Harry R. Kurrie, the Kurrie lateral, part tile and pert open ditoh, at about $2,000. D. H. Yeoman, the Yeoman lateral, at about $370.

The selling of the ditch took plaoe in the open air, at the east door of the oourt house, and by public verbal bids like an auctioneer’s publio sale. Only the bids were “down” instead of “up.” The sale was nominally made by the engineer W. L. Lewis, but be helped keep the minutes, and Judge S. P. Thompson officiated as auctioneer. Ray D. Thompson assisted Mr. Lewis as olerk

The principal bidders were M. M. Hathaway, of Winamac, Taylor Dredge Co., of-i Louisville; C. H Sternberg & Sons, os4Bouth Bend, Ed Bodette, of Toledo, and Stewart & Sons, of Kokomo. They gradually dropped out until only Bodette, Sternberg and Stewart were in the fight. Then Bodette fell just outside the breastworks, and Stewart & Sons and Sternberg & Sous fought it out band to hand. In each case a son stood in front and did the bidding, while the father stocd back and encouraged their hoys to go in and win. Sfc*-

When Bodette dropped out hie last bid was 93 cents per yard for th* rock. 6.15 cents for tbe main ditch, 6.70 for Gifford and Pinkamink laterals and 8.26 for tbe Davisson lateral. He really want, ea only [. the dredge work, and thereafter he had an understanding with Stewart and Sous, and their bids were really his also ou the dreg work. When finally Bternbergs dropped out their bid was the same as 3tewart’s suca<B;ful bid, except on the rock, which was a quarter of a cent lower per yard. But even a quarter of a cent lower on the rock per yard was $145 diff jrence on the whole ..job. There are 58,000 cubic "yards of rock to be removed and for this S ewart & Sons were receive 8 1\ cents per yard or $50,605 fjr the j >b. They also get the 25,365 y ards of earth above the rock, at 9£ cents par yard, or $2 301; makirg their entire oontraot s.me $52,914 or praotioally $53,00. They have given a certified check for $2 500 aa a guarantee that they will file the necessary bond es SIOO,OOO to

do tlije work. This bond must be ready within six days from Friday, orthe oontract will be given to Sternberg &'Sons, the next lowest bidder.

Ed Bodette’s part of the work, nrfmeiy the main ditoh, the Pinkamink, thejGifford and the Davisson laterals, amounts to about $62,000 and he also must famish a SIOO,000 bond in six days, or lose the job and forfeit his $2,500. At the beginning of the sale it was announced that an cffer of 3 cents a yard for the rook after it had seen exoavated had been made by an outside party. The varions bidders all agreed that they did not want the rock and therefore the contracts are so drawn. The party bidding the three cents was Granville Moody. At 3 oents a yard the entire output of the rook, measured before it is excivated, will be some $1,700. This will go that far towards cheapening the oost of the oonstrnotion of the ditcb, to the assessed property Mr, Moody, and Juoge Thompson states that this rook will te turned over for road and street building, at first, ocst and expenses All told these several contraots amount in round numbers, to some $127,500, This inolnding the same $1,700 paid by Mr. Moody for the rock, would make a total reduction from the viewer*’ estimates of about hoped that these unexpected favorable contracts will be effective, bat already there are indications of trouble ahoad. Two of the bidders, M. M. Hathaway and the Taylor Dredge Company, have filed protests in the auditor office, against lettiDg the contracts to the Stewarts and Bodette.

They both olaim that the contracts were illegally awarded; in that they should have been let, as they olaim, in the different working sections, so long as bids under the estimates were reoeived for those sections. Mr. Hathaway claims that he should be given the rook oontraot at 99 cents and 17 cents for the dirt above the rocks while the Taylor people olaim the contract for the main ditch at 6.85 cents perfyard. these contentions in the Commissioners and perhaps other courts, it may mean s long spell of litigation whiob will delay the coostrnction of the ditch, or perhaps cause a re-letting, They will first oome before the commissioners at their present session, when they are asked to approve the Stewart and Bodette contracts.