Flick and Manuell contract. His appointment took effect on July 25 and he has been in charge of the work since, giving to it personal supervision and exercising substantially the control over the work that would be exercised by an independent contractor, but subject to the direction and supervision of the Commission's engineers, while all workmen in his employ were appointed by the Commission under Civil Service Rules and paid by the Commission, which also met all bills for materials furnished. Under the provision of Chapter 625, the Commission entered into numerous contracts for the supply of necessary materials to advance the work, as follows:

July 11, 1917. Pennsylvania Cement Company (cement)....
July 16, 1917. Central Foundry Company (castings)
July 30, 1917. Shawmut Clay Manufacturing Company

(ducts)

•

August 3, 1917. J. H. Burton & Company (wooden piles)
August 3, 1917. Phoenix Sand & Gravel Company (sand).
August 3, 1917. Tomkins Cove Stone Company (broken stone).
August 3, 1917. Wm. H. Jackson & Company (tile work).
October 1, 1917. Lorain Steel Company (trolley rails)
October 1, 1917. Lorain Steel Company (special work)

$25,000 00

10,000 00

25,000 00

4,855 20

9,405 00

18, 810 00

1,600 00

2,318 90

8,479 30

The work is now sufficiently advanced under Mr. Hagerty's direction to warrant the belief that the erection of the steel can begin within the next few months. It is proposed, however, to let a separate contract for that work, such contract now being in preparation by the Commission. It will be offered for public letting within a short time. Some of the steel necessary has already been delivered, but war needs have resulted in considerable delay, both in fabrication and delivery. Representations have been made by the Commission to the United States Government, however, as to the urgent necessity for the early manufacture of this steel that the rapid transit needs of the residents of the district through which this line passes may be met.

TRACK MATERIALS CONTRACTS

The purchase of track materials was continued by the Commission under contracts for special work, ties and timber, crossThe following contracts were awarded for such

overs, etc.

materials:

Special work, Order No. 11, Bethlehem Steel Products Company, awarded March 28, 1917, delivered May 21, 1917; amount $34,136.

Special work, Order No. 12, William Wharton, Jr., & Company, awarded March 28, 1917, delivered May 3, 1917; amount $37,205.

Special work, Order No. 13, Ramapo Iron Works, awarded March 21, 1917, delivered May 2, 1917; amount $41,801.

Special work, Order No. 14, Ramapo Iron Works, awarded April 2, 1917, delivered May 3, 1917; amount $28,170.

Special work, Order No. 15, Bethlehem Steel Products Company, awarded June 29, 1917, delivered July 28, 1917; amount $49,062.

Untreated ties and timber, Order No. 4, J. H. Burton & Company, awarded May 21, 1917, delivered July 10, 1917; amount $54,913.13.

Ballast, Order No. 4, Upper Hudson Stone Company, awarded June 13, 1917, delivered July 6, 1917; amount $47,800.

Park Avenue crossovers, Ramapo Iron Works, awarded July 25, 1917, delivered September 11, 1917; amount $4,985.

MISCELLANEOUS CONTRACTS AWARDED IN 1917 BY THE

COMMISSION

Removal of stairways at the Chambers Street station, Centre Street loop, Snare & Triest Company, awarded January 17, 1917, delivered February 8, 1917; amount $1,600.

Relocation of trolley tracks, New Utrecht avenue, Thomas Crimmins Contracting Company, awarded March 14, 1917, delivered May 3, 1917; amount $165,409.56. Under the Dual System Contract, provision was made that upon the completion and operation of the elevated railroad along New Utrecht avenue, Brooklyn, the tracks in the street formerly used for rapid transit operation by the Brooklyn company should be removed from the curb line and rebuilt and relocated in the middle of the street, half the cost to be met by the City and half by the Brooklyn company. February 7, 1917, was the date set for the receipt of bids. for this work. Only one bidder appeared at that time, the firm

of Charles Meads & Company, 38 Park row, New York City, but a communication was read from the Thomas Crimmins Contracting Company, stating that it was unable to submit a bid owing to the fact that the time allowed was insufficient in which to procure a supply of steel rails. The Meads concern bid $223,220. This amount was considered excessive and on advice of the Acting Chief Engineer of the Commission bids were rejected and the contract readvertised with the terms somewhat changed, particularly as to the length of the period for completion of work, which was extended. On the second receipt of bids, a proffer was made by the Thomas Crimmins Contracting Company, the lowest of seven bidders, to carry out the contract for the sum of $156,409.56, a sum considerably less than appeared in the first proffer. The contract was awarded to this company at that price. Q" varnish, John W. Masury & Son, awarded March 23, 1917, delivered May 21, 1917; amount $2,550.

66

Temporary barricades at stations, D. C. Serber, awarded June 27, 1917, delivered July 17, 1917; amount $2,000.

Signal tower and battery room (Routes Nos. 4 & 36, Section No. 2), Seventh Avenue Construction Company, awarded July 16, 1917, delivered August 1, 1917; amount $1,999.99.

Test borings, P. J. Healey, awarded July 19, 1917, delivered July 28, 1917; amount $7,200.

Sewer completion, E. A. Mathews, awarded August 3, 1917, award rescinded October 22, 1917; amount $809.75.

Drainage sewer (Routes Nos. 36 & 37, Section No. 1), D. Donogan & Company, awarded August 8, 1917, delivered September 11, 1917; amount $2,150.

Duct line (Route No. 31), W. G. Cooper, Inc., awarded September 10, 1917, delivered October 23, 1917; amount $38,697. Completion Shaft No. 2 (Route No. 26), I. J. Stander & Company, awarded September 28, 1917, award later rescinded; amount $64,149. On October 31, 1917, the Commission received a letter from I. J. Stander, Secretary of the company, which made the lowest bid, stating that the officers had been unable to procure an indemnity bond required by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company and asking to be relieved from the contract. The Commission on November 19 rescinded the award and directed the prepa

ration of a form of agreement for the construction of the shaft by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company.

Duct line (under Bronx river), Underpinning and Foundation Company, awarded November 14, 1917, not yet delivered; amount $47,108.75.

Drainage sewer (Routes Nos. 36 & 37, Section No. 2), D. Donogan & Company, awarded December 3, 1917, not yet delivered; amount $2,650.

SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS

The following is a summary of all important contracts upon all lines of the Dual System, either completed or awarded up to December 1, 1917:

PROGRESS ON DUAL SYSTEM CONTRACTS-DECEMBER 1, 1917