Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-27
sii,os1 oil

Insurance. Observation-Disclosures. olUUu
Balfour, Guthrie & Co...,.,,......,..,. $50 %
sti,Osl oil
We find that the rate paid for this material was
the lowest obtainab'e market rate.
THE CONTRACT FOR MOTIVE POWER.
In the minutes of the meeting held at san Fran
cisco April 5, 1851, already quoted the Board or
dered an advertisement calling for bids 10 furnish
steam engine and boilers OF $50 horsepower. Such
advertisement appeared in the journals of San Fran
cisco April 9Th. 1t called fer bids to furnish an en-
CINE of $50 horse power ind Gated Said bids to
be sent to the Clerk of the prison San Quentin
be opened April 18th. The Board of Directors held
regular meeting, with full Board present, pril
18th, but the minutes of said meeting contain no
reference the receip: of bids in answer to the ad
vertisement nor no other reference to the subject
We could not learn from the testimony of the Direct
specifically the nature of the transactions Of
that day. The testimony showed that bids were re.
ceived as follows:
Risdon Iron and Loci motive Works ....... SlOO 900
Pacific Iron Works OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1900
Fulton Iron Works. Observation-Disclosures. 1850
Copies of these bids were furnished u.s. and they
are herewith transmitted as part Of the testimony
taken.
1t was in testimony that the firm of Prescott
Scott & Co. bidders, but the bid presented by
this firm on April I4th could not be found. On April
| l6th however, Prescott, Scott Co. addressed a
letter to the estate Prison Directors, Of which the
| following is copy:
"SAN FRANCISCO April l6, lSsl.
| estate Prison Commission-G In
closed find specifications of the engine for the lutte
factory, as we propose to furnish same-24 inches
diameter OF cylinder and 60 inches stroke OF same
| band wheel Is feet diameter and 43 inches face,
turned face and balanced shaft II inches in main
| journal l38 inches where band wheel fits on same
cut board box with adjustable quarter boxes, and
sole plate-for the sum of eight thousand $4,000
| dollars in gold COIN Or We will deliver you
engine of the same size usually recommended by
| MI hui inches ter
inches stroke, with either band-wheel l6 feet di-
ameter for 30 inches Of belt, or segment fywheel
is feet diameter, not suitable for belt for the sum
of thousand (s7, 000) dollars in gold coin, de-
! lvered at the wharf in San Francisco
"0ur own experience proves that to transmit that
| power the band wheel should be IS feet diameter
and the belt ~ / ches wide and the engine should
be so inches stroke to give the owners good results,
though the short stroke is cheaper for the builders
Respectfully, PRESCOTT, SCOTT & CO."
| We do not find in the books of Prescott, Scott &
Co. any trace of the propositions submitted April
| l4th the date at which the bids of other firms
| opened We have the oral testimony of all parties
| to the transaction that such bid submitted.
| From and after April 10th the negotiations APP
| pear to have been conducted chiefly by Warden
| Ames No further records or written testimony
appear until May 18th, when at meeting held at
San Quentin, Directors Neff and Eyerson are APP.
pointed a committee to act with Warden Ames in
the purchase of engine boilers etc, for the entire
power for the jute mills.
Under date OF MAY 10th we find a letter written
| by Prescott, Scott & Co. to Warden Ames referring
to specifications submitted April 10th, and propos
| ing to furnish engine and boilers, built in accord
ance with specifications herewith transmitted as q
part OF the testimony, for the sum Of S17, GOETHE
| work TO be delivered and set up in perfect running
| order at San Quentin. Ii is III testimony that a
contract for the motive power entered into by
and between Prescott, Scott & Co. and Warden
| Ames acting for the State, at the above figures.
At this point it will be clearly perceived that the
State became under the obligations of contract to
accept this engine and bo ers at the stipulated price
of Si7 200 The fact should not be overlooked that
the bids of April 14th were for supplying an engine
only while the contract closed with Prescott Scott
& Co., about May 25th, for the supply of an
| engine and four steel boilers.
| The next letter from Prescott Scott Co. bears
date Of June Sth, and is as follows:
"SAS Francisco June s, 1851.
"Judge ]. p. Ames-Dear Sir The engine for
the lutte factory as now ordered is 30nch cylinder
on shaft for "a cylinder. In looking over the en-
CINE think it will give you better satisfaction to
put in the shaft cupboard box and sole plate crank
pin and crank to suit the 30inch cylinder We will
make this change il you will pay the current price
for the extra weight of these articles over and above
the 24nch engine then the shaft will take all the
| cylinder give and you will be able to crowd
| your work without trouble. Should you agree with
me, please advise, that may be prepared to make
| these changes without delay. Respectfully,
prescott, SCOTT & co.
| From subsequent transactions we presume that
the suggestions contained in the above letter
adopted by Warden Ames. As the State was under
obligation to take an engine OF Prescott Scott u
Co, and to pay 1900 therefor, the engagements
suggested in the letter of June Sth above quoted,
could be subjects Of private contract with that firm
only. Such contract was made and now exists.
Presumably in answer to inquiry the following self
explanatory letter was written:
"SAS Francisco, June 20, 1881.
Hon. J. P. Ames Dear Sir Z: The engine, boiler
and fixtures, in accordance with conditions men
toned in letter of May 90, 1881, to cost sl 2oo
large cylinder and condensing, etc, $500; large
shaft and fixtures 81, 400 total now ordered,
s22 100. Respectfully,
prescott, SCOTT 4 CO."
We have been at great pains to ascertain as to
whether the sum to he paid for the work Prescott,
Scott & Co. are to furnish, economical and
equitable. We caused the specifications for this
WORK to be printed, and by metlods calculated to
secure genuine bids for duplicates Of the work at
the hands of manufacturers ho'h he.e and in East
ern cities, find the contract price to he
fair and reasonable The lowest bid obtained
by US for the work Messrs Prescott, Sc,tt
& Co. are under contract to perform for
SIT 200, from California manufacturer, was
$4,000, including delivery and placing in run
ming order at san Qucutin. The lowest bid from an
Eastern firm Sl1 600, delivered free OF freight
charges on boi ri San Francisco. To the |
price OF S17, 200 the sum of $4,000 added for in
crease Of capacity and dimensions and change Of |
form etc, thus raising the existing contract price
to the sum of SD, 100. We find the amount to be
equitable the lowest bid for the increase obtained
being 81 800. Therefore, while the method by
which this let is far from being above
criticism the result attained proves to be satsfacto
ry The meagerness and otherwise unsatisfactory
data obtanable from the prison records as well as
the lapsed memory Of the agents of the State forced
US to appeal to the books Of the firm OF Prescott
Scott & Co.. and to the testimony of Irving NJ. Scott
the only of intelligent information as to
the terms and conditions OF the existing contract
for the motive power under consideration.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the execu-
ton of the plan for emplo ing convict labor in the
manufacture Of jute fabrics entered upon with
out legislative authorization. The erection Of the
ax1aD silva lI1illiun9 Ia walls al tbn
prison at San Quentin was begun early in the sum-
mer OF 1850. The contract for the jute machinery
bears date OF August p, 1850, but by an Act APP
proved March a. 1881, the Legislature OF the State
appropriated the sum of s2l9C COO TO be used in the
purchase of machinery and for the erection Of build
ings, etc, as follows:
An Act making appropriations for the purchase |
Of jute, jute machinery, lands and erection OF build
ings for the manufacture of ju.e, for the State |
Prison at San Quentin, and other expenses Incl |
dental and relating thereto Approved March 1881.
"The people of the State of California represent |
ed in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section l. The sum Of two hundred and nine |
teen thousand dollars 600 is hereby appropria
ted out of any money i'll the State Treasury net /
otherwis. appropriated TO be paid to the State |
Board OF Prison Directors, TO pay for the purchase
of jute jute machinery, lands, and erection Of |
expenses Immediately appertaining to the carrying
out of the object of this Act for the State Prison at
"Sec. The Controller of State is hereby author
lied and directed TO draw his warrant upon the |
State Treasurer in favor OF said Prison Directors for
said sum- and the State Treasurer is hereby erected
to pay the same when presented.
Sec. 3 This Act shall take effect Immediately" |
The Act places no restrictions upon the manner in |
which the appropriated shall eexpended, be- |
yond defining its general. use and purpose. 1t re-
quires the Controller to draw his warrant for the
OF S219 600 in favor of the Directors and CON-
mands the Treasurer to pay said warrant when pre-
sented.'
The estimates OF cost which formed the basis of
~. It,. fall..