Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-27
under these contracts fol- sewer pipeis is far in ex

under these contracts for sewer pipe is far in ex
cess of its actual value
,"In reply to this we have to say that any arti-
Gle of commerce, commonly speaking, is worth
what 1t will bring in the open market, regard
less of its cost; that the bids not in excess
that the proposals were fully advertised, and
there were several agents here aware of the fact,
representing eastern firms and Northern Cali
fornia manufacturers, who stood ready to bid If
they could have done so with profit. Mr.. New
ton speaking for Harper 4 Reynolds Company,
agents for st. Louis firm, says that pipe cannot
be. put aboard cars. with freight paid, for the
prices we are paying; consequently the shippers
must lose this difference the loss by breakage,
which is no small item, and carriage from the
"Again, the mayor says, sewer pipe is and has
been an article of commerce for years, and has
fixed market value, represented by printed
schedule of prices known to all persons dealing
in sewer pipe, but he fails to tell us, and we
unable to discover what that market value is.
There is printed price list, which, as we are
informed has not been changed for forty wears,
but greater or less discount is made from time
to time, which supply and demand regulates.
At the present time our home companies are
giving 33 per cent. off on small pipe and 80
per cent. off on large pipe. If the fixed value is
that named in the schedule OF prices, or that
is certainly highly favored. San Diego gets 80
per cent. off; San Francisco, 25 per cent: San
Bernardino, 25 per cent. Pasadena, 20 per
cent, for inferior and small sized salt glazed
pipe, that used in San Bernardino being so poor
that the city engineer has refused to accept it
and the manufacturers have never got their
pay. We find by reference to contract made
two years ago between the city of Los Angeles
and w. c. Furrey, for Akron pipe, that we paid
for
"Eight-inch 81 cents, against .26 cents asked
by our home company.
"Ten-inch As cents, against 80 cents asked by
our home company.
'Twelve-inch 62 cents, against So cents asked
by our home company
"Fifteen-inch S3 cents, against 80 cents asked
by our home company.
"Eighteen-inch $1.15, against 81 .O5 asked by
our home company
"As to the statement that this lot of pipe
could have been bought for Sc, ,224. AS lower, that
is but conjecture, and the mayor has no founda-
ton for such figures as these as there has been
no large pipe sold in this city before.
"Mr. Bingham, secretary and treasurer of the
| Pacific Clay Company, says that the price
named in their bids is the lowest ever made by
his company for IS or 20-inch pipe. Mr.. Hitler
and MI Rdey OF the
an immense loss and that they are charging but
fair living price.
"Again we find that what the mayor calls a
raise in price above former bids, was barely
enough to pay the difference in the cost of de-
livery, it being impossible in some cases to
reach the line of the bitches by wagons.
"a combination may exist between the Pacific
coast companies to get good prices, but his honor
in his attempt to make the fact apparent gets
the prices badly mixed, as there was cents
| difference instead of l cent as stated by him; he
taking the bids on the different lines to compare
and the council taking the lowest bid in each
| case.
"The message makes this novel suggestion to
| the sewer committee: That we constitute our
selves committee of investigation, obtain the
| exact cost of pipe, add a reasonable profit, and
| then say accept this price, or we will build no
| sewers AS well might the water consumers in
| this city say to the companies furnishing the
| same, accept what we offer you, or we will
! drink no water. Let the socialist and the com
munist go on their strikes but let us not en-
| courage them by our example.
| AFTER careful consideration of each point in
| the veto, we recommend that the contracts be
approved, notwithstanding the mayors objec-
| tions, for the following reasons:
| "First-The bids were open to all competit
| ors.
"Second-The contracts are in accordance
with the lowest bid.
'Third-They are the lowest bids the city
| ever received.
''Fourth-They are better bids than any other
city in this part of the state ever received
"Fifth-They are below the estimates of the
board of engineers.
"Sixth-We are assured that no lower bids
"Seventh-The contracts represent the pro-
duct of home industry.
"Eighth-The contractors are ready to begin
| the work of laying, and there should be no de-
''Ninth-The pipe is of far superior quality
to that made in Northern California. and is
only equaled by few eastern brands"
The contracts for supplying the city
with sewer pipe were approved, and the
city attorney requested to sign on be-
half of the city.
The sewer committee recommended
that the contract for constructing the
central intercepting sewer be awarded
to w. A. Doyle. Adopted.
The contractor grading Lopez street
was granted ten days additional time.
Mr.. Summerland moved that the
street superintendent be empowered to
keep his extra force on for another
thirty days.
The chairman of the finance commit
tee stated that the cash fund was al
ready $4,000 short. The motion was
referred to the finance committee.
Mr. Summerland moved that the
street superintendent remove the OBJ
structions from Basil street. Referred
to the street superintendent for investi-
! CATION.
Councilman Van Dusen requested a
ten days leave of absence. Granted.
Proposals to grade Sixth street were
received and referred to the board OF
public works.
Bids for supplying the city with "a
inch sewer pipe were received from the
California Sewer Pipe Company at $1.80
and the Pacific Clay Manufacturing
Company at $1.S9.
contract with n. Ryan to supply the
city prison with meat was read and ap-
proved, as also was a contract with Ed
wards & Gillette to furnish bread.
Mr. McLain drew attention to COM
munication published in a morning
paper which, he said, reflected upon
him He said that he was perfectly
willing to vote to abolish the license on
entertainments if the other members o
the council desired it.
The various petitions were then re-
ferred to the appropriate committees
and the council adjourned.
RAILWAY MATTERS.