San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-05
LEFT HANDED ECONOMY.

award of mesquite paving contract
cost this city the round sum OF $40
900, beside the opportunity of testing
the comparative methods of the two
paving concerns. AS is we'll known,
the work already performed in this
city has not given general satisfac-
ton despite the very high price paid
for that work, and when another
firm offered to do the work for twenty
five per cent less than that work is
now costing the city it was in order
for the council to have tested the
work thus offered. The amount OF
S25, 900 saved in every $4,000 con-
| tract for paving is not to be despIsed
| by city even as wealthy and gener-
Gus as San Antonio. The cost of mes
quite paving in this city is fully
equal to the average cost OF the best
asphalt paving in the western cities
of this union. If the best asphalt
pavement can be laid for the same
figures that San Antonio pays for
mesquite, it does seem that the asser-
ton that the Dallas bid was too low
to permit good work being done
lacks consistency. Some San Anto-
Mo tax payers are paying good money
for street improvements and are en-
titled to get that work done at the
lowest figures which respon BILE par
ties will undertake to do the work for,
giving good and sufficient bonds for
the proper performance of contract.
1t is a little unfortunate that at
this time when so much money, is be-
ing called for, that the policy of the
city administration should determine
in favor of the highest bidders who
offer instead of the lowest. The &C
ton of the council at its former ses-
sion in freezing out the Dallas contrac-
tor was repeated in Mondays session
when the city printing was awarded
to the highest bidder. OF piece
with this legislation was the action
u W DdlldS ~ III
spect the practical workings of the
garbage furnaces. Already have |
two reports been made upon this
garbage furnace question. The first, |
made by the late Col. August Belk- !
nap, was exhaustive and accom-
panied by diagrams and specifications
that left the matter plain as day to |
those who desired instruction. These |
specifications laid before the council |
with the offers of garbage furnace |
firms covered the whole ground, as |
these firms were ready under written !
contracts to erect the furnaces In this |
city at their own expense and remove |
them without cost to the city when
ever, after good and sufficient test, |
they were declared unequal to the |
work reqSired of them. The city |
council had appropriated money for |
the purchase of garbage furnaces
why were they not purchased? Three
years have passed almost since that
report was made; another report sub
sequently made on the same subject
leaves the matter where it was. 1t is |
not necessary for the city to pay
junketing bill of greater or less
amount to get report before council. |
Council has had all the report in this
matter that is needed, and much |
more than has ever been acted upon.
The only way to do this business
safely is to secure the erection
of furnace here, acceptance of
same conditioned upon salts factory re-
suits on fair and open trial. If, how
ever, the present policy of accepting
the highest bidder prevails 1t will
not be necessary to do even that.
Secure catalogues containing prices,
pick out the most costly and order
it. Criticism however Is useless. The
policy that inaugurates and carries
out after its own fashion a system of
street improvements costing nearly
half a million without sewerage, is
competent to undertake anything.
IT is hardly worth while for the
III al towns in East and Central Texas
to worry over that democratic con-
ventIOn. There is a general DISPOSE
ton to award the location to San An
n