The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-31
DOODLE LIMITED AT.
Disappointed Bidders on Hose
Enter Their Protests.
THE PRICE OF PARAGON PUT UP.
mr.. Adair Tells the Board OF Works .
strange Story OF . Jump in Prices
Chief Kellogg Under Fire.

woIks was held yesterday afternoon and the
subject OF fire hose for the Seattle fire depart
nent was thoroughly discussed The board of
=, nle commissioners had sent to the board of pub
NC WORKS communication recommending the
purenase OF 1900 feet of Paragon hose from the
EUREKA Hose Company. George B. Adair, of the
uordon Hardware Company, and John Arnett
representing the New York Betting and Packing
mpany, were present and were permitted to
aaoress the board on their propositions
MI Adair stated that the Gordon Hardware
company had observed an effort to place on this
market an inferior grade OF hose at from 16 to
- per cent higher than its openly quoted price
ae naa, since the bids were submitted to the
nie commissioners, received letters and tele-
grams which quoted Paragon hose at 90 cents in
an. Quantities, subject to the usual commits
sion and discount. That brand OF hose, he
allegea, mad been sold all over the Pacific coast
NJ W cents per foot, no matter how small or
large the amount of the order, and 1t was only
since the bid of the Eureka Hose Company to
supply the city with 10000 feet of hose at s1.15
per ioot had been made that the open quotation
OF w cents per foot had been Withdrawn. On
december p, after the bids for furnishing the
nre department with hose had been opened. he
nau autographed the firm OF L. NJ. & Moses
humsey, OF st. Louis, the agents there of the
hureka Hose Company, and one of the
country, and they had Instructed him
by telegram to put In a bid
70 supply the Paragon hose at ninety cents per
loot The st. Louis agency was willing to de-
hyer the hose here, all coupled and ready for use,
| at that price and allow Mr. Adair a commission
ON the transaction. The offer was rescinded two
Gays later, December a, Rumsey * Co. tele-
| graphing Mr. Adair, that owing TO the price of
material having advanced the quotation was
wlthdrawn. Since the bid was made to the city
Oh seattle at 81 10 per foot dis patches had been
sent to st. Louis. st. Paul, Kansas City and
other places withdrawing the listed price of
W cents per foot. Mr.. Adair asserted that,
acting on instructions from the Eureka Hose
| Company, the Minneapolis agents of the concern
had telegraphed to the firm of Moran Bros. d
Durie, OF seattle. not to bid, and also withdrew
| the previous quotation to them of 90 cents
| per loot and all authority to make any bids
The representatives of the Eureka Hose Com
| pany had made offers to SAN Francisco and Port
land to sell Paragon hose in any quantity de-
| sired at 90 cents per foot, and then within a
week started. to this city and asked II l5 per foot
ior large amount OF it. AS a taxpayer and a
| that be wanted to see the city get the best OBJ
ta1nable article at the least possible price, and
that the hose he offered the city at 95 cents per
| loot was not only the best fire hose manufac-
| tured In the world, but cost fully 10 per cent.
| more to manufacture than the Paragon hose.
John Arnett, OF the New York Betting and Pack
ing Company, said that his company was making
| the best and most expensive fire hose in the
| country. He submitted statements from Grand
Rapids; Mich, and other cities where his hose,
| the Red Dot brand, had been in constant use for
the past ten years. The company would give a
written guarantee that the hose would last three
years without break from the pressure of water.
| He would allow the city to test the hose with a
| pressure OF 400 pounds to the square nch either
| by hydraulic or other means. He exhibited
sample section of the hose, and explained its
| merits. 1t was antiseptic and mildew- proof
| Mr. Arnett spoke OF Doodle and said that his
house could not enter into any deals OF that char
! acter, and mentioned Baltimore and other cities
where he had lost sales because he would not
! pay big commission to certain officials.
| In reply TO question from Mr.. Heilbron, he
cd lint hal oAa ,aao nd IN, tie nd
vantages to the fire commissioners and was met
with the remark that they wanted nothing but
Paragon hose; Chief Kellogg, he said, had ad-
/ mitted that his hose was very good, out that he
preferred the Paragon, as il wasan article That
| he was familiar with.
| Mr. Adair informed the board that his bid to
| aud that he would take scrip, cash or anything
| else that the city preferred to pay. The hose
was offered at margin that allowed no great
| profit, and there was no room for the corruption
| of anyone
| Speaking in reference to Doodle Mr.. Adair said
| that he remembered distinctly one occasion
where a sale of hose was made to a certain city
| not u thousand miles distant, how near home he
/ did not care to state, certain councilman re-
| ceived check for an amount equal to 10 per
| cent of the transaction. He said he spoke by
/ the card, because the check had passed through
| his hands. He, however, did not want to do
1 business that way any more, and II the city was
being run by men who, at the expense of the
| taxpayers ignored all reasonable offers and de-
clined TO make comparative tests, he would like
| TO know ii.
Mr. Hebron said that If Mr. Adair could show
| that any improper influences had actuated the
| fire commissioners in their recommendation the
board would give its attention to the matter and
| thoroughly investigate IL. Major Rinehart and
| Mr.. Cochrane both concurred.
The subject, which had been argued at great
| length, was finally laid over until today at
| o'clock, The fire commissioners and Chief Kel-
| logg will be present. and the subject will be
thoroughly discussed and determined.
The superintendent of watcr-works was in
| structed to make fourinch taps TO the water
| mains to supply the Colman, Hinckley, Pioneer,
! Terry and Burke buildings.
| The application OF Fogarty & Co. for an cx-
| tension of time on the Wyckoff street grade, on
account of bad weather, was referred to the city
| engineer.
The estimate fthe board of fire commissioners
for the furnishings of the fireboat, referred
| TO the inspector Of the lire commission, who
| was directed to get prices and submit them 10
| the board today.
| The pianking OF south Ihlrd street, between
Yesler avenue and Washington street, was
ordered, aud the grading of Frederick street and
Park avenue was referred to the city engineer.
The construction OF "a sewer on Dearborn
street, from South Tenth to the bay, was favored
| and the house of delegates requested tn pass an
ordinance.
The board decided to advertise for two lots
| for the purpose OF building houses for the chem
| zeal engines, one of which viii be located on
graded street in the district bounded by Jackson,
Weller, suffer and Rainier streets, aud the
| other somewhere between Temperance and
| Poplar Mercer and Willard streets.
The resolution of the council accepting the
fireboat was approved. and the fire commission
| ers were instructed 10 go. n" the contractors
| bill and accept the boat.
poyTCF FORCE RE-ApPOTSTEn