Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-25
NOT YET SETTLED.
TEE aROrRIl LIGHT COMMISSION HOLDS AN
OTHER SECRET SESSION
And Bhsr ustirs the BIDS and Discussing Matters
Generally Adl3urns to Meet Non
day Evening.

Inc Wy LltCNIlC Liz Ut Noii III ''''''''
met again, at the Office OF the Board Of
Gas Trustees, last evening, there being
nearly a full attendance. Several OF
the bidders dropped in during the
evening TO shake hands with the mem
bers, and ascertain, If possible, some
thing Of what was going on, but
shortly after O'Clock these gentlemen
were politely bowed out, the outer door
was closed and locked, aud the Commits
sion was called 60 order by Chairman
Farrell. Secretary Franzheim produced
bis big bundle of bids, and the formal
proceedings were opened with q little
address, brief but earnest, by Dr. Camp
bell, upon the great importance OF the
business before the body, and the neces-
sity Of deliberate action.
Chairman Farrell followed with some
good advice, but he was In favor OF 50
expediting matters as TO enable the
Commission 10 go 10 Council, Tuesday
evening, with statement that plant
of the size aud description thought best
would cost about so much. Mr.. Farrell
favored running through all the bids,
tabulating them, and settling down
upon the lowest and best. Then the
approximate cost Of building could be
added on, and the Commission would
know approximately where it stood.
After some more talk Of a preliminary
nature, DR.. Campbell moved, as a start
er, TO take up the steam plant bids, and
his motion was carried. Aheu. this
time Mr.. Kenney, who was shscnt the
previous evening, came In and DR..
Campbell left or 4 professional call, re-
turning, however, in the course OF
twenty minutes.
When the Secretary started to read
the engine specifications, he went wad-
ing through a mass Of technical data,
but was soon stopped by Mr.. Pollock,
who protested that not over two men on
the Commission knew what II was all
about, aud that II would be best to
simply read the names of the bidders,
the portion OF the plant bid for, and
the amount Of the PROPOSAL. This was
for the engine aud boiler plant
complete, from 3 WRyneSburg firm, was
announced aS So. 500. This bid was
then laid aside, and the next in order
was proceeded with. Pearce X Thomas
bid for engines aud boilers complete
was S34, 400, the RnCkete Engine Com
pany's bid was $4,000, the Phoenix
Company $1,000 for boilers and $50, 900
for complete steam plant, and so on.
Probably SOS, 900 would be fair aver
age for the complete steam plant, COM
prising, il must be remembered, two
engines Of $50 horse power each, only
one being necessary TO run the plant,
with double capacity boilers and gen
orally duplicate plant. There were
many and lengthy discussions over these
bids. but they were all laid aside,
and the Commission proceeded to take up
the bids for the complete plant, iuclud-
Ing everything except the building.
Bidding in this way, the Fort Wayne
Electric Light COMPANY offered 70 put
In the plant FOR So, SAP, the Easton
Electric Company for SS4, 923 20, and
the ThOmpSOu-HO Company for
sos, 600. A bid which brought out a
considerable amount Of favorable talk
was that OF the Western Electrical
Company. That concern put IN a bid
for the electrical plant, not including
engines and boilers, OF s54, 500; added
boilers Tor $50, 600, and agreed TO put In
the whole plant complete, on a basis OF
seventy miles OF line, for SS4.664, with
reduction of S325 for every mile of
wire under seventy miles. As some OF
the bidders had said, before the Com
mission, that the line ran as low
as iOrty-four miles, some OF the mem
bers thought they could figure this
bid down below $1,000, still keeping
the double steam plant, aud that by re-
ducing the double plant to single engine
and four boilers instead Of SiN, that
about Sos, OO0 would cover the bill very
nicely not including a building. Again,
II was stated that by taking the West
ern bid OF S54, 500 for tina electrical
plant. with the wire reductions, adding
Cox Il Mcrfison's bid OF 50. 600 for the
boilers. and hitching on low engine
bid, that the total cost could be brought
within a very reasonable hgure.
After talking the thing over in all
rcssitle lights, the Commission tabu-
lated all the bids, thus getting them in
compact shape, and the body then ad-
i0urned to meet Monday evening, for
further consideration Of the subject.
On adjourning the members Of the
Commission met the representatives Of
the press In distinctly cold and frigid
manner, aud were very chary about
answering questions, some even de-
clined 20 talk AT all.