The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-02

The Contract for the City Hal Work Is With
drawn-The Reasons.

At the meeting of the Grounds and Build
ings Committee yesterday afternoon a
unique question came up for discussion that
will. il is evident. be the means of costing the
city Of Richmond several thousand dollars.
The meeting was IN adjourned one. and was
held in the City Engineers office. Captain
W. II. Curtis presided. and other members Of
the committee present were: Messrs. Hard
wicke, Brander. 1urpin, Houston. Cap
tain Andrew ii Uni and Mr.. 4.
w Tranord representatives Of the
Richmond Railway and Electric Company.
we're also present. Colonel W. f.. Cutshaw
stated that he meeting had been called t.
consider further the bids opened IN reference
10 the wiring OF the new City Hall. At u
former meeting OF the committee these bids
were opened. and stated figures as follows
Southern Electric Company, r2i,5l7. Xix.
Crosby a Co., 1899. Electrical COnstruc-
ton Company. Sll. 220. Richmond Rail
way aud Electric Company, SlO.5is.26.
CAPTAIN pizzini stated that he wished
70 appear before the committee III
reference to an error his company hal
made. When the estimate was made by BIT.
Iranord and himself neither of them took
into consideration the cOndults which would
of necessity be used when the wiring was
placed in the building. As a result the bid
was an excessively low one. and he asked that
the contract not be awarded him. lie stated
that the conluits would cost IN the neighbour
hood Of 80. 500. which. added To sl0,jlo.2j,
the original bid, would result IN the
correct bid Of SZ0.01s.26. The Captain
went into q detailed explanation of the causes
al the mistake. which was made by a misun-
derstOOd telegram from Mr.. q. T.. FISHER.
who was IN New York at the time. During
the discussion Colonel Cutshaw stated that
the wires in the building would DO used for
the forty clocks that would be situated IN the
l.HIs. 60 tIa fHHrfar faNaFH|INa
if such 4 number Is deemed neces-
sary, and also Tor electric lighting
and other purposes. Mr.. Iurpln inquired If
thirty phones were necessary and he was an
swered By Colonel Cutshaw. The latter
stated that the phones contemplated 10 DO
used were these connecting. one once with
another. and that the telephones now IN use
about tie city would only be used as they are
now used by municipal officers. lie fur
Their stated that tho lel telephone patents
would expire IN 1853. and that would be
about the time the New City Hall people
would need them. They could then lie rented
much cheaper. Colonel Cutshaw. concluding.
said that he advised that all of the bids be
rejected, and that new bids be advertised for.
Mr.. Turpin asked Colonel Cutshaw n the
Electric Construction Camlanys bid was
based on the specifications furnished. The
CITY Engineer replied that the company had
not followed the specifications furnished
them, nut had Daset thclI Dll7 On 81 eclAta-
tons that they themselves lad prepared;
that lie could not say how much more II
would add 20 their bid II that company fol-
\ lowed his specifications.
Captain higgins stated that his company
was willing TO take the contract II the est
prlce Of the couduits was placed on the bid.
in answer TO a questi n Mr.. 1rai I'd said Ae
could not state exactly how much the con-
duits would cost.
Finally, after considerable discussion, Mr..
Houston moved that all the bids lie rejected
and new ones advertised for. This was agreed
TO. The only change 10 the specifications for
the new bids will be single instead OF double
tubing for the wires. there being no further
business the meeting adjourned.