The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-01-04

proposed purchase we're being received IN con-
necIion with the committee on waterworks, the
committee being represented by the chairman,
Mr.. Moran. purchased, as the CONTRACT VIII
show the l6-inch pipe which Is now being laid
on First south street, Rhodes Brothers and the
Colorado Fuel and Iron company were the only
bidders, and = e bid Of the company was ABOUT
81. 81 per ton below that of Rhodes Brothers
I his shows that said company was in the
neld at the very time that bids were being OBJ
tanned and calls for some more satisfactory ex-
pianatlon than has yet been made why bid OF
SAID company was not forthcoming In the pres
ent case. Rhodes Bros. are not manufacturers
out mere brokers, engaged in selling water pipe
on commission Much of the pipe bought from
them by the city in the 850-ton purchase was
furnished by the Colorado company In the
case OF the $40 ton purchase made of them about
fifteen carloads were shipped to this city under
consignment TO some outside party, under
some arrangement With Rhodes Bros Upon
application being made to Mr.. Ryan, superin-
tendenJ OF waterworks, regarding the paymen Mt
OF the freight, which amounted to about 81 C0J,
he called upon me regarding the subject and
stated that the pipe as whole was very rough
and Inferior but that by a careful selection
much good pipe could be culled out, and that he
was greatly in need OF the pipe. | thereupon
instructed him to bring to his assistance some
one who was familiar with water pipe and il
satisfactory TO Rhodes Bros. to select out what
GOOD pipe there was and accept the same under
The contract; much of this lot OF pipe was re-
jected.
The foregoing facts are significant in this,
( " odOWS tudb HQOQeS ErOS. as IN LQlS maLJer
as brokers hunted up an inferior lot of pipe
which was perhaps not saleable in other mar
kets and may have been condemned elsewhere
and attempted to dispose OF it under their con-
tract with the city. under which they had bound
themselves for first rate price TO furnish first
rate pipe The pipe under this contract was
to be delivered in thirty days. The contract
was made three months ago yet all of the pipe
has not yet been delivered.
This fact, in connection with the other mat
tiers just stated concerning this contract shows
that when Rhodes Bros entered into the same
that they had not on hand the pipe bargained
Tor but relied upon being able to pick it up as
IN the instance mentioned. at prices no doubt
which would be most remunerative to them,
under the circumstances surrounding the con-
tract presented to me for my sigma
ture and approval 1 reject with emphises
Again am informed that the president of
the council was the advisor and attorney OF
Rhodes Brothers, and 1 will approve no con-
tract where there is even suspicion that any
member Of the city council is promoter OF
such contract, have this day sent q special
communication to you On this subject to which
direct your attention. Respectfully sub
mitted. r. N BASKIN Mayor
After long argument and variety OF
motions POLAND moved that the matter be
referred to the council sitting as a COM
mittee of the whole to investigate, and
the motion was carried.