The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-25
TALKED OF At CITY HALL.
How The City Exercises Economy In
Purchasing Materials.
CONTRACTORS FURNISH LABOR
And Lunbsr-some Talk About Tonight's
Meeting of the Board-wnl There Do
. Quorum? Candida ates for Once of
Inspector II all Notes

tractors who are now aud have been
building sewers for the city furnish all
The material required. This il not So
The public WORKS department with an
eye to economy as well as to other equally
Important matters furnishes the contrac-
tors with brick and cement.
IL can readily be seen that this
system has the advantage OF giving the
city the best material at the lowest
cost. Buying in large quantities
the public works department is able to
procure brick aud cement at a price much
under that which contractors would
have to pay II they furnished their own
materials. The department fire.
quently contracts for 100000 bricks
with the privilege OF extending the or
der TO 1000. 900 or 5,000, 900 il it desires TO
do SO. The same Is true OF purchases OF
cement Commissioner Smith, therefore,
knows exactly what kind OF material is
being used. for both bricks and cement
are tested before any bid IL accepted.
The c .ntractor furnishes the necessary
labor, lumber and centers aud he builds
the sewer under the eye of inspectors
employed by the public works depart
ment. so when it is finished the city gets
what it paid for.
Probably Not True.
There was some talk at the city hall
this morning to the effect that enough
OF the aldermen would remain away
from the meeting this evening to break a
quorum and thus prevent q session
in joint convention. There may be some
truth in the rumor but the members of
the board who were at the hall today
said they did not believe there would be
any resort to such trick to prevent the
election OF an inspector.
Certain Members" one declared.
have made political plaything o. this
plumbing ordinance for months. but
they have now come to their senses. They
see that TO continue their obstruction
any longer would be to run the risk OF
dereat at the polls next November. No. !
don't think they will take the chances"
There are said to bc several candidates
for the Office OF inspector but their names
are carefully withheld Only one-that
OF Mr. Bemis-is given out and It is said
his chances OF election are excellent He
Is regarded az a thoroughly experienced
plumber and one who in case he is elected
will render the city excellent service.
No Licenses Granted.
One OF the results Of the delay In elect
ing an inspector has been the refusal of
the public works department to grant
plumbers liceuses. This refusal dates
from the time the plumbing ordi-
nance was passed. The ordinance pro-
vides that the applications for plumbing
Licenses must be recommended by the in-
spector SO Commissioner Smith has been
awaiting the appointment Of that official
before granting licenses.
While the applicant for license must
have the recommendation of the Inspector
the commissioner may for sufficient rea-
sou decline to issue the license. For in
s.ance, IL it Is known at the public works
department that the applicant has done
work without having obtained a per-
NIT or has failed to make the
proper returns, 90 will not OBJ
tain license even though he
has the recommendation of the inspector.
AT the public works department this
morning the hope was expressed that an
inspector would be chosen tonight.
The Railroad Dissatisned.
The Consolidated railroad is dissatis-
fed because the city proposes to build a
wooden bridge over its tracks at Adelaide
avenue. The railroad wants ao iron
bridge but the city is not disposed to
comply with its wishes in this respect.
A wooden bridge will cost two thirds
less or $4,000, Whereas one of iron will re-
quire al expenditure Of $4,000. The city
has to build the bridge but
tue railroad company must
maintain it after it is erected.
The railroad company thiuks IL will cost
less TO maintain an iron bridge than a
wooden one and the city feels tuat il will
cost more to bnild an iron one than
wooden one. Hence the difference be.
tween the two.
There is little likelihood, however, that
the city will yield further than to extend
the space so as TO take in four tracks
which the railroad company says it will
soon require at that point.
Notes About The Hall.
Capt. Pettis, city sealer Of weights and
measures, received letter this morning
notifying him OF his election rs director
OF the Society Of California Perveyors OF
New England aud requesting his atten-
dauce at the next meeting to be held on
the 27th inst, In United States Hotel In
Boston.
There are now III names on the regis
try list.
The committee on city property met in
the public building department at 130
o'clock this afternoon.
AT 80 o'clock this afternoon the Joint
committee on 1nancs met in the treas
urer's Office.
The COMMITTEES on lamps will meet at
the lamp department at 1880 o'clock this
evening.
rhs joint special committee on tax
revision will meet I'm committee room IA
at s:3o o'clock.