The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-26
THE CONTRACT ALTERED.
ROgTEe ( Son Now Have a $4,000
Quarantine Job.


the End Aimed at Was Decrease.
Savannah's new quarantine station will
cost about IS 900 more than was antici-
pated two weeks ago when the contract
was awarded to John Bourkc Il Son for
S12.975. There IS an interesting little
tale connected with this in crease in price
which became public property yester-
day.
When the city council, several months
ago, decided to mOdernize the quarantine
station a committee, consisting of the
mayor, several mem bers of the health and
cemetery committees and the sanitary
board, was authorized to visit the cities
on the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts
having the latest appliances in order
that Savannah might get the benefit
of the best system 'eXtant, Charleston,
Pensacola. Mobile and New Orleans were
visited. The superhe ating chamber at
the Charleston station was found to be
the best and the sulphur furnace at
New Orleans was found superior to that
of Charleston. The committee recon-
mended the Charleston chamber and the
New Orleans furn ace.
CHANGE OF PROGRAMME.
When the time came Tor getting down
to actual work. however. the health and
cemetery tOullllltltt ut gGLlullt7O 10 Ldht
the quarantine station ma tier into its own
hands A plan of the Charleston furnace
was secured and shortly afterward bids
were called for the furnishing of the
plant including furnace.
This was rather in the nature of a sur
prise to the other cOmmitte emen who had
eniOyed the inspection iaunt and had
recommended the New Orleans furnace,
but they said nothing. Several bids were
offered and Rourke q Son secured the
contract Then Mr.. Stream. of Louisiana,
who has a patent ora the experimenting
chamber, notified the,Savannah authori-
ties that he would demand a royalty of
81 800 for the putting in of the Superheat-
ing chamber. Walk " Murdoch of
Charleston, who were competitors of
Rourke & Son for the contract, have an
agreement with Mr.. Stream for the con-
struction of the chamber. and it is sup
posed their failure to secure the contract
brought about the royalty demand.
ANOTHER CHANGE OF vIRws
The health and cemetery committee
was naturally worried at the turn affairs
had taken. and meeting was called and
MIR. ROurkc sent for. In the meantime
the committeeman had changed their
minds again about the furnace feature
and decided that they wanted the New
Orleans furnace, instead of the Charles
ton machine The meeting was held at
the city exchange Wednesday afternoon
and the new idea was laid before Mr..
Rourke.
He said he had bid on the Charleston
furnace, which was cheaper than the
New Orleans furnace, but the committee
was determined on the lat
ter, and Mr.. Rourke said nothing
further on the subject for the time being
but awaited developments.
The next thing brought to his attention
tine TDkT9ltNr demand of Mr. St1sparD
relative to the chamber
But You do not expect me to pay the
royalty" said Mr. ROurke.
He was informed that was exactly
what the committee expected and in
tended TO insist on.
COSTLY COMPROMISE.
Mr.. Rourke protested, but was told
that his refusal meant the calling for
new bids. No contract had been made
with him, although the council had
awarded it TO his firm, and he realized he |
was at a disadvantage.
suppose" said Mr.. Rourke. ''that | |
agree to pay this royalty will you agree !
to pay me the difference in the cost of |
the furnace you want and the one l bid !
onl"
The aldermen thought the compromise |
highly satisfactory one and promptly |
signitied their acquiescence
"All right said Mr. ROurke, I'm sign |
the contract"
1t was drawn up at once, clinched with |
signatures, and Mr.. Rourke smiled
He had reason to smile Whileuthe |
aldermen thought they had made a clever |
stroke for the city they had really agreed |
TO give Rourke q Son much bigger CON |
tract than the firm expected. The differ |
ence in the cost of the furnaces will give !
ROurke ~ Son ample margin with which |
to pay Mr.. Stream his royalty and have
ma arrir &C 81 lie
$4,000 contract ROurke g. Son now have
one worth about $50, 900.
LAUGHING AT HIS BROTHER ALDERMEN.
It is not known yet whether all the
aldermen on the committee have
realized what they have done.
but one well-known Young
member of the board has grasped the Sit
uation and yesterdaW he was laughing
over the work Of his colleagues
MI Rourke took no advantage what
ever OF the committee He was clear in
MS proposition and the aldermen ac-
copied " without murmur, but rather
with an uneXpressed qualification He
will start to work on his Officially re
Vlsed" job next week
Nhllethe cost of the station is increased
the city, 1t is beloved. will get the best
furnace IN existence. The apparatus CON
slsts OF bOiler-like cylinder containing
one or more pans arranged one above the
oJher with air spaces connecting them al
ternately at the front and back, whereby
the ar is made to pass over the contents
OF ali the pans. Underneath the cylinder
IS furnace arranged in the same manner
as for steam boilers. with ash pan, etc.
which furnace serves to keep the sulphur
IN the first pan in a molten state and the
neat from this pan melts the sulphur in
the pan above.
WHAT TIE FURNACE Is LIKE
An air-tight pipe from the hold of the
vessel to be fumigated is connected with
the furnace Immediately over the surface
OF the bottom pan TO supply oxygen for
the generation Of the sulphur dioxide.
This pipe is provided with cock for OBJ
tanning samples of the air, and a valve
Tor regulating its supply to the furnace.
An n-inch discharge pipe taps the
furnace at the top, curving over,
leads down into and within six
inches Of the bottom of a reservoir.
From the reservoir the gas is drawn bv
'Sturtevant FAM through an S-inch pipe.
Issuing from the side of the reservoir. but
having curved section on the inside
reaching nearly to the top. and is forced
Through Il lead of pipe, extending through
the roof of the tug to the pilot house. and
tnence to the bottom of the ship's hold