The record-union., 1893-05-23
GOVERNMENT TESTS
TIE SACRAMENTO COAL COMPANY.

w. J. Hall of the Sacramento Coal
Company stated that when the bids were
invited those wishing to bid were re-
quested to make test Of their coal at the
water works. Mr.. Treat refused 10 do so.
He tHall) had list of places in this CITY
where 1t had been found most profitable
TO use Franklin coal. In some places
Wall-send Sydney had given better re-
suits.
He had, he said, letter from Henry
Scott of the Union Iron Works of San
Francisco, stating that in ten days test
the Franklin coal showed UP ahead, but
they did not test for the amount of water
evaporated. They had made a contract
for Franklin coal to be supplied to them
for the next year. The Buffalo Brewery
also found it the best.
Captain Roberts spoke several times in
favor OF the Sacramento Coal Company.
lie charged that the Southern Pacific
Company was interested in the lone coal
and wanted the board not to allow the
railroad company to control it. He was
interested in river navigation and wanted
the Sacramento Coal Company to get the
contract Becoming very much excited
he used language much more forcible
than elegant and was called to order bv
the Mayor, who said the dignity of the
board must be maintained. He was will
ing to hear anything the Captain had to
]
language. The Captain notified the
board that if his company did not get the
contract he would commence legal pro-
| ceedings to obtain it.
AVERY SPEAKS.
J. NJ. Avery of the Sacramento lone
Coal Company agreed with Mr.. Treat as
to most OF his figures but thought he had
argued himself out OF court. Avery
| thought that the Sacramento lone Coal
Company had the lowest bid, and ought
to have the contract. He felt impelled.
however, to answer the criticisms about
the railroad, as he thought they were
unjust.
The company is working in aid OF the
Improvement Association and expects to
give it great and substantial assistance.
1t has always aided to build up Sacra-
mento. The payroll every month dis
tributes from SI50,000 to Sl75, 900 to fami-
lies in this city, and the business men
look forward to the payments with great
interest. The city and the railroad COM
pany should work together. 1t is their
interest to do so for their mutual benefit
lie believed in building up home in
dustrics in place of foreign ones, especi-
ally where we can save several thou
sand dollars by so doing. The Sacra-
mento lone Company is home institu-
ton.
In response to question by the Mayor
as to how his bid of 81 40 was cheaper
than the lone Company's bid of 81 80,
Avery explained that this coal would
come from part of the mine which
caught ire two or three years ago and
had not been worked since. He thought
it was better coal, from its exposure to
the sun and air, and his company wished
to give the city the benefit Oft.
RENwICK EXPLAINS.
Chief Engineer of the Water Works
Renwick was asked by the Mayor how
he knew that the weights of the coal
were correct, and stated that he got the
truckman's card ordinarily, but the coal
for the tests was weighed by him person
ally as 1t came in the wheel barrow.
The Mayor asked ii the truckman be-
longed to the city, and Renwick answered
that ne did not. The city had no scales,
and he had never, until lately, had SO
much as pair of platform scales on
which to weigh anything.
"Theu,' said the Mayor, ''we have to
take the weight as it is given to us by the
coal company, and have no check on
them whatever. l think that is a very
loose way of doing business. I don't
think private firm generally does busi-
ness that way"
Avery said the lone coal was weighed
at the mine, and again by the railroad
company when it arrived in this city.
THE AWARD MADE.
Trustee Conklin said that no test was
made last year and some OF the com
petltOrs complained on that account. This
year all were given an opportunity To
test their coal. Mr.. Treat did not test his
and comes IN now and asks TO have his
bid accepted. He did not think it right
under such circumstances that his bid be