The evening world., 1894-06-20
ONLY TWO BIDDERS.
But Others Wanted q Chance at
Museum Furnishings.
They Protested and Criticised the
Park Commissioners Action.
The Bids wero Opened, but the
Awards were Deferred.

There was a lot Of trouble at the meet
Ing Of the Park Board to-day over the
opening of the bids for the construction
of specimen cases, electric plant and
other necessary furnishings for the new
wing Of the Museum OF Natural His
tory.
The slipshod methods Of the present
Board were freely aired by indignant
would-be bidders. A. B. Nichols. of
Herter Bros. Of Fifth avenue and Thir-
ty-fifth street. complained that he had
not been able to get the information
he required before he could figure on
the work. He said that the time al
lowed bidders was not long enough.
George F. Woolston, OF pol Greene
street. said that he was shut out from
the bidding because he could not get the
information he required about the
specifications. Mr.. Woolston said that
when he went to the Superintendent Of
the Museum that gentleman sent him
to the architects, who promptly re-
ferred him back to the Superint endent.
The specifications. according to Mr..
Woolston, were go meagre that 1t was
impossible to bid on the work under
standingly. He prot against the
bids being opened to-day.
Longstaff & Herds representative SAID
that they were ready to take the work
In hand at the figure they had put In.
I'VE obtained all the information we re-
"Doubtless you did," returned Mr..
Woolston with considerable spirit. II
have heard on pretty good authority
that member, Of your firm was for
Commissioner Bell asked Mr.. Woolston
II he desired to make any charges
against any one connected with the
Park Board or the Museum.
Mr.. woolston replied that he was not
there to bring charges, but that he pro-
tested against the bids being opened. as
the specifications were too vague and
the time allowed bidders was too short.
1t was decided that unless Mr.. Wool
ston made charges, the bids would be
opened. Mr.. .Woolston refused to do
There were only two bidders. James
3. Smith bid for the entire work for
Slsi 40, and Longstaff & Herd bid s19l.-
500 for the whole job. President Claussn
bids later.
Supt. Wallace. of the Museum. then
explained to the reporters that new speci-
mems were being collected In Peru, Mex
leo and Montana. and 1t was not known
how large the cases would have to be un-
til the specimens arrived.
as b4cs aSt anS h Mr. h"S syso
the Information he could. He explained
that when Mr.. Woolston said that a
member OF the firm of Longstaff & Herd
um, he referred to the fact that Mr..
Sharp, of Longstaff G. Herd, used to be
with the firm Of J. c. Cody & Co.. the
arshitests s, Of the new ", building: u, {:v word,
He said that the specifications were NOT
ready until Thursday night. and that he
got them on Friday but that ,.s as neither ne tsi
| cases were specffied 1t was impossible tc
impossible, MIR. Nichols said. for ans
work with only the specifications fur
nished by the Park Board to go by.
Meanwhile, the Commissioners wert
considering the adyisability O. % awardint
that the Board would undoubtedly b.
censured by the press II biz firm IKE
Herter Bros. was shut out Of the bidding
willing to take his share Of the responsi
biity of awarding the contract. but was
rather in favor Of consulting with thu
museum trustees before giving out thu
work.
Commissioner straus inquired how
many men were now employed under tn,
81, 900, 900 appropriation act. president
Clausen said that 1000 men were a
Then let's have 1T published" sale
President clausen announced thai
coming to New York Tuesday to attent
the Saengerfest, which begins Friday
1t was decided to meet the Governor
and, after driving him around the Park
give him and his staff luncheon.
Contractor Rogers reported that III
had ITS men at work on the second sec
ton of the speedway.
Commissioner Bells motion to ex
clude from the Park owners and agents
of lawn-mowers who have been In th'
habit of taking their machines into th'
Park to exhibit them to customers. wal
adopted.
ported that thlrty-two runaway acci
dents had occurred during the las
week..
The question Of the Museum bids wa
then taken up again and 1t was de
cided to confer with the trustees. A
telephone message was accordingly sen
to Chairman James NJ. Constable, o
the Board Of Trustees. and the Boart
went into secret session.
At the secret session OF the Board 4
was finally decided not to award th
Museum contracts until next meetini
day, and in the mean while to confe
with the Museum Trustees.
Secretary Burns was directed to motif!
the Bridge Committee and the Super
visors OF Westchester County to NEE
the Park Board next Wednesday to de
eide upon the plans for the new bridg
at City Island, which Is to be built unde
the law passed by the last Legislature.
Under the law the cost OF the bridg