The evening world., 1894-06-20
ONLY TWO BIDDERS.
But Others Wanted q Chance at
Museum Furnishings.
They Protested and Criticised the
Park Commissioner Action.
Tho Bids were Opened, but tho
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 Aand
other necessary furnishings for the new
wing on the Museum OF Natural His
tory.
The slipshod methods Of the present
Board were freely aired ~ indignant
would-be bidders. A. b. Nichols. Of
Herter Bros, of Fifth avenue and Thir-
ty-ffth street. complained that he had
not been able to get the information
he required before he could figure on
the work.. He said hat the time al
lowed bidders vas not long enough.
George +. woolston, OF POI Greene
street. said hat 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 20 meagre that 1t was
impossible to bid on the work under
standingly. He prot ested against the
bids being opened to-day. =,
Longstaff K Herds representative said
hat tt. t ns were f Tg,d e ,5s TAX S.d the eu W0 ins
w obtained all the formation we re-
quired," he added.
Doubtless you did," returned Mr.:
have heard on pretty good authority
that a member OF o u firm was for
merly connected with the Museum"
Commissioner Bell asked Mr.. Woolston
~ ha AaQtrn1 70 malta nnv charges
against any one connected with the
Park Board or the Museum.
Mr.. Woolston replied that he was not
tested against the bids being opened, as
the Specifications were too vague and
the time allowed bidders was too short.
It was decided that unless Mr.; Wool o
this. and the bids were then opened.
There were only two bidders. James
1874. $50, and Longstaff & Herd bid $751;
500 for the whole Job. President Clausen
said that the Board would consider the
supt. Wallace, OF the Museum, then
explained to the reporters that new speci-
mems were being collected In Peru, Mex.
til the specimens arrived.
HerteT Bros. and Mr., Wcolston ali
t hat When Mr.. " We eoIla; s seid d'P shat a
member of the irm Of Longstaf &c Herd
was formerly connected with the muse
with the Arm OF ]. c. Cody & Co.. the
architects Of the new building.
Mr.. Nichols then got in a few words
ready Ss' until thAi Th%rsdeey night. and that he
the height. breath nor depth e II,
s%se su WsTe s an the WORK ;t wa' 1, ,% Mas simp !;
impossibie, Mr.. Nichols said, for any
living man to- bid in~telligently on tn
work with only the specifications fur
Meanwhile. the. Commissioners wer'
considering the advisability Of awarding
the contract. Commissioner Stratus sale
that the Board would undoubtedly b,
Herter Bros. was shut out OF the bidding
President Clausen said that he wal
willing to take his share of the response
rather in favor Of consulting with tn,
museum trustees before giving out thu
work.
many men were now employed under tn,
ST. 900. 900 appropriation act. President
Ciausen said that 1000 men were a
work. 81,
President clausen announced thai
Gov. Hogg, of Texas, n his stan, were
coming to New York Tuesday to attend
the Saengerfest, which begins Friday
1t was decided to meet the Governor
and, after driving him around the Park
give him and his stan a luncheon.
Contractor Rogers reported that n
had l7b men at work on the second sec
ton Of the speedway;
clude from the Park owners and agent!
OF lawn-mowers who have been In tn
habit of taking their machines into thu
Park to exhibit them to customers. wa
Capt. Collins, Of the Park police. re
ported that thirty-two runaway acci
dents had occurred during the las
The question of the Museum bids wa
then taken up again and II was de
cided to confer with the trustees. A
telephone message was accordingly sen
to Chairman James NJ. Constable, o
the Board of Trustees. n the Boart
went into secret session.
Al the secret session Of the Board 1
was finally decided not to award tn,
Museum contracts until next meetinl
day, and in the mean While to confei
with the Museum Trustees.
Secretary Burns was directed to motif.
the Bridge Committee n 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 10 to be built unde
the law passed by the last Legislature.