The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-06-13
THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORK.
Adopted Resolution Asking the Council
to Take Charge.

|
AT meeting of the board of public
WORKS last afternoon reports were re-
| ceiyed from Engineer Sublette ON the
water pipe and pipe-laying and from Elec-
tllcal Engineer ScoviA on the electrical
WIRING plant The reports were received.
adopted and referred to the city council.
"A resolution was adopted requesting the
CITY council to assume the entire manage
ment OF the system. They also adopted
resolution to give Engineer Subiette
ana electrical Engineer Scovill letters,
to be signed by the entire board. expressing
their satisfaction with their services, and
that their time expires ON the 18th.
secretary Oliphant is to be retained
TO finish and make out the final report
ana statement of the board, which will
probably be finished about the first of
July. The following is Electrical En-
grneer Scoyille's report in full which will
prove exceeding interesting:
To the Honorable Board of Public Works.
Austin Texas:
Gentlemen-I beg to submit herewith n
final report of material FURNISHED and in
position June l, 1895, by the Fort Wayne
Electric company on their contract with
the city of Austin, dated March %, 1894.
Thirty-one Star lighting towers, $50
feet high; 2O4S northern white cedar poles,
QUO yellow pine cross arms, 100 locust
pins. $500 oak pins, 2300 pole steps, 10000
ID. q. ID. =. glass insulators, 27S0 cross
arm braces. 1877, 800 feet of No. o w. p.
line wire 147, 800 feet of No. w. P. line
WIRE 2S6,500 feet of No. 6 w. p. line
wire, $1,000 feet of No. s w. P. line wire,
1000 feet of galvanized iron guy wire.
81, $50 feet of galvanized iron barbed
wire; 1856 2000-candle power arc lights,
IA 20OO-candle power arc lights mot To-
cateD, 1856 hoods, hanging boards, etc.,
for arc lamps, IA hoods, hanging boards,
etc, for arc lamps mot located, 81
formers, 40 50-light transformers, 10 10
light transformers, 10 100-light trans
formers, IL 125-light transformers, IL
2oO-light transformers, 500-light trans
former, II junction boxes, 40 guy stubs,
30 swinging ball lightning arresters (or-
dered and labor to place in position paid)
This material has been delivered and
set up complete as per plans and specifi-
cations furnished by Consulting Engineer
j. II. Farming. The original contract
calls for only 80 of the Star iron towers,
for two 1O0-light arc dynamos, and calls
for the wiring of two of the 500-voit
power machines purchased of the General
Electric company into the city.
On the 31st day of August, 1894, the
board of public works made an exchange
with the General Electric company, giving
two 80 horse power 500-volt dynamos
purchased under former contrac) for
one $50 horse power three-phase power
generator and p transformers of 1900
watts capacity each, for reducing the
voltage for power purposes.
On account of the great saving in wire
to the Fort Wayne company by the ex-
change they agreed and furnished the city
with one extra tower and three S0light
are dynamos in place of the two 100
lighters, mentioned in their contract
They also built u complete metallic cir
cult from the power house to Congress
avenue in place of the ground return
from West avenue to the power house, as
specified. They also agreed to reduce the
loss in transmission from 20 per cent to
10 per cent, thereby making saving in
the power to be delivered at Congress
avenue, and prevent all liability of cleo
trolysis or electrical action on the water
mains.
The contract, amounting to S113,5OO,
| believe to be complete and without one
dollar allowed for extras. While in the
start some of the lamps on the towers
did not work properly, it was expected
they would not, as they hung in the
weather on the towers nearly eight
months without any attention, and l had
no power in the contract TO prevent any
work being completed, providing it came
up to the specifications. At the present
time the lamps are in q fair condition
and giving satisfaction
believe the contract to be complete
and in accordance with the pans and
specifications furnished by Engineer Fan
ming, and respectfully recommend the ac-
ceptance of same.
In conclusion wish to extend my sim
cere thanks to his honor, Mayor Me-
Donald, president; to Secretary Ohphant,
10 oh 4 ~