The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-05-24

own'information. HE then set forth
the superior Qualities Of his machine
alluded to the bond and guarantee Of
his company, the former of which was
for the sum of $4,000, and the latter
for the rrp-of five years. Said he
| could not see why the council should
| purchase machine which was NO
heavier nor better and pay $500 more
for 1t, and that he had heard the mat
ter severely criticised on the streets
during the day. He also claimedthat
after throwing out the Russell lI29 !
ton roller bid and taking the bid for
the lotion, it was cheaper for, the city
by $500 than the 124-ton roller they
had purchased. The, Kelly roller, he
said, was represented as weighing 90
600 pound unloaded. He did notsee
how In buying 123-tOn roller COM
pany was willing to flrnish a 14-ton
roller. 1t looked queer to him. He
didnOt think the taxpayers would en-
dorse the paying of $500 more for a
machine which was not in any respect
as good as the one offered for less
money
Aid. Andrews stated that he recog-
nized Mr.. Steade's interest in the mat
ter as citizen and taxpayer, and as
the agent of the Russell company, and
believed all that he said as to the
merits of his machine was true. He
did not think the council had any
apology to make for it's action Satur-
day night relative to the purchase of
the Kelly roller. He had no doubt
but, that had the agent of the Russell
machine understood his business, his
machine would have been purchased
by the council, as it was undoubtedly
not only the cheapest but the best.
But the specifications were not plain,
and when the council asked as to
whether the 124-tons was the loaded
or unloaded weight of the machine, he
had replied that he did not know, but
could lind out by sending to the COM
| pany. The council could not proceed
in the dark. 1t must know what it
was doing. There might be consider
able difference in the weight or there
might not. They had no means of
knowing so were obliged to throw it
out and consider the other bids. Had
it been definitely known what the
weight was, he believed the Russell
roller would have been selected.
This view of the case was agreed to
by other members Of the council.
Mr.. Steade said in reply that the
agent did not say that 12t-tons meant
the loaded roller. When his company
said they would sell 129-ton roller
they meant what they said. He be-
lieved the specifications were very
plain. In reply to question by Aid.
Andrews he said that if an alderman
he would take the Russell roller on
the specifications.
Aid. Peterson said the roller had not
been purchased yet, and it was not too
late to reconsider the matter. He be-
lieved that all parties had not had a
fair show, and that the contract should
be accepted at this time. He thought
the Russell roller. the best machine,
and the one which ought to be pur-
chased
Aid. Zimmerman said he had not
been in favor of buying a street roller,
but since they had taken the action
they did Saturday night, he was OF
the opinion they should stand by it,
and he intended to. He could not
make out from the information given
| as to whether the 124-tons meant
| loaded or unloaded.
DR.. Andrews moved that the first
/ payment, according to the terms OF
the contract, be paid 80 days after &C.
ceptance of contract. Carried. All Of
the aldermen except Aid. Peterson
voting aye. - =
Aid. Bradley moved that the second
payment of 81, 600 be paid one year
from date of first payment, at pei
-