The San Francisco call., 1896-05-06
CARNEGIE GETS
A FAT CONTRACT.
New Ferry Building Steel
Work Made in the
East.
A VERY LARGE ORDER.
The Risdon Iron Works Not
Able to Handle the Big
State Job.
HUNDREDS OF CARS COMING.
All of the Heavy Beams and Girders
to Be Made by the Pittsburg
Concern.
HUNDREDS OF CARS COMING.

within the last few days have developed
the startling fact that the larger portion
of the steel work for the new ferry build
ing is being manufactured in the East,
notwithstanding that the contract for the
entire Job was let to local concern under
the law which provides that in structures
of this kind the work must be done by
home manufacturers, where 1t can be done
as cheaply and well as abroad.
The plans for the new ferry structure
call for an immense amount of manufac-
tured steel, and the competition among
local firms was keen, as the contract was
considered fat one.
When the bids were opened by the Har-
Dor Commissioners it was found that the
Risdon Iron Works bid was the lowest
and that firm received the coveted plum.
Subsequent developments would seem
to indicate that in taking this contract the
Risdon people undertook far more than
they could carry out, for within a short
time they entered into negotiations with
William B. Isaacs & Co., the Pacific Coast
representatives of the Carnegie Iron and
Steel Works, to take the bulk of the work.
Within a short time bargain was struck,
and for month past the great steel beams
and girders that will be used in the build
ing have been in course of manufacture at
Pittsburg, Pa.
Within a few days between seven and
nine million pounds of manufactured
steel will start for the coast, comprising
the largest shipment of the kind ever
made from the East to California.
The immensity of the consignment
can be understood from the fact that
the freight alone, exclusive of hand
ling, will amount to about $4,000,
and several hundred cars will be
used in transporting the vast weight of
metal. The steel will not all be sent at
one time. but trains will be dispatched as
rapidly as facilities for loading will per-
NIT, and it is expected that the larger
portion of the material will be in shape
for use by the middle of next month.
A member of the firm of William B.
1saacs & Co. stated last evening that the
Carnegie Company had taken the great
contract off the hands of the Risdon Iron
Works at a handsome profit, and that
when everything was delivered, which
would be within thirty or forty days, the
shipment would be the largest ever made
to the Pacific Coast.
LAS matter of fact" he said, "the lob
was too large for the Risdon people to
handle within the time specified in the
contract and they were glad to get rid of
the bulk of the work and leave a margin
of profit for themselves. With its i'm
mense facilities for turning out big Jobs
the Carnegie works can do work at prices
that California manufacturers cannot
touch, and it proved so in this instance.
where both parties are left profit after
1,a fOr frai |,
ing to from $75, 900 to $100, 600, are paid"
Captain w. H. Taylor, president of the
Risdon Iron Works Company, admitted
last evening that large portion of the
heavy girders and beams for the new
structure were being made Dy the Carnegie
Company, but said that the contract had
not been sublet and that his firm was
working on castings for the building as
rapidly as possible.
"We simply sent large order to the
Carnegie Company" he said. because we
had great deal to do and the beams and
girders would hamper Us in our work. At
the same time we are handling as much as
possible-mainly castings-and the water
front is Uttered with the product of our
work"
Captain Taylor declined to state the
terns on WHICH MS company mad re-
ceived the contract or the value of the
work let out to the Pittsburg concern.
Edward Coleman, president of the Pa
cihc Rolling Mills, whose firm was a
bidder for the big contract, seemed sur
prised last evening when told that the
Carnegie Iron and Steel Works had re-
ceived such a large order for steel work
for the ferry building from the Risdon
Iron Works.
"What you tell me is the first 1 had
heard of it, he said, "and do not think
that the fact is generally known among
local iron manufacturers. The contract
was a difficult one to handle and am not
surprised that portion was sublet to the
Eastern people. cannot, without look
ing the matter up, say what our bid was
or how much we were underbid by the
Risdon people,"