St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-02
WHATEVER CONTRACTS ARE EN-
TERED INTO If THE CITY Is TO
HAVE GOOD SERVICE.
PROPER TESTS AND PENALTIES
should BE Proyided-Specificat
for Various Kinds of Lights
Dissected.

called for.
From the published account Of the
submitted report in toto 1t is evident
that the board Of public works and the
city engineer have carefully and ex-
tensively, for the benefit Of the city,
gone into this important matter; there
fore this communication is not intend
ed as a desire to criticise the report or
its recommendations, but to get some
more light" on the subject, with spe-
cial reference to the various specifica-
tons for the three systems-electric,
gas and gasoline-and only such parts
Of the same as relate to the quality Of
the gas light, electric light and gasoline
light, and the stipulations In case Of
the contractors noncompliance with
eaid specifications.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR ELECTRIC
LIGHTING.
These specifications as a whole bear
evidence Of careful study and consulta-
ton as to the best interests of all par
ties concerned. They are quite ex-
plicft and complete. They clearly de-
scribe the candle power Of each lamp,
amount and kind of electric current,
quality of carbons and glass globes
wanted or required so there can be
no doubt as to their meaning and in
tent.
the terms Of these specifications by the
contractor, 1 think, requires some fur
Their discussion.
The penalty as set forth, namely,
pro rata reduction in payment for
the actual amount of current received,
when less than the required amount,
as well as no payment when the de-
ficiency shall amount to over 20 per
cent of the amount called for, is as
OH ho Il no
demanded or expected, but I think the
specifications should have dwelt more
upon how the tests should be conduct
ed, so as to arrive at a fair average
for each month, and in such a way
that there should be no possible mis-
understanding by either the contractor
or the city
This penalty question is, in my mind,
the most important item in the whole
specification, because, If properly en-
forced, it means full protection to the
city, as well as to the individual and
will prevent INSCRIPTIONS bidders from
putting in bids so low that parties
with honest intentions could not come
In as competitors.
To get at fair average. 1t is neces-
sary to make frequent tests of the cur
rent supplied in the various circuits as
we'll as taking the candle power of
several lamps. Therefore the speciffca-
tons should stipulate that such tests
will be made daily, semi-weekly or
weekly on each circuit, and say 8, 10
or Is per cent Of the number Of lamps
In each circuit, and that the averages
of these tests for each circuit should
be used as a basis for the payment Of
each months bill.
The board of public works and city
engineer have estimated that the city
ought to be able TO get 1000 candle
power arc light for $500 per lamp
per year. This is probably as low a
figure as reasonably can be expected,
provided, Of course, that the contractor
lives up to the requirements
SPECIFICATIONS FOR GAS LIGHT
ING.
In comparing the requirements of the
quality of the gas and penalties for
Noncompliance with the specifications
for the electric" it is evident that the
requirements set forth in gas speci-
fications are far more lenient, and in my
judgment not up to date. First
CANDLE POWER.
The specifications only require eigh-
teen candle power 6 feet burn) at the
gas works. with an allowance of 10
per cent for depreciations at distance
of one and one-half miles from the gas
the individual consumer can, according
to these specifications, only expect an
illuminating power of sixteen candles
per hve-fOOt burner per hour
L can see no reason why the people
of st. Paul should not be provided with
gas equal in Illuminating power to
that furnished to the city and people
OF Minneapolis. The gas specifications
In Minneapolis require twenty-five
candle power at the gas works, and
twenty-three candle power at a dist
ance OF one and one-half miles. Surely
. the st. Faul Gas company ought to be
able to make and furnish as good a
gas as is made and demanded in Min
neapolis. Second-Other requirements
as to quality
These specifications allow twenty
grains Of total sulphur in any form in
100 cubic feet Of gas and five grains of
ammonia in any form in 100 cubic feet
OF gas. Twenty grains Of sulphur in 100
cubic feet Of gas is a good deal if we
consider the matter little further.
In burning the gas the sulphur is con-
verified principally into sulphuric acid
and a little sulphurous acid. which
latter gradually IN the air oxidizes into
sulphuric acid
Assuming In building 100000 cubic
feet of gas are used per month. and
the gas to contain twenty grains
sulphur per 100 cubic feet, we get
CUBIC 1eet sulphuric
100 ........... 20 grains 30 grains
1000 ........... 200 grains zoo Grains
10000 ...........20,0 900 grains 80, 900 grains
This means, per month, q dtssemina
ton through the building from such a
gas of 10 pounds sulphuric acid or az
pounds per year. During the winter
when the ventilation is slow and poor
most of this sulphuric acid probably
finds time to precipitate out of the ali.
and settle on furniture, carpets, cloth
papers and books. The action of suI.
phuric acid on the human system as
we'll as on the interior decorations. fur
niture and books, can not be considered
favorable. In case the twenty grains
of sulphur should be exceeded the
specifications provide no penalty.
An excessive amount of sulphur ,,oust
be considered not only to decrease the
value Of the gas, but also as detrimental
to health, therefore it is important that
an adequate penalty or fine should be
stipulated and strictly enforced every
time the amount Of sulphur exceeds
the allowed twenty grains The Min
neapolis gas specifications impose upon
the gas company fine Of 500 for each
and every day, after receiving notice
that the sulphur is above stipulated re-
Iuirements.
Th1rd-These gas specifications make
no stipulations as regards the pas
burners and the amount of gas to he
burned in each burner per hour. for
street lighting. To make an iiIustra
ticn:
The city of Minneapolis requires six
cubic feet per hour per burner. Each
month some hundred burners are taken