The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-01

IN all probability the county COM
anissioners will award the contract to-
morrow for an elevator for the
countys portion of the joint building
What action will be taken remains to
be seen, but it IS interesting TO note
few developments in connection with
the elevator problem which have re-
Gently come to light
The county court last December de-
csded to advertise for bids for the con-
struction of an elevator for the build
ing. Six elevator companies entered
into competition, their bids ranging
from IS. 335 and upward. The bids We're
opened at a regular session of the
county court on January q last, but
the members not being versed in
elevatorology decided to postpone
awarding the contract until some later
day A couple of weeks passed by
AMI still the worthy commissioners
were undecided as to the proper ma
chine to purchase.
A BRIGHT IDEA.
Finally the bright idea dawned upon
their beWildered minds that they
would pass a resolution in the county
>
constituting themselves committee
to take a trip to some of the eastern
cites and inspect elevators. Thus is
briefly the history of the elevator cam
palgn Of the county court as far as
the public knows up to the time of the
departure Of Commissioners Roberts
and Geddes for Chicago and New York
some three weeks ago.
Messrs Roberts and Geddes went
OcTnD EiO1V for tho Tl1TrnOCp
Gliding upon the merits of the different
elevators for which bids had been pre-
viously filed with the court The ex-
penses, they said were to be borne by
the company receiving the contract.
Now it is stated that while they de-
parted ostensibly to determine on an
elevator, the purchase Of a particular
machine had practically been decided
before even the bids were opened
Should such prove to be true one may
well wonder if this method is not en-
tirely in line with the alleged proclivi-
ties Of a former county court.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
In view of the unusual interest this
announcement stirred up on the streets
yesterday the following communication
may be taken as a fair expression of
the public sentiment:
Salt Lake City Utah. Feb. %.
To the Editor of The Herald:
Dear Sir.-A good opportunity will prob
ably be afforded for the good government
committee to work into the method by
which the elevator contract has been
let for the county court house.
The maneuTering of the individuals who
constitute the county court are suspicious,
10 say the least. 1t is rumored that the
apparent differences in the board as to
che kind of elevator to be adopted is
only to throw the public Off the scent
of the very harmonious feeling that ex-
lists among them. The fat has gone out
that the least expensive, but in this case
the most costly elevator is to be pur-
chased. ana the outraged public will again
be called on to pay more for their whistle
than it is worth, and 1t will probably
never be known who gets the rake off that
is surely there
VIII the good government committee
step in and save the county this further
disgrace? There are other firms who have
offered to furnish as perfect q machine
as is made, with as much efficiency and
durability and safety guaranteed, and,
In fact. all desirable features are TO be
guaranteed equal to the very ridiculously
high priced machine that it is rumored
has been selected, and for which the tax
payers viii have to pay the bills.
Is it not significant that when any i'm
portant contract has to be let for the
public its officials rush of to distant
points to purchase, when the same articles
can usually be furnished by resident tax
payers for 80 per cent. less than is paid
by the public trustees? Will the public
never cease TO be outraged by those it
elects to protect and disburse its funds2
If it is not now compulsory, will not the
legislature enact that public purchases
be subject TO public competition?
A CITIZEN.
While the above is not very explicit.
st strongly suggests that there is
something rotten in Denmark" and
the author may not be very far from
the truth. as present developments
would indicate.
L. C. DAVIS PROMINENT.
1t will be remembered that L. C.
Davis figured quite prominently as the
county courts Hawkshaw in the eele-
bHated Hayke1 bribery cases. 1t is
not surprising, therefore, that the
county court should see fit to reward
him for his services. AT any rate he
hobs up at the very time when there
is a contract TO be let for an elevator.
end the following letters between the
Crane Elevator company and Mr.. Da-
Wis would indicate that ne had been
made the agent of the county court
for the purchase of a machine long be
fore the bids were opened, which then
was only farce to deceive the public.
TELL TALE LETTERS.
Salt Lake City, Utah, Dec %, 1895.
The Crane Elevator Company, 219 South
Jefferson street, Chicago, III.
Gentlemen-Enclosed you will please
find copy of authority from the county
selectmen of Salt Lake county. Utah. for
me to purchase an elevator for the coun-
~ part Of the Joint city and county
building. This elevator is to be purchased I
and put in as soon as possible. The pres
ent city aldermen will go out of office
the first OF next month, and there is no
question but what the new board will |
purchase an elevator for the city part of
The building, and both machines will be |
nut in at the same time.
I will submit TO you plans, specifica-
tsons and all measurements for am eSti- f,
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