The San Francisco call., 1897-10-26
Pettibone & Go. VIII Furnish
Goods at an Exceedingly
Low Figure.
HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE CONTRACT.
But Slight Differences in the Eastern
Bid and Those of Local
Firms.

The appropriation of $20,0 given by
the State for purchasing uniforms for the
National Guard of California is doomed to
60 out of this State. Although many
local furnishers and makers of uniforms
and other military goods put in bids to
furnish the goods at figure almost at the
same price, the Eastern firm of Pettibone
& Co. of Cincinnati was given the con-
tract, and will, in the natural course of
events receive the amount which had
been given by taxpayers to the State for
the purpose of procuring uniforms Local
dealers are dlsgusted at the movement
and see o reason for II.
Colonel Thomas A. Nerney of the State
Guard under General James, and who in
cidentally represents Petubone & Co. on
this coast, placed their bid in the hands
OF the uniform board, and the fact that he
is also the military inspector for the same
ompany is causing a vast amount of
thinking among the military tailors and
furnishers.
The bid under which Pettibone received
the contract is placed a figure IA cents
lower on blouses and trousers than the
Government can supply the Government
troops with the same wearing apparel.
The bid hich was handed in by the East
overcoats, caps or leggings, and it is con-
tended that the firm will supply the coats
and trousers at losing figure and then
place the overcoats with the men at high
figure, and in that way make up for lost
amounts on apparel furnished In the bid
A point which has also caused worri-
ment is the fact that the bids were
to have been closed on October 9,
bat the time OF closing was post
poned week at the suggestion of some
one not known to the local dealers. The
Government furnishes the United States
troops with bloUses and trousers at IS So
and the Eastern CONF pany has given bonds
to furnish the same material as per
stipulatlons at S. 55 but rumors are rife
that it is impossible for them to furnish
the goods at a figure lower than the Gov
ernment prices II the goods are properly
inspected upon arrival.
The only BID covering the whole wear
ing apparel was offered by the PasquaIe
Com pany OF this city, with prices lower
than other local dealers, and also with
price on hats 10 cents lower than that
offered by the Eastern firm.
The price of wooden goods has mate
rally risen during the past year, which
renders IL hard TO understand how wooden
suits can be furnished this year at prices
lower than has ever been offered the
Government in years gone bv. The fact
OF any one particular firm receiving the
contract have not incensed the local ID anu
facturers as has the fact that the sums
which viii be paid tor the uniforms must
pass out of the Stale, and also that the
said sums were given 10 the State by the
taxpayers.
The dealers will possibly look further
into the matter and attempt to show the
uniform board that the Petit bone Com
pany now has trouble to settle with the
]. O. o. T. over the material placed in
suits ordered by them some time hack
and also that the price charged, though
small, was too high figure to suit the
organization If the material sent was to
be accepted.
The old regulation blouses we're lined
with material at cost of % cents per
yard, but the material now used in the
new suits costs the manufacturer 81 AZ per
yard, which increases the cost of each gar
ment. materially and renders it more diff
cult to keep the price down to the former
standard. Also it is shown that the
blouse goods formerly use0 cost rs cents
per ward, with the present cost figure at
81 04. The comparison OF bids will show
but slight difference between local and
the Eastern firms.
Pettibone's bid only covered bIouses
and trousers at s. 55 and hats at 81 10
Pasouals & Co. OF this city offered to fur
nIsh blouses and trousers at Sc 70 over
coats at 50 25 hats at 81, cape 50 cents
and legglugs according to specifications at
% GEMS, which was the lowest bid with
the exception of the prices placed on
blouses and trousers by the Eastern COM
panv, and their price was placed below
that allowed by the Government on uni
forms for the United States troops.
Lltchfield, local dealer and manufac-
turer, placed a bid with a figure on
blouses and trousers at 81 80. overcoats
$l4 50, hats 81 90 and legeings 591z cents.