Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-29


city revenues; on the other hand members
refused TO depart from the established
custom of awarding contracts TO the low
est bidder The committee split even on
the issue. and II was subsequently agreed
that the CITY Engineer should advertise
for bids again, and that both those sub
mitted should be returned.
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL
The committee was called TO order with
the following members present: Messrs
Bloonberg. Burton. Pollock, John Nj.
King Iawder Woody, Foster, Bahen, j.
j. King.
A letter addressed by Major f. I. ID.
MYERS. president Of the Richmond,
Fredericksburg and Potomac Railway
COMPANY, to Major Otway ). Alien
chairman. was laid before the commit
tee. Major Myers asks that the exlstlng
ordinance may be so amended as 10 al
low the company TO handle a greater
number OF freight-cars at the BYRD
Street Depot. The present restrictions
he writes. delay the delivery Oh car
loads of freight. A subcommittee, COM
posed of Messrs. King, Carter, and Bur
ton was appointed to consider the mat
ter and report TO the next meeting OF
the committee.
IN the Council that the Board Of Mana
gers OF the Home for Incurabes should
he allowed to close a portion of the al
lev running through a lot recently ac-
ouired by them in the West End, pro-
vlding the consent Of all the abutting
property-ownefs can be obtained.
NEED FOR MUCH MONEY.
Colonel Cutshaw read 10 the committee
a carefully prepared statement or the
amount of money that the city coulu
spend to advantage. The total Is Soo'VV'
divided as follows:
Grading and gravelling streets.....s 6s'Sio
Opening streets..... ...... ........... 1oVV
Sewers. 80. ...''...''.'..''' Ioo'vVV
Hands and carts pay-roll.......... 3l,OVo
potior ord crusher .. ... LOO
Expense account, roller ana
crusber ... .......... 900
Expense account, hands and carts,
including purchase Of sixteen
mules ... .......... ..s..... .....'.'. o,VVO
Curling and laying granite spalls.. 5ol' "a
Paving sidewalks. .............'''.. ts'Ssl
Alleys.... .......... .......... .....'.'. INV
Colonel Cutshaw said that this list
showed what work ought TO be done in
the city. but ii remained for the commit
tee 10 say how much should be asked
for. because it could not be expected
that the Council should give such a large
sum i'm any one year. Mr. John NJ. King
moved that q subcommittee or one from
each ward should be appointed TO con-
slider the imperative needs OF the depart
ment. and report at the next meeting.
Mr. ]. j. King moved TO amend py re-
ferring the question to the entire delega-
lions from each ward The motion and
defeated
ON motion OF MI. Lawder, the entire list
was ordered 10 be forwarded to the
Finance Committee.
In support of his motion, Mr.. Lawder
said that IL would be a useless waste OF
time to frame any report, as the Finance
Committee would only give just so much
as its members chose. Several others
spoke along the same line as Mr.. Lawder.
FOR PAVING WORK.
Bids accompanied by certified checks.
were opened for the paving Of alleys. re-
setting curbing, reaying paving. and
sewer construction. The bidders were:
The Mack Manufacturing Company, L.
N. Cuykendall & Co., NJ. +. Billings, the
Davis Brick Company. John Mann. Jr.,
S. G.. Fairbanks q Co., S. T. Beverage IL
Co., ]. II. Anderson & Son. Mayo. Denoon
e. Co. Charles Gasser, NJ. T. Billups, Car
neal q Davis. s. II. Halves q Co., war
ner, Moore & Co., James River Cement
Company, Ambrecht * Middendorf
James Netherwood. Peter Donald g. Son.
Il. n. Goodwin, John c. Weinbrunn &
Brother.
When these bids were considered an
interesting discussion was provoked by
those for terra Gotta sewerage pipes. The
rival concerns were Messrs. Warner
ID fzl.t, NJ
Manufacturing Company. OF Pittsburg
The latter firm underbid Messrs. Moore &
co. by per cent, a difference of So a
carload. II was stated that 1t would re-
auire twenty carloads to do the work
required, making q total difference OF
500. and that the goods were precisely
the same quality.
Mr.. John NJ. King moved that the name
of the Mack Company should be dropped.
He was unalterably opposed, he said, 10
giving contracts TO out-of-town firms,
who are not even represented I'm this
city. He thought that the Richmond mer-
chants. who bore the burden of the city's
expenses were entitled TO consideration
before outside bidders. and that they
should have any benefits that might ac-
crue from city contracts.
FAVORED THE LOWEST BIDDER.
Mr.. Pollock opposed the motion. He
held that the committeeman were in duty
bound TO give the contract TO the lowest
bidder. They had no right TO vote away
500 of the taxpayers money on mere
matter of sentiment. He moved as a
substitute that the contract should be
given to the lowest bidder. After some
further discussion. in which Messrs.
Bahen, Burton, and Lawder took an ac-
tive part the substitute was rejected.
the vote standing TO 4.
Mr.. King amended his former motion
SO as TO award the contract TO the low
est responsible city bidder. This motion
raised another breeze, in which the idea
| of building wall round the city" and
"lnyiting man into your house Just TO
kick him out again." was vigorously OPP
posed.
Mr.. Pollock moved as a substitute that
the certified check should be returned to
all bidders on terra Gotta pipe. and new
bids advertised. After some further dis
cussion Mr.. Pollock's substitute was car
| ried.
1t was stated by gentleman who was
present al the meeting that In event OF
| the contract being awarded 10 the Pitts
.