The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1897-10-30

going in debt $4,000 more after the city
had stopped it's payments, it had been
brought to standstill The idea that
the city could have purchased the en-
gines for from $4,000 to $4,000 less
somewhere else was az false one. If
there had been no facilities here to
builn, the city would have had to pay
$4,000 more for them. The plans and
the raw material, including certain
heavy forgings, that had to be pur-
chased elsewhere, the boilers, electric
light plant, an expansion check valve,
etc., all of which were included in the
contract price, had left but $4,000 for
the engines themselves. In addition a
large force of mon, $50 in number, had
to be employed in order to finish the en-
gines by the time named in the con-
tract. 1t would be to the advantage of
the city, he continued, to deal with the
company which has something at stake
than to deal with strangers. Mr.. Pres
colt said he had no apologies to make.
I am willing to go on with the work for
the city without compensation and I
am satisfied that we can complete the
pumps at much less figure than any
body else. Our industry is an estab
ished one and it is question of whether
you want to take this contract away
from us and drive us out of the city,"
The committee of the whole dis
cussed the matter at further length un-
til it was getting tangled up, when all
pending motions were made to give way
to one from Alderman Cochrane that
the committee arise and report in favor
of special meeting Wednesday even
ing at which a further report should be
made by a special committee. This
was agreed to. Aldermen Jefferson,
Crassweller, Rowley, Sang and Harker
were appointed by President Cochrane
and they were instructed to confer with
the city attorney and so shape their
plans that the bond furnished by the
Prescott company shall not be invali-
dated.
Mayor Truelsen reported on his visit
to Chicago and expressed the opinion
that further negotiations for the pur
chase of the gas and water plant were
useless. He urged rapid preparations
for paralleling the present system.
The city attorney, as was expected,
reported that the council had no con-
troll over the fire commissioners, and in
answer to an inquiry from Alderman
Sang said that the charter did not re-
quire that fire department bills be ap-
proved by the council. The Bayha bill
for S541 was passed. The recent sale of
city property by the fire commissioners
was confirmed.
The charter commission was given the
use of the council chamber for it's $685.
sions and $3.50 was appropriated for the
employment of stenographer in con-
nection with the sessions of the CON-
mission.
A resolution was also adopted in
structing the board of public works to
prepare plans, detailed drawings and
specifications for the low service water
system, the report to be made not later
than Nov. %.
Wednesdays Special
The city council held special meet
ing Wednesday evening to consider the
Prescott contract. The net result of
the meeting was decision to employ
James A. Crawford to take charge of
the completion of the pumps at a salary
of 10000 per month. Mr.. Prescott will
be retained as consulting engineer
without pay, the city engineer to act as
arbitrator in any differences that may
arise between Messrs. Crawford and
Prescott. Mr.. Hugo was not left en-
tirely out and he will have an oversight
on the pay roll which will have to be
approved by him before payment.
A number of other resolutions were
considered, among them being request
for the city attorney to report on the
status of the Hugo contract, reference
to the board of public works of the
matter of insurance on the Prescott
plant. Arrangements were also made
for the payment of the claim for labor
on the pumps to date and for securing
the consent of Prescotts bondsmen to
all the proposed changes in so far az