The herald., 1898-04-18
THE SUBJECT OF VALVES
CAUSES THE FIRE AND WATER
COMMITTEE UNEAsINEsS
The Wrong Conclusion That James w.
Hellman Came To-Before the
Council Today

In this variable age one should never
presume to be sure of anything until that
thing has been Theoretically sealed by
a contract ia proverbial black and
white, with red lines under the import
ant clauses added, so that nothing OF
consequence will be overlooked
The granting Of contract for supply Of
valves to be used on city hydrants that Is
now pending before the fire and water
committee Of the city council brings this
philosophy tc mind. At the meeting Of
the board last Monday the committee con-
cluded upon the acceptance of the sample
valve submitted by James w. Hellman,
and now there is probability that they
will rescind their approval Of 1t, and recon-
mend another make, in which Mr.. He'll
man is far from being favorably interested.
Mr.. Hellman was so sure of the accept
ance of his bid that when the committee
adjourned he passed the word around
among the members Of the board and those
of the spectators whom it is good policy for
a hardware man seeking municipal con-
tracts to know, to join him in a social liquid
smile at a resort favorably known for the
quality OF it's dispensatious. He felt justi-
fled in doing this. being in the firm belief
at the time that contract approximatinE
about $1,000 was his. But 1t was mirage
upon the horizon of commerce, and subse-
quent developments have likewise dispelled
the delusion in Mr.. Hellman's mind.
When the board expressed its belief IN the
superiority of the Hellman valve there was
vigorous protest from those who had
gone to the trouble and expense to bring 4
Co. 1v1 haF
the board, and also, as they claimed, be-
cause Hellman's sample did not have the
| merits that theirs had. and was not of home
make. 1t appeared at the time that the
opposition would say nothing more abou;
| the matter, and permit the action of the
committee to take it's course. That proved
to be but vagrant thought.
The city statutes referring to the award
ing of bids for municipal work were inves-
tigated. with the result, they say, that their
attorney discovered a home product
clause in the statute which orders in un"
ambiguous language that articles manu-
factured here be given preference in the
distribution of contracts, providing, of
course, that they are as serviceable as the
foreign make. The local men claim the r
valves have advantages that the Hellman
valve has not, and that the latter has not a
feature in its favor that is not contained in
theirs.
The valves have been in the committee's s
rooms all week, and the members Of the
board visited have examined and
re-examined them upon every visit.
They now believe themselves to be
as familiar with the construction Of valves
as they already are with the framing Of a
motion. Secure in the belief Of this ac-
quired knowledge they have changed
their opinion as to the value Of Hellman's S
valve-that is, IL indications and rumors
afford a criterion
The valve submitted by Mr.. Hellman has
disc that revolves on hub, is otherwise
solid and immovable, and fits securely into
Il concave. The oppositionists claim that
if this circular piece of brass, by reason Of
great pressure Of water or otherwise be-
comes out of working order, it will have to
be taken apart and replaced by new one
as 1t will not admit of mending. Mr.. He'll
mans defense is that it will not get out of
order under unusual conditions. and that
any make of valve will suffer under ex-
traordinary conditions.
The valve that will likely be recommend
ed at the meeting OF the council today,
contains two discs that can be subjoined
and taken out for purposes Of cleaning or
fixing. These discs revolve similarly to
the one already described, but the pivot is
of different make. Five revolutions of
the nut turn the discs inward or outward,
as may be desired, but this advantage the
Hellmau valve also has, and is, in fact, the
point that first brought it to the favorable
notice of the committee.
When the subject Of valves comes up at
the meeting of the council today there will
perhaps be an interesting discussion, and
If not indications certainly forebode a
lengthy one.