The record-union., 1899-09-19

said, few hours of rain might do
immense damage to the merchants.
The city finances are in bad shape. He
had last year advanced money with
out interest to the city, to pay the
salaries, as he knew how hard it was
for the city's employees to shave their
warrants at 8 per cent. month. He
thought, perhaps, that the coal and
electric light people would wait for
their bills. He would freely advance
for the employees of the city, without
interest, money to pay their salaries
for the months of September and Oc-
tober. All he asked was that they
should so arrange it that he might get
his money back in January They
would then be able to tide over their
difficulties The board should transfer
the money to the sewer fund tonight
and get the sump as soon as possible.
The board thanked the Mayor for his
generous action.
Kent said he would vote against the
transfer and give a bond to furnish a
sump for $3.50 that would do all that
was necessary for this winter. The
board could get a sump already there,
from the gas company's lake, and put
the pumps on the border of it. If the
money was transferred he proposed to
get a taxpayer to enjoin the payment
of the money. He would give them
! that notice now
Devine said he knew they could get
a permanent sump at the figures pub
lished in the mornings Record
Union" and it would afford the city all
the protection it needs.
The money was ordered transferred,
Devine and Kent voting no.
Mr.. Hatfield asked that the board
pass the resolution authorizing the Su-
perintendent of Streets to enter into
the contract with Mr.. Cunningham for
the construction of the sump, and the
board did so, Devine and Kent voting
no.
Dolan asked if the contractor would
take care of the water during the con-
struction of the sump, and the con-
tract on that point was read, showing
that he would do so, the city paying
the expense of the electric motor.
THE COAL CONTRACT.
Hiram w. Johnson addressed the
board in relation to the specifications
for coal being advertised He repre-
sented the Tesla Coal Company, and
said he simply wanted an opportunity
to bid. The specifications adopted by
the board, he said, were designed TO
prevent the company from bidding and
saving the city many thousands of
dollars.
NJ n. Winans, for the coal company,
-, ha1
made the specifications for an evap-
grafton of 712. He wanted to know
why.
Douglas said the specifications were
in accordance with the figures of the
engineer. Last year he had an evap-
Grafton of 8, which is more than 71a
Mr.. Winans said last year it was only
,. He thought the coal could be used
in the Water Works, although the en-
gineer says it cannot. He wished to
read a report showing how the coal did
in the Southern Pacific shops. If per-
mitted, he claimed he could show that
his coal would be worth 70 per cent
of the Franklin. If it would be worth
20. it would save the city $195 a month.
All that would be needed would be to
put in forced draft.
Douglas said that he would not give
much for the test at the shops. He
would prefer a test made at the Water
Works.
Mr.. Winans and Mr.. Johnson said
that was all they asked. They wanted
to be permitted to make a test, and
asked that the evaporation be placed
in the specifications, as it was last
year, and not placed at a figure that
would allow only one coal to be the
bidder. They would make a fiat con-
tract with the city to do the pumping
for $4,000 a year, and at present it is
costing $4,000.
Dolan moved that the matter be re-
ferred back to the Water Committee
for investigation. He did not want to
reconsider the action of the board
without hearing from the engineer.
Bentley said if a person will contract
with the city to run the Water Works
at a saving of $1,000, the proposition
is worth listening to. He believed the
board should consider the advisability
of running the Water Works by con-
tract He moved that the board re-
consider it's action in adopting the
specification.
Devine advocated advertising for a
contract to furnish coal for the Water
Works by the month or year.
Tebbets thought the committee should
hear from the engineer before taking
action.
Mr.. Johnson said they wanted to bid
for furnishing coal to run the Water
Works for a year, furnishing all the
power necessary, and making the con-
tract as strong as desired.
Kent said that it cost over $500 more
last month. with new pump and engine.
to pump the citys water than it did
with the old engines in August, 1875.
Douglas said the engineer had told
him he pumped 100000 gallons last
month.
Paine thought Dolan's motion should
prevail.
The motion to reconsider was lost by
a vote of 5 to 4. and Dolan's motion
! carried.
The claims of the special policemen
were allowed
AN UNEXPECTED RESIGNATION
Clerk Desmond read the resignation
of Anthony Greene as policeman, and q
message from the Mayor appointing
John Fitzgerald to fill the vacancy.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The bids for printing the supple
mental register were: Day & Joy, $24;
News Company, $35: d. Johnston & Co.,