The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-02

- unueI THIS advertisement bidders
M..e required TO furnish plans and spsci-
~ pias were received. referred 10
tne board of public works. resulting In
rejection. 1t is believed that this hoard
mpioyea an expert to assist in passing
upon the merits Of material specified. but
pass on. Bids were next advertised for by
me council, when this same bid previously
Ielected was presented. but shaped little
uiuerent; when it reaches the council
~, moves IT'S reference to the coun-
vi as committee OF the whole. This
was perfectly proper. The council has the
nsht 70 know and be fully informed II
'ne Did or bids be In accordance with
specifications and the advertisement be-
lofe referring to the board OF public
work They could determine whether to
reject any or ell bids or move their ref
e.ehce 10 the board OF public works The
eharter provides that bids for amounts
exceeding $500 must be- referred TO tho
BOARD OF public works but 1t does not
| contemplate nor can 1t mean that the
council does not enjoy the exclusive right
70 reject on being presented and read
out when the council by their vote refers
10 the board Of public works they are
/ bound by their own action and can only
set aside the report of that board by a
two-thiTds majority vote, same as by a
| two-thirds vote they can only reconsider
their own action in the council. II
when bids reach the council they are
caused to 90 to the board OF public works.
without the council having so referred,
they are not bound by report from board
OF public works because they referred
nothing to that board for consideration.
The duty of the board OF public works
seems very plain. After passing upon the
merits OF the bids they recommend either
acceptance or rejection giving their rea-
sons therefor. hut no further must they
go. 1t is at least gross impotence on
the part of the board Of public works what
10 do; hew to the line and make report;
the council must respect that to the ex-
tent Of two-thirds majority. The charter
says board OF public works may originate
a measure of public improvements aud
present II 10 the council with their rea-
sons and recommendations Yet II is OPP
tional with the council what disposition
TO make or same. When the board In re-
turning bid not for acceptance or rejec-
ton with notifications and divisions, they
simply snub the council. and, to say the
least open the door to question which
side are they taking that of the bid
der or that of the city? Business prin-
ciples should not be disregarded by either
the mayor, aldermen or board OF public
works; this does not mean, however, that
Irregularities are always clothed with
wrong intentions.
Z
ton that might be looked into. Presum-
ing that after second vote Gu bond ques-
uon was cast. let II be admitted for the
moment 1t was contemplated that amount
would be ample to construct a plant Of
sufficient capacity for the city and to
protect the city that this should he done
string was tied to the bonds saying in
silence These bends shall not be regis
tered nor can they be fioated until con-
tract shall have been made for d plant
Wonder If this means 500 997 80 plant7
From this it would at least seem that
whoever saw fit to tie the string did IL
to safeguard the city's interest. Here is
an advertisement in an afternoon paper
for proposals. machinery, etc, for the con-
struction and erection of a complete cleo
tl.c light plant. Yet the council never
ordered this" according to plans and
Specifications prepared by George N,
Borde, NJ. E., New Orleans. Wonder
who authorized the emplo yment of Mr..
Borde? 1t is understood that he Is also
an electrical engineer. Mr. Borde comes
of good family In New Orleans and Is
possibly worthy Of all that can be said
for him. Yet 1t Is understood that he
assisted Mr. O'Bierne in shaping his AIRS,
bid and is here as an expert to pass upon
his own work, but II this be not so 1t is
not intended to do him Injustice. If an
expert has TO pass upon one bid he is like
the doctor that had only one patient to
look after. That those who desire to in
terest themselves in figuring out the cost
of plant such as the city ought to have,
the figures given further on will assist
them in doing 50. using the following
formula, which, however is only correct
when location of streets. etc, can be
given: Houston is called nine square
miles area, and to be only fairly weh
lighted, allow forty arc lights to a mile,
$50; to be better lighted allow Atty lights
to a mile, $50. II capacity of plant should
be 500 arc lights 1t would not be we'll to
count on using over fiftX-fye to a mile
495
This would give the city service 495
Lights and allow for private lights The
poles would average four, possibly five, 70
each arc. according to location The wire
would average six tons to a mile Estl-
mate one horse engine power and one
horse boiler power for each arc. Then
enc horse engine power and one hcrle
boiler power for every ten incandescent
lights.
The following are the manufacturers
prices of today, varying some. of course.
according to grade. Approximate medium
grade here
tg-l,.1