The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-03-18
WELSBACK CO.:
GETS CONTRACT

1
| The suspense has been ended BY
the Board of Directors OF the
Street and Sewer Department a.
the contract for street lighting was
awarded this morning TO the Wells.
bach Street Lighting Company, Of
Philadelphia.
The following letter had been re-
ceivcd but was not read.
Thomas II. Melvin, ESQ.,, Presi-
dent Board Of Directors, Street and
Sewer Department, Wilmington Del.
! aware.
Dear Sir: l presume the alleged
Weisbach contract is likely to be
brought up at your meeting to-mor.
row. Please do not forget that the
American Lighting Company of Bal
umurc stands ready to bid for the
lighting Of the WeIsbacl, type; Will
guarantee Its lights at sixty candle
power against fifty according to the
Welsbach contract; and will bid al
less price for furnishing these lights
than Is provided In the Wells bach
proposals. | also suggest the present
members OF the Street and Sewer
Commission should NOT lose sight OF
The flrst OF the reasons given by the
city solicitor on whcl, lie based bis
opinion that the Welsbach contract
was void absolutely.
The city solicitor in his written
opinion CT February 4, 1902, to the
board: sit appears that the contract
was not awarded to the lowest bid.
der: nor was it awarded upon basis
OF sixtecn-candle power lamps. This .-.
contract Is therefore net valid for this
reason Laying aside everything
else, the city solicitor las stated it
was impossible for the old Street and
Sewer Board to give a contract to
the Welsbacll company for the reason
stated. That is, lack of advertise.
menJ as required by law. How is
1t now possible to give contract to
thc same people without any new
aud without any ADVERTISE
mei't whatever, when by The opinion
OF your legal adviser, such contract
was invalid and void, when attempt
ed To De made 10y the old board under
the circumstances mentioned? There
has been SO much said and written
about the Wcl,bach contract that
This spccAl reason given by the city
has been somewhat obscured.
Yours very truly,
Willard salisbury
Attorney for American Lighting Co.
Mr. Johnson offered the resolution
awarding the contract tor street
ightlns to The WeIsbach Company
or olo or more lights for Term Of
nix years at $50. IS each lamp The
notion was seconded by Mr.. Melvin
and the vote was unanimous.
Mr. johnson produced formal
wlcl, was read as we'll as
IN opinion from the City Solicitor
hat the Directors had a right 10
ign and award Il contract that
would be advantageous TO the city.
Mayor Fisher called with the
lcctric light contract with an
mcndment which provides that
he Department shall be Judge as
the avodable or unavoidable 20.
1g out of lights and as to the de.
uction for negligence. The Street
commissioner Will report all lights
ut.
William S. IIilles spoke on the
xtension of the Peoples lines and
he matter was laid over.
Levi t.. Bird addressed the meet
~ in reference to the canceIlng of
lie lien against the Harlan & Hol-
nssworth Company and b. & 0.
cmpany as the drainage goes into
navlgable stream and not in
aver.
Requests for improvements of the
reefs near Rlvery,ew Cemetery.
asst Fourth street termination,
ancastcr Avenue and Sycamore
reefs were received. A resolu-
on was adopted covering the size
cellar doors on Pennsylvania
'euue.