Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-13

providence Steam Engine Company. and
nfteen carriages of the model of 1896 were
awarded TO the Pond Machine Tool Com
pany. the next lowest bidder
There have been three occasions 1,non
which contract was not awarded to the
lowest bidder as follows:
FIRST. August 3, 1896, at the opening Of
proposals for ten-inch disappearing car
riages of the model of 1896 the lowest bid
was submitted by the American Hoist and
Derrick Company. who We're not awarded
a'contract for the reason that they had not
at that time suitable plant for the manu-
facture of carriages of the kind advertised
for: moreover, the time of delivery offered
by the firm was double that offered by the
next lowest bidder-the Southwark Foun-
dry and Machine Company of Philadelphia,
VINO received an order for ten of these car
riages. and at the same time an order for
ten mortar carriages. The Niles Tool
Works Company. the next lowest bidder
was awarded contract for eight ten-inch
disappearing carriages. The Bethlehem Iron
Company. the next lowest bidder, except
the Robert Poole & Son Company, referred
to below. was awarded a contract for
twelve carriages, which it was not consid-
cred desirable to order from the South
Wark Foundry and Machine Company in
view of the above-m entioned order from
that firm of ten ten-inch disappearing car
riages and ten mortar carriages. In this
case the Bethlehem Iron Company were
awarded a greater number of carriages
than the Niles Tool Works Company, al
though at a higher price, because their
proposal was for more expeditions delivery,
the interval until the commencement of de-
liveries being just one-half that proposed
by the Niles Tool Works Company.
The Robert Poole & Son Company of
! Baltimore, whose bid for thirty or more
| of the disappearing carriages was less than
| that of the Bethlehem Iron Company was
awarded at this time a contract for fifty
| seven Pinch mortar carriages. which was
| all the work of this character which could
| at that time be advantageously handled by
| their plant. The bid of the American Hoist
| and Derrick Company was 81 .818 per car
| riage. that Of the Southwark Foundry and
| Machine Company $4,000 per carriage, that
| of the Robert Poole & Son Company 3d.
746 per carriage, that of the Niles Tool
Works Company $15,975 per carriage for
I not less than six carriages and $15.175 per
carriage for additional carriages, and that
| Of the Bethlehem Iron Company SIG. 400 per
| carriage. There were twelve bidders in all
and the highest bid was $24, lat. The DIS
| tribution Of the awards as above was made
| with view to securing the most satisfac-
| tory results to the government in the deliv-
! cry of these carriages. and was based upon
the known capacity of the different bidders
the amount OF work they had on hand and
| the necessities OF the service.
Expedition Necessary.
| Second. On March 10. 1898, proposals were
| invited for twenty-five 12-inch disappearing
| carriages Of the model of 1896 At this
time 1t was necessary. in view of the i'm.
| pending war with Spain. to obtain the
greatest number Of carriages in the short
| est possible time. For this reason the dis
| tribution of the orders among the bidder:
| was made to those offering the most ad
| vantageous rate Of delivery. An order wa.
| given the Morgan Engineering Company
| for six carriages, one to the Bethlehem
Iron Company for six carriages and one t
the Robert Poole & Son Company for thre,
carriages. All bids less than those of tn,
| companies to which contracts were award
| ed were unacceptable because Of the SLOW
| rates Of delivery offered.
Third. When proposals were opened, OF
July 2, 1893. for S-inch disappearing car
| riages Of the model of 1895 the Morgan En-
| gfneertng Company was the lowest bidder
but this company was not awarded a con
| tract for the reason that at this time
had orders for thirty carriages for guns o