Evening journal., 1903-08-19
FORD DEFENDS
WATER BOARD
Says Payment of $4,000 to
United States Filtration
Company Is Proper
CONCERN ENTITLED TO $4,000

GUhGLnN LNlllLLU III 8UUlUuU
Or. A. Robin, the Department Bacter
iolosist, Informs Board That This
Section is Not Adapted to Sinking Of
Artesisn Wells for Drinking Purposes.
The why's and wherefores relative to
the payment OF $4,000 TO the United
States Sand Filtration Company were
thoroughly discussed at the meeting
OF the Water Board yesterday with
Commissioner Peter J. Ford as chief
lelocutlonist. Bacteriologlst A. Robin
came in as aid to Mr.. Ford and while
the former attempted TO show reasons
why the citizens OF Wilmington should
be separated from $4,000 OF their
money to fatten the bank account OF
the United States Sand Filtration Com
panyi the latter offered his opinion and
somebody else's that il would be an alb
solute impossibility TO get artesian wa
ter from this city because Of the geo.
logical formation.
Mr.. Ford Explains.
In beginning. Mr.. Ford said that the
board had gained some concessions
from the United States Sand Filtration
Company, noteworthy among which is
their willingness TO waive the allowance
OF fifteen percentum of the cost OF the
proposed filter beds and reservoirs. pro-
vlded the filtration company is the low
est bidder for the improvements and
receives the contract. This fifteen per
cent. OF the cost OF the utilities Is the
price the filtration company Is to charge
the Water Commissioners for the use
OF their patent rights and for the maxi
ing OF plans, surveys, etc, II II doeH
not receive the contract for construct
ing the immense water works system.
Finds Criticism.
Il find that since we voted to pass
check for $4,000 payable to the United
States Sand Filtration Company there
has been much adverse criticism" said
Mr.. Ford. / think the public does not
fully understand the object Of our ac-
tion in that parlicular. I think II Is
due 70 the board and the public to un-
derstand some OF the reasons why such
action was taken. / would like to call
attention TO a couple OF sections in the
contract with the United States sand
Filtration Company
Contract Read.
Mr. Ford read sections two and
three Of the contract which. summarized
set forth: That for furnishing plans
J surveys, specifications and details and
fer supervising the construction OF the
work the filtration company is to re-
ceive Ave Der cent. of the entire cost OF
the work, payable as follows; 2ls per
cent. of the estimated cost upon deliv-
ering the plans, and the balance upon
the award OF the contract for the work.
IL awarded in six months: II awarded
In six months the company's share
shall be computed upon the amount OF
the contract; II not awarded in six
! months the company's share shall be
! computed upon the estimated price, the
! balance to be paid at the expiration OF
six months.
: Upon the completion OF the plans,
| surveys, etc, the company shall deliver
] its license and patent rights and shall
3 receive an amount equal TO ten per cent.
OF the cost OF the proposed improve
ments, as follows: five Der cent. at the
time of delivery and the balance upon
award OF the contract provided Il is
made in six months; and If the contract
is not made in that time the cOmpany's
share is 10 be computed from the esti-
mated cost. the balance payable at the
expiration Of the six months.
Payment Mandatory.
1T is evident. gentlemen" continued
Mr.. Ford that so far as this contract
is concerned. this contract made the
payment of the amount of msney esu-
b
missioners. We debated this matter
and on the basis Of the engineers fig
ures we agreed upon minimum basis
of 100000 as the cost of the work.
Computing on this basis we figured
that we owed the company $4,000 for
it's patent rights and ON the basis of
the additional 2h per cent. for plans it
, made total Of 100000 we owed the
, company We debated this and deter
mined not to pay this amount or the
$40 600 that the company wanted us to
, pay, and we finally after receiving con-
lcessions and amendments to the con-
tract. decided to pay the company
, $4,000.
Says Public Don't Understand.
e "The public does not seem TO under
! stand that under this contract the city
y owed the company 100000 at this time.
So with the conditions confronting us
e il seems that we acted i'm good judg-
e ment and that we did exceedingly wise
] in making this payment of $4,000. II
Y was allowed after many concessions
5 had been made on the part OF the Fill
q tration Company and amendments had
. been made to this contract.
p They made a concession that we
I should not pay them any more money
r until the city is indemnihed. Another
e concession was that II this thing could
e be adjusted so that they could get the
{ payment OF $4,000 and then after
= ward get the contract as the lowest
4 bidder. they would agree to rebate the
whole 10 per cent.
. In view of the contract we have,
: think they were very remarkable con-
4 lcessions. / think under the circum-