The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-21
COUNTY ESCAPES
AN ELASTIC BILL
Board of Commissioners Must
Know Cost Before Letting
Contracts

County Attorney Kane probably
saved the county several thousand
dollars yesterday when he dissuaded
the county commissioners from enter
ing into contract with q White Bear
company by declaring he would not
draw such contract as the one pro-
posed by the company, which some of
the commissioners wanted to accept.
The contract was one for furnishing
power to pump a well which was sunk
by the county to secure a water supply
for White Bear lake The White Bear
Electric company had submitted bid
to furnish ten horsepower at cost
to the county of $500 per month.
When the matter was brought TO the
attention of the board yesterday Com
missioner Wright thought it should be
accepted. but there was considerable
opposition from other members. The
commissioners have understood that
the company would agree to pump the
well at its capacity for this sum, and
were not willing to limit the power to
ten horse. Above this amount of
power the company wanted SIS per
month for each additional horsepower,
and County Attorney Kane said the
county had no right to make such a
contract, not knowing what the service
would cost
Company Refuses to Compromise
The White Bear Electric company
refused to compromise the matter.
and when the members of the board
suggested that the contract might go
elsewhere it was made plain to them
that no oneS else could furnish the
power, since the county board. at a
previous meeting, had given this COM
n1OnnnOIU or
insisting that nothing but electric
power be used. Then, to help matters
along, Mr.. johnson, who was awarded
the contract for equipping the well with
motor and other necessary appliances,
said the motor had been ordered, and
that it was of such make that only
the White Bear Electric company
could furnish power to run it.
Some of the, members began asking
what sort of a hole the board had got
itself into, and there was considerable
dissatisfaction expressed at the pre-
dIcament in which the commissioners
found themselves. 1t was finally agreed
that the we'll Should be tested, in order
that it may be determined Just how
much power is needed to pump the
we'll, it being understood that the coun-
ty pay half the cost of the expense.
Bids for improvements Opened
Bids were opened for the permanent
Improvement of Arcade. street and the
St. Paul and Bald Eagle road, which
is to be made one of the best in the
state. Three firms bid on the work. all
OF the figures being considered high by
the commissioners. The lowest bid
for the job was SIS, 200 for macadam
and $19,400 for gravel. The. highest
was 81 900 for macadam and $4,000
for gravel. The road is two and a
quarter miles in length The bids were.
finally ordered Sent to the county sur
veyer fery RbuIattusL
The board went tosWhite Bear In the
afternoon with representatives of the
street railway company, where they
looked over the ground of the proposed
right OF way for the eonpany's new
line from White Bear village to con-
meet with the Saltwater line, a fran
ch1se for which the company is now
seeking at the hands of the board.
No action was taken regarding the
franchise, and it is not expected that
any Will be in the near future as the
company is in no particular hurry to
begin work