The Washington times., 1905-06-25
PROPERTY CLERK IS
ASKED To EXPL LAIN
Bidder on Coal Contract
Puts Pertinent Question.
MAKES SWORN STATEMENT
V. Baldwin Johnson Has Some Things
to Say-Appears Before.
Notary.

Mr. V Baldwin Johnson, who was the
lowest bidder for the delivery Of coal
to the District, comes forward with
showdown and invites the Property
Clerk to b. equally candid and business
like His statement. sworn to BEFORE
(; notary public, follows:
AS the Property Clerk TO the COM
mfssfonerS has exercised the very proper
prerogative twhen intelligently, Justified
ly. and judiciousfy done), reserved by
the Commis sioners in awarding con-
tracts. fof rejecting all bids when deem
ed to the advantage Of the District TO
take that course, justice TO the bidoers
demands I'm that their business 1nteg-
rity is implicitly reflected upon) tnat the
interested public, the taxpayers in par
ticular. should know the data upon
which this course has been justified by
the officer acting on behalf OF the Gov
ernment. Now, as l was the lowest
bidder for the great bulk of the anthra-
cite coal asked for, and, therefore. the
most interested. l ask you to publish
the following statement, sworn 10 Dy
me- and ! would then be glad II the
Property Clerk would be equally ingen-
uous in a presentation Of the Govern
ment's side Of the matter
Following is an estimate of cost or
handling the anthracite coal for the
District government from July l. 1904.
to June 19 1865:
Total shipped for District account,
16. 361 tons; rejected by inspectors, 2,s29
tons; accepted by inspectors, 13. 532 tons;
estimated loss from cost of repickinS
rejected coal, selling same at re-
duction, 90 cents per ton, s, 1,44-5O, cost
OF dumping cars. 11a cents per ton. on
Is, ,532 tons $2G2 SS; shortage on cars and
waste from forking and screening coal,
q cents per ton on 1882 tons, S,75s. is;
proportion of cost Of wheelwrighting
and horseshoeing chargeab bic TO District
contract (one-half of 81, ,547.3), $773. .66;
proportion of cost of rental OF railroad
trestles and clerical help chargeable TO
District contract, $500; interest on
money in stock of coal necessary to
carry for District use TO protect Dis
trict against uncertainties and irregu-
larities Of shipments 1900 tons). 81. .2e0.
proportion of cost of horses killed in
effort to keep schools and Fire Depart
ment supplied during bad hauling. three
fifths of ten horses at $50, 500: total
| estimated cost on all anthracite as per
items enumerated above, 81, so; total
| 81 2-10.
| In the foregoing estimate there has
| been no apportionment Of charges what
! ever against the District of bonding
costs. telephone service. and many other
! incidentals-
| The above estimate appears to be the
| necessary costs of handling the antkra-
| cite coal for the District government
exclusive of the cost of hauling same,
| which latter ! have purposely omitted
| In other words, in order satisfactorily
! 10 handle che anthracite coal for the
| District government, contractor must
| undergo an expense of 81 2-10 cents pei
ton before he sticks a shovel into the
] coal for the purpose Of hauling and de-
! livering the same.
| The lowest figure for hauling this
| coal. exclusive of the cost of storing
| Which | can get from any large anG
responsible teaming firm Qike that OF
Ltttlefield. Alvord & Company for in
stance. is one tsD dollar per ton
| tSignedI V. BALDWIN JOHNSON.
District of Columbia.
! City of Washington
Personally appeared before me, this
! 10Th day Of June, 1905, the above V
Baldwin Johnson TO me personally
known, and signed the foregoing esti
mate. and declared under oath that the
same was true and correct to the bes
of his knowledge and belief
c. A NEALE,
| Notary Public
| Very truly yours.
V. BALDWIN JOHNSON.
| June 2i