Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-09-12


regarding the purchase of the new
pump for the Runyon station by the
Board of Water Commissioners. Pub
lie attention has been attracted to
this matter by the hiring of an ex-
pert, reports, condemnations, insinua-
tions and the like, until the people
begin to think Of that old adage,
must be some fire" .Just how near
this supposition comes to being true
may be made clearer to the taxpayers
by the facts, which the EVENING
NEWS has been able to learn about
the matter.
The water board will meet tomor-
row might, presumably to award the
contract for this pump, bids for which
were opened at a recent meeting on
specifications drawn by the expert, c.
C. Vermuele. There are five bids to
be considered, two for Glass A and
three for Glass B. The figures for
these bids arc as follows:
Class A, Camden Iron Works, $14,-
285: r. W. Worthington, $14, 400.
Glass B. ,Allis-Chalmers Company,
$21,700; Snow Steam Pump Com
pany, $23, 900; Camden Iron Works,
$4,000.
OF these bids the Allis-Chalmers
Company is the lowest bidder for
Glass b and the Camden Iron Works
is the lowest bidder for Glass A. Of
the four concerns bidding, the
Wbrthington and the Snow COM
panies are in what is called the pump
trust, known as the International
Pump Company. The Allis-Chalmers.
and the Camden concern are indepen-
dent.
High Duty Pump Best.
1t is generally admitted that Class
n or high duty pump, upon which the
Chalmers Company is the low
est bidder, is the style of pump best
adopted for this city's use. 1t has
a much larger capacity than Glass
A; will handle a larger volume of
water day and is therefore much
to be preferred in growing city.
When the water commissioners went
before the Board of Aldermen with
the request that money be approp-
rated to buy the pump, before any
bids whatever were advertised for,
the commissioners told the alder
men that they intended giving this
city the high duty pump. 1t was
argued that it was better for reser-
voir work, and Perth Amboy expects
to have a reservoir before long, and,
besides, it would supply the demandl
of growing city for sometimeI
whereas, Glass A pump, being os
much smaller capacity, might soo$
be outgrown and then the city wouH
have to stand the expense of buyiHg
another pump.
The aldermen saw the >wisdonf in
this and the impression was left That
Glass B would be the pump finally
secured, although, as is always GUS
tomary in advertising for all bids,
figures on both classes were called
for as q means of comparison, If
nothing else.
Expert Favored High Duty. y
More than this Mr.. Vermue4e, the
expert who was hired at the cost of
$3.50 to draw up specifications for
a pump which would be especially
adapted for the local needs, advises,
in his report read at the last meet
ing, that Glass b pump be purchased
because it is more suited to the needs
of a growing city like Perth Amboy>f
In spite of the fact, however that
the Allis-Chalmers Company, the
lowest bidder on Glass B., and who
have agreed to furnish a pump ex-
actly like his specifications call for,
Mr.. Vermuele sees fit to condemn
this concern and its pump in severe
terms, but has nothing but praise
for the Snow company and ends by
recommending that the contract be
awarded to~the Snow concern, the
highest bidder. In the event of this
not being possible, Mr. Vermuele, the
expert, tells the commissioners. to
buy the Worthington pump, which Is
highest for Glass A., style of pump
which both the water commissioners
and the expert have stated is the
least adapted for the work in this
city. 1t is significant that both con-
Germs which Mr.. Vermuele favors are
in the trust and the two he so severIy
condemns. although their pumps are
to be built according to his own
specifications, are independent con-
Germs.
Just what the water commissioners
will do remains to be seen. They
were appointed to office to handle
the water department for the best