The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-04

Ine revelations that have been made
during the consideration of the contracts
for the Technical high school, and the
very peculiar methods that the city
property committee has employed !n
taxpayers TO ask pertinent questions.
Not the least OF these is, why does not
the city Of Providence buy its own plumb
ing materials, as do the city OF Boston
and the city Of Worcester. and many
other cities that could be cited?"
Both Worcester and Boston do their
own repair work on public buildings. Bos-
ton buys its own plumbing materials and
instals them. except in be case OF big
contracts, which are let, OF course, TO
the lowest responsible bidders.
The materials that are bought by the
city come from jobbers. who are forced
TO put i'm competitive bids. but I'm this
city, instead of bids being invited from
the jobbers. IL appears as If a few ia
vored men are picked out and work given
TO them after II has been decided that
competitive bidding would be runous to
the contractors who. OF course. know less
about looking out for themselves than
does the omniscient committee on city
property.
There are three inspectors OF plumbing
here. a chief inspector and two assistants.
who. 1t is believed. should be able to look
after the city's work. At Woonsocket
the inspector draws up plans. the COM
mittee on city property has the cost of
.She jobs figured and the inspector sees
that the work Is done properly. The same
plan is followed in other cities. where the
committees on city property do not seem
so solicitous about the welfare OF the
poor political contractors.
There can be no questions about the
ease with which union plumbers can be
obtained for such work. The board OF
public works now hires union plumbers,
keeping two men on call. and buys sup
plies without the Intervention of the COM
mittee on city property. getting lead pipe,
stops waste. etc. by advertisement.
1T does not find It at all necessary to
allow some favored contractor or polit-
clan to buy such supplies as II needs and
then allow him 25 per cent of the cost
OF the supplies I'm payment for his labor.
1t is an easy thing for a contractor fur
nishing such supplies to Increase his per-
centage handsomely. If he buys In car
load lots and sells the city In small lots
he makes a much larger percentage than
he would make II he gave the city the
benefit OF the carload lot prices.
If the city should go into the open mar
ket and buy It's own materials IL would
save at least per cent, and probably
even more.
Another highly expensive plan the city
is paying for is that OF installing range
closets In the schools. These closets are
made by n single firm which has a mon
cpoly on them and can charge what 1t
pleases. II is believed that IL might be
Interesting 10 ascertain who recommends
them and why they are favored above
the individual closets At Worcester
Inspector OF Plumbing John +. Mccarthy,
who has had long and qualifying ex-
perience. finds that the Latrine or school
sink" so-called, has none OF the modern
sanitary and individual slphon closet
qualities, "and therefore has no place i'm
the modern and up-to-date school build
ing"
Like reports have been made against
the Latrine by inspectors OF plumbing.
notably in Topeka. Kan. who give many
reasons against II. These reasons are in
dorsed by the Plumbers Trade Journal.
Steam and Hot Water Filters Review,
which says in part:
Some forms OF the Iatrne still have
a strong foothold today. some being more
desirable from a sanitary standpoint than
others. We believe, however. that no
Latrine. however good (for it's kind II
may Ne can ever De dN sanitary. ana dS
free from filth as the individual water
closet.
THE schoolhouse. OF Vail buildings
should receive the utmost care I'm the in
stallatlon and care Of Its plumbing sys-
tom; and we believe that those OF our
readers VINO have watched the matter will
agree with us that the best qualified
architects are today specifying for school
house work for factory use, etc. the in
dvidual water closet"
- Many OF the largest New England clt-
les are using the Individual system These
include Boston Worcester. Woonsocket
Pawtucket, Fall River. New Bedford.
New London, Norwich and such big
towns as Bristol Uxbrldge and Millville.
The authorities at Holyoke, Fltchburg.
Taunton. Leominster. Haverhlll Lynn.
Cambridge and Clinton, whose inspectors
OF plumbing have looked into the compar-
ative merits OF the range and individual
system. all favor the individual system.
regarding the range. which Is so highly
favored In this city for some mysterious
reason. as being unsanitary.
The first cost OF the range closets. too.
IL much greater than is that OF the indi-
vldual system and the operating cost Is
certainly no less. II is declared The
average cost OF the range closets is about
SOS per seat and OF the individual closet
about $50 per seat. with tank. chain. etc
The city of Pawtucket installed very good !
sphon jet individual closets for about s23