The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-09-08
COUNCIL AWARDS
CITY LIGHTING
To Highest Bidder in Face of
Special Committee Report
to Contrary.
Action Causes Severe Criticism on Part
of Tax Payers Defend it.

Action Causes Severe Criticism on Part
of Tax Payers-Few Defend it.
AT meeting of the Palatka cityicoun,
Gil on Tuesday night the bid of c. S.
Hammatt and associates for lighting the
streets of the city for five years from
February 1St, 1912, was accepted.
There were number of business men
present and interest in the result was
tense.
The proceedings began by Clerk TRAY
reading the report of the special com
mittee to whom was referred the bids
for street lighting, as follows:
To Honorable City Council of the City
of Palatka.
Gentlemen
Your committee TO whom was re-
ferred the bids for electric lights for the
city of Palatka begs to report as follows
We recommend that the bid OF the
Palatka Gas Light & Fuel Co. be ac-
cepted provided said company will fur
nish a guarantee bond in the sum OF
$5, 900 for the faithful performance OF
carrying out the provisions OF the con-
tract that may be entered into in accord
ance with their bid.
Respectfully submitted,
BENZ. |. GAY,
]. II. HAUGHTON.
Palatka, Fla, Sept. 5th, 1911.
The following minority report was al
so submitted:
To the Honorable City Council, Palatka
Gentlcmen:-
AS member of the committee TO
whom was referred the bids for electric
lights for the city of Palatka, ! beg TO
make the following minority report:
| recommend that the bid of c. S.
Hammatt and associates be accepted by
the city for lighting the streets.
JUDGE Y. WALTON.
Palatka, Fla, Sept 5th, 1911.
Immediately following the reports,
Aid. D. ]. Coughlin of the Third Ward
moved that the bid of c. S. Hammatt
and associates be accepted.
This motion was seconded by Joe
Adams, colored, of the Sixth Ward.
Then followed general discussion OF
the bids by MeSsrs. Hilburn and E.
Noble Calhoun for the Palatka Gas
Light & Fuel Co., and Mr. Hammatt for
himself and associates.
But before reporting this discussion il
will probably be as we'll 10 reproduce
the bids that the reader may the better
understand them.
Bids of Palatka Gas Light & Fuel Co.
20 or more lamps, nominal c. P. (arc
~ ampereS) 1000, per annum SiS.44.
100 or more incandeScent Lights
SOC. P. Tungsten each per year $7.49.
40 c. P. Tungsten each per year 7.99.
SOC. P. Tungsten each per year S.S4.
90 c. P. Tungsten each per year 9.I4'
These were the size lights the adver-
lisement called for and the service was
to be all night, or 1000 hour schedule.
Bids of c. S. Hammatt and Associates.
20 or more luminous arc ampcreS
each per annum S65.OO.
100 to $50 lights
81 C. P. Tungsten lamps each per an
mum $1,000.
4OC. P. Tungsten lamps each per an
mum S22. 50.
6OC. P, Tungsten lamps each per an
NUN pAJ'UV
SOC. P. Tungsten lamps each per an
mum $4,000.
1900 hour schedule.
These bids were made on August 22d
in, pursuance of an advertisement for
"Bids for Lighting the City," published
in the PaIatka News, and in pursuance OF
further detailed information" furnished
bv the city clerk in the following reSo-
luton authorizing the asking of bids, as
follows:
"Be it resolved by the city council
of the city of Palatka, that the said city
council advertise for sealed bids 10 be
received up 10 August I'D, 1911, at S
O'Clock p. m, for lighting the streets OF
the city of Palatka with electric lights
for period of five ~ years from the
first day of February, AID, 1912. The
lights on which such bids are to be re.
ceived to be: Twenty or more lights OF
900 nominal candle power, or its equiv
alent, and 100 or more 80, 40, 81 or OF
Tungsten incandeScent Ii G hts. Said
lights to be placed at such points on the
streets of the city of Palatka as may be
determined by the city council. Said
bids to give the city council the right tc
renew any contract that may be made
hereunder for another period OF five Is
years at the same price. A certified
check in the sum of 81 900 TO accompany
each bid. The city council reserves the
right to accept or reject any or all bids
"Bc it further resolved, that the cit!
clerk at once cause an advertisement il
conformance with this to be published
for thirty days in some newspaper pub
liShed in this city. Whereupon motion
prevailed that the same be received anC
adopted"
Hon. S. ]. Hilburn asked and wa
given permission to address the council
He said in substance that he appeared 70
the PaIatka Gas Light & Fuel Co., who's
bid was much the lower. The question
was one of pure business - Sentimen
should not enter into the matter. Their
were two bids in response TO the coun
ellis advertisement. The bid of Mr.
Bailey was much the lower. ltwaS il
exact accord with the councils reSolu
ton. MIR. Bailey had thousands of dol
lars invested in his plant; he had bccl
compelled TO bid low, as 10 lose th
lighting meant ruin TO his business. Hi
had been compelled to do this by pro
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