Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-28
OMAHA BUYS FIRE
HOSE ON PROMISE
Unlike Other Cities, There Are No
Specifications and Bids Sub
mitted by Middlemen.
TRUST TO LUCK AS TO QUALITY


Why can st. Paul. Mimi. submit
the most rigid set of fire hose speci-
fications drawn by any city and re-
ceive direct from manufacturers.
bids ranging from as to 6s cents per
foot, each bidder agreeing TO comply
with the specifications?
Why does Omaha, with no speci-
fications, have to submit to bids from
middlemen and pay 80 cents to s1.1O
per foot for fire hose?
Why can st. Paul have a represen-
tative at the factory, while the hose
is being made, this representative
supervising tests, according to the
most approved modern scientific
methods?
Why does Omaha buy fire hose
merely on the makers promise and
then trust to luck that 1t will be
o. X?
Why is It?
The fire hose specifications of 81.
Paul cover three and half closely writ
| ten pages of typewriter matter and
include every feature Of hose require
ment based on expert knowledge. The
| following are a few Of the concluding
paragraphs OF the ST. Paul speeifica-
! tions:
In the Specification.
inspection OF hose under the require
ments OF the preceding sections VIII be
carried out at the factory or factories
where the hose is made, by the Bureau
OF Municipal Testing laboratories. The
manufacturers must provide the nu-
thorixed representative of the city OF
| ST Paul with all equipment and as
distance necessary in carrying out the
| tests called for In these specifications
| A standard guage tester shall be pro-
v,ded to test the pressure gauges used
"The Bureau of Municipal Testing
laboratories of the City OF St Paul IL
hereby designated as the duly authorized
representative of the city and will CON
duct the tests called for
Each length of hose delivered must
bear the stencil of the Bureau OF Munich
pal Testing laboratories. as evidence oi
It's having been examined and tested
bv the duly authorized representative OF
the city, and passed as in conformity
with the foregoing requirements.
"Acceptance of the hose Is conditioned
upon the receipt by the city from It's au'
thorized representative notice of label
ing ana summary of record OF examina'
tions and tests.
.srhe Bureau Of Municipal TESTING
laboratories shall be notified In advance
when the manufacture of the hose Is
10 begin and no hose shall be made De
fore the arrival OF the authorized rep
resentative of the city
Nine submit bids.
In the face of st. Paurs exacting speci-
fications, nine manufacturers OF fire hose
submitted bids, the prices ranging from
| IS to 6s cents per foot. These bids were
opened three months ago. The specitica-
tions OF the Minnesota capital city lack
no feature which might protect the city
in securing proper hose. The bids were
all submitted direct from the manufae-
turers.
Omaha pays the middlemans profits
when buying fire hose.
The ST. Paul specifications cover minute
details regarding rubber lining. cotton
cover, fittings, weight of hose. tests OF
ali kinds and under all conditions. physi-
Ndl tc8lb AOA u lSAASA " viz 49, N-~~-
labelling hose at factory, five chemical
tests OF the rubber lining. In addition &c
the tests made at factories by repre-
sentative Of the city. It is required thai
three-foot samples must be sent for test
at ST. Paul.
The Omaha city council opened fire host
bills on January IS Of this year. Tit
prices ranged from es cents TO 81 per foot
Ten thousand feet were purchased at 8
cents per foot. 5000 feet being sold by
one favored middeman. On February 5
1914. the city purchased 10000 feet from
six bidders at these prices; 1000 feet al
50 cents. 1000 feet at 81 and 5000 feet Al
ti.l0
The fire department officials recently
stated that the particular brand Of hose
OF which 5000 feet we're bought last month
at 80 cents per foot is as good as any OF
the 5000 feet purchased two years asc
at S1.l0 per foot. Two years ago. instead
Of submitting specifications. the city pur'
chasing department, for the fire depart
ment, bought six brands Of hose. and
after two years use the fire chief ayers
ortxr ha