Proposed Motorvans Tor Westminster.
Page 4
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Interesting Tenders.
At the meeting of the Westminster City Council on the 25th July, the Highways Committee brought up a report reminding the Council that the recommendation of a fortnight before, that -two additional motorvans be purchased, had been adjourned for the sub-mission of an estimate by the Finance Committee. In the meantime the Highways Committee had further gone into the matter, and, in accordance with a request of the Finance Committee, had taken into account the effect, by way of saving on other items in the annual estimates, if two additional motorvans were purchased. The Assistant City Engineer informed them that each motor, working day and night, is equivalent to five horses, and that the reduction would be five horses' fodder and shoeing, and five hired horses at approximately 8s. gd. per day, which equals an annual expenditure of ,4',I,014, together with a capital outlay of „4:350. On the other hand, the cost of the motors, with wages to four motor drivers, coal, oil, sundries and repairs, will be .4:582 per annum, with a capital expenditure of ,4'1,200. The details were as follow It was suggested that it would be more satisfactory fer the Council to consider the matter on a definite tender rather than on a round-sum estimate based on quotations, as submitted a fortnight before, and, therefore, the Highwriyi; Committee had obtained the following tenders :—Alley and MacLellan, Ltd. : (1) price per van, -4550; (2) annual maintenance charge per van, ,4.765, first year free. Fodens, Ltd. : (i) .4:570, less 5 per cent, for two; (2) do not quote. R. Garrett and Sons, Ltd. : (1) ,..',55o; (2) do not quote. Lancashire Steam Motor Co. : (I) .4,58o; (2) £65, and reduction for motor 4 to same price from £85. Mann's Patent Stearn Cart and Wagon Co., Ltd. (I) L505; (2) '75, first year free, subject to special mantenance clause. D. Stewart and Co., Ltd. : (i) ...570; (2) /„:,5o, for three years. The tenders were made on the Assistant City Engineer's specification for the provision of steam motor tip vans with interchangeable bodies for refuse collection and street watering, and the Assistant City Engineer had reported to the Committee on the tenders, and it had decided that the tender of the Lancashire Steam Motor Company, although not the lowest, was the most advantageous, The Committee accordingly recommended that the tender of this company be accepted. Upon the motion for the adoption of the report and recommendation, several members opposed, not on account of any objection to motor traffic, but upon the ground that the Highways Committee was some time ago authorised to spend a certain sum upon horses during the current twelve months, and no provision had been made in the estimates for the purchase of these motors. It was pointed out that the Highways Committee was the only committee of the Council which had exceeded its estimates, and that, without this proposed extra expenditure, they had already incurred liabilities of 4.;5oo over the estimates. In the result the recommendation was referred back, with instructions that it be brought up again with next year's estimates.