The Park Governments of Chicago 71 



nished to manufacturers when purchases became necessary, with 

 a request for lowest prices. It would usually be found profit- 

 able to purchase large quantities. 



For example, instead of having a large number of different 

 shapes, sizes and grades of shovels, three or four shapes and 

 sizes would be adopted as standard, each shape and size being 

 selected for a particular use for which it was proved to be 

 most efBcient. Standard specifications for these shovels would 

 be drawn setting forth the grade of steel, kind of wood, etc. as 

 well as the shape, weight and size of shovel so that each manu- 

 facturer would be bidding upon exactly the same thing. No 

 matter which manufacturers secured the contracts during dif- 

 ferent years, under such a plan the shovels furnished by them 

 would all conform to the standard specifications. This last would 

 be insured because : ( 1 ) the standard specifications would af- 

 ford an ever present basis for testing and (2) chemical or phys- 

 ical tests, or both, would be made of each delivery to determine 

 whether or not it conformed to the specifications. 



There has been not only a complete lack of standardization 

 as between the supplies, material and equipment purchased by 

 the several Park Boards but, furthermore, little consideration has 

 been given to the matter by the individual Boards. The records 

 of each Board are replete with illustrations of the truth of this 

 statement, but the following are cited as typical : 



In February, 1910, the South Park Board bought a gross of 

 16-inch gutter brooms and also a gross of 18-inch gutter brooms, 

 the price of the former being $8 per dozen and of the latter 

 $9.50 per dozen. Under a system of standardization, the purchas- 

 ing agent would have known what size of gutter broom was best 

 adapted for the work and his authority to purchase would have 

 been limited to that particular size. It is evident that if the $9.50 

 brooms were better, the $8 brooms should not have been pur- 

 chased. If the latter were better, then $18 was wasted on the 

 gross of 18-inch brooms. To carry this illustration further, the 

 West Park Board soon thereafter purchased a gross of gutter 

 brooms from another firm at $8.25 per dozen. 



The Park Boards use large quantities of lubricating oils. 



