72 Chicago Bureau of Public Efficiency 



principally automobile, gas engine and cylinder oil. Examina- 

 tion by the Bureau showed that several different grades (at 

 several different prices) of each kind of oil were being pur- 

 chased. During 1910, the South Park Board bought two grades 

 of automobile oil, one at 25c and the other at 42.5c. The West 

 and Lincoln Park Boards each bought one grade for which they 

 paid respectively 34c and 35c. The South Park Board paid 

 35c and 45c for gas engine oil, while the other two boards paid 

 30c and 18c respectively. Cylinder oil cost the South Park 

 Board 28c, 30c and 40c, while the other two boards paid 42.5c 

 and 34c respectively. It is evident that if a standard had been 

 adopted and adhered to for each kind of oil, a considerable sav- 

 ing could have been effected thereon. 



The Park Boards also use large quantities of soap. Exami- 

 nation shows that different grades, varying in price, are pur- 

 chased by the different Boards for similar purposes. For ex- 

 ample, the West Park Board paid $1,874 in 1910 for liquid soap 

 at 45c per gallon, while the South Park Board bought a liquid 

 soap at 30c per gallon. If the latter is as satisfactory for the 

 purpose as the 45c soap, then the West Park Board wasted over 

 $600 during 1910 on the single item of liquid soap. Standardiza- 

 tion would determine such questions. 



During 1910, also, the South Park Board purchased timothy 

 hay almost exclusively. The West Park Board purchased prairie 

 hay, and the Lincoln Park Board purchased both kinds. More- 

 over, the South Park Board purchased on both contract and open 

 market order while the West Park Board made all of its pur- 

 chases in the open market and the Lincoln Park Board pur- 

 chased practically all of its hay under contract. Similarly, 

 different grades of oats were purchased. The South Park Board 

 bought oats both in the open market and under contract, while 

 the West Park Board bought exclusively in the open market 

 and the Lincoln Park Board under contract. Considering the 

 fact that forage is purchased for nearly 300 horses, it is ap- 

 parent that large savings could have been effected if hay and 

 oats had been standardized as to grade and method of purchase. 

 It cost approximately $40 per horse more to forage the horses 



