The Park Governments of Chicago 73 



of the West Park Board during 1910 than the horses of the 

 South or Lincoln Park Boards. 



It is pointed out in a subsequent chapter that the West Park 

 Board has been paying $40 more per horse for horses purchased 

 than either of the other two Boards. 



Within a period of a few weeks the West Park Board 

 bought 5,950 feet of one inch hose from five different firms. 

 The quantity was split up so that each firm secured an order of 

 from 950 feet to 1,500 feet. The prices ranged from 13c to 

 15.5c. About the same time the South Park Board bought 2,000 

 feet of one inch hose at 15c per foot from a sixth firm and the 

 Lincoln Park Board 3,292 feet from a seventh firm at 20c per 

 foot. In this connection it is also interesting to note that the 

 West Park Board paid 56c per foot for 2j^ inch hose about 

 the same time that the South Park Board paid 47.5c for the same 

 size hose. 



Widely varying prices were also paid by the several boards 

 for trees of corresponding kind and size. Thousands of dol- 

 lars are spent annually for trees and the recent establishment 

 by the South and Lincoln Park Boards of nurseries should as- 

 sist materially in reducing the future cost of trees. A consolida- 

 tion of the park governments would give to the West Park 

 district as well as the smaller districts the benefits to be derived 

 from the operation of the nurseries already established. 



Large quantities of lumber are used each year by the several 

 Boards, most of which has been purchased on the open market. 

 For example, Lincoln Park voucher No. 27,525, August 31, 1911, 

 for $13,376 in favor of Edward Hines Lumber Company was 

 in payment for lumber all of which was purchased in the open 

 market without written bids or written contracts. That some 

 of the single purchases, on which this payment was based, were 

 very large is evidenced by an order of August 7 which amounted 

 to $9,563.04. Moreover, the order was for only one kind and 

 grade of material, as follows : 



2,580 pieces No. 1 Norway Pine, 3 in. x 12 in. -24 ft 

 3,000 pieces No. 1 Norway Pine, 2 in. x 12 in.-24 ft. 



329,760 bd. ft. at $29.00 per M $9,563.04 



