The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-21

pflCes,
said committees by the Secretary OF the Interior and
hey bolh unanimously recommended The adoption OF ih
Lee marble
Upon this recommendation the Pesiden, ordered that
the bid OF John Baird be accepted Mr. Baird afterwards
associated with him Mr. John Rice, who part owner
OF the quarles and contract was made with these gen
liemen Tor all lhs marble Tor the exterior oil The exen
zion OF the Capitol
You will see, gentlemen, from this statemen, and the
accompanying documents how unjust are The asserionsI
and saImises of Mr.. Smith
This gentleman also complains, in his testimony. tha
te mode OF measurement is not in conformity TO th'
specifications, even the contract" Ii must b,
remembered that the specifications he alludes To
written TO both uo,k and materials all to be don
under ene contract which rendered any specifications o
measurement out Of place. We expected foi
the whole work completed, for given sum, and
course the dimensions OF the stones did
so that the plans were faithfully executed, except ia
as relates to the beds which yon will fad specified
By reference 10 the contract il will be that NJ
smith s IN error as 10 the mode Of not be-
ing specihed: Il specified You will find copy OF IN
contract, with the specifications annexed, in Ex Do,
NO 52 OF the Senate page 35, copy Of which is here
with submitted The following al The words of that in
sirnmen III reference TO the said measurements .
that the dimensions with the usual allowance for dress
ing OF all the blocks required for the work be fur
n'shed from time to time by the aforesaid party OF the
hfst part. and that said dimensions constitute th
measurement on which payment is to be made, whou +
allowance Tor any surplus over and above the sizes thur
given"
In conformity to this provision of the contract, ad
dressed letter to the contractors and sent H. with h'
elaborate drawings exhibiting every part OF the work
You will observe that have fixed the allowance fo
quarTyDg at two inches which is the usual allowance
aud which has been as small rate for quarrying as
have heard oi in practice Of than twenty years
ess than this would often not be sufficient square lh
stone, and get il out of winding and very much ques
ton whether any contractor would feel himself safe il
quaHy,ng stone with less allowance, ii he were golnt
10 work them himself.
Mr. Smith speaks Of $l3 900 the aggregate loss OF
all the columns This may be the difference between tn,
finished column and the column in the rough have not
estimated 1t; but there is practice in building that
have ever heard of by which il could be avoided. The
pected to deliver il flushed II he does not then all tha
remains to be off by the stone-cu,ie costs him
pota,ion freight, handling, hauling, &c. and constitutes
part OF the mass which he delivers, being as much
portion of the legitimate and necessary cost OF the work
the material which is placed in the building. have
never spoken word to the best OF my ecolecton
the contractors this subject but made my decision
what knew 10 be the custom in large works and what
deemed 10 be right and safe Tor government TO insure
good work.
Al the time the proposals asked for the rough]
stone alone, all the bidders understood the subject alike
The letter written to Mr. Smith in the precise words
OF that written 10 each of the others What the work
then was, II regards outside appearance. is
not one line of it has been altered. All had The same
designs aud the instructions 10 guide them. The
beds OF the stoae II true, have been made greater,
consequence OF the pnmsakable tendency OF Congress-
TO unusual strength, evinced by their nvesg aons OF
the last session On this account the whole basement
made more massive than al first intended, so lar a
it regards the thickness beds OF the stone, which has
increased the proportion Of large blocks always,
however, intended TO make the basement heavy, u
ought TO be- but, nasmuch the supersructue con-
siss of smaller features, and requires less strength III,
proportion OF stone in blocks thirty feet will b.
greatly reduced IL is natural and tight TO USE large
masses in the basement and smaller pieces above
Mr.. Smith says that bonds to be required, bu
this condition not complied with" Such is not the |
fact although the contract may appear TO favor such
conclusion drew up the contract in the usual form
with the customary bond, and submitted II TO the Secfe
tary OF the Interior TOR revision. After 1t was re
turned 10 me laid before the President. who carefully
considered every line OF IT, and made many cancellations
10 make II more stringent he gave entirely df-
feen form OF bond which he considered safe, de
string al the time 10 submit the matter 10 the
Attorney General. did so and his opinion was thai
the only safe way OF binding suetes in such is,
connect them the contract with The principals, ia
case OF default they are made parties To the first sui
against the contractors, and liable for whatever
damages there may be, whether large small, without
any given sum being speched more than this cannot be
required The principals are John Rice and John Baird
and the sureties Charles Heebner ami Matthew rd
This contract therefore made with all the ano
consideration that il possible TO give such dec
ument. The and their sureties all men OF
wealth, OF the highest standing IN society They haze
never asked TO favor them in any particular None
OF them are in Washington, and have not written aI
word TO them reference 20 these inyestigajoas Ty
have done all we have asked them 10 DO IL carrying
their contact | have nterta ii eulogizing thest
men speak from sense OF justice 10 them, and in
answer to the aspersons contained 10 the testimony OF
Mr.. Smith. IhaUc inierct uhaeUtr in their
IN aDg Otter oonJei ojnneeeI nth The Government
The many unklnd hints and insnuacns that have bee'
made induce TO make this assertion most soemny and
most emlhatcaly.
Mr. Smith alleges that the specifications continually
that The be like those OF the old build
ing but reference 10 the documeat will show tha,
contains such provisions &c the architecture
details correspond general character those OF The
present Capitol y that H. the external appearance, ant
the construction. would he up lh
maetlas OF the building TO initiate the stone
The old 6ulldng which was made OF small blocks be
cause II could not be Obtained in larger masses Tn
cracks tn foug hout the old building afford sufficient warn
ng in this particular
IL will be proper for me TO make explanation IL
reference TO the present appearance of the marble which
has been placed in the walls
II is well known by those who are acquainted with =
marble work thai, however beautiful block OF arbe
may appear when first wrought, as is laid In
The wall and backed up with wet materials, 1t VIII
tract dampness that will give Il dark appearance, ard
add greatly the depth OF cloHds that II
and especially in damp weather in the winter Its cold
condenses The atmosphere upon it, and il Catches
and holds all the dirt that may come IN contact with il
bat this effect generally the walls b.
come thoroughly dry. you will examine the marb.
when first wrought, sou will wha, II will be in ,h
building when all the sture is dried out OF the walls
There stones which appear to have been dis
colored by clay joints in the quarnes, but which did no
appear when they first set, they would not have
been put in the buildings As these bemlshe. 4
did appear told the contractors that all these block
must be taken out and deducted from The bills; but or
dered that nothing OF the kind should be done during
these Investigations would look though we wer
seeking 10 cover up faults. have not even allowed
the work 10 be cleaned of, wish make no effort "a
put anyt thing IN favorable light lhan you found il
When these investigations terminated shall cause
The Objectionable blocks 10 be removed, and give tue
work very different aspect
But TO return TO the testimony of Mr. Smith He says
But by some explained, RICE, Baird & Co
nj hass -. Al