The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-12-05


Carried on were satisfactory that the work it.
srll = executed in monuer at once elegant
All II ,lamta and that n building would be
erected upon the foundations then laid which
would effect credit upon the State. aud be in
every way worthy of her dignity. Since that
time, however | have cause to 'horzr rHd
iva ci,ange tmy opinion upon this SUBJECT.
Sun after the adjournment of the l.r&i>la
tnrp, tie IasrrIl, MT of the north Wig
far Coz clrj as to warrant an order Iinn Iic
for the removal of all the papers bIni,!:r ="
the officers of the several departments =: H.
Stat Government into the ncw ;:;,ai,ul,u,~ G..
r,:..,rd fn tI.rn in that portion OF thr hui ,i.jg.
j d'ei"rd this step ncccs sary ior H." r"i,riI'':
ui hr rrcn tis and archives ircm danger q! fl
aud other Hr> rartive causes during lhc Irn'n'
val ui The old capitol to its present site. S''"''
after IliS rvent, and during the past spring, the
commissioners appointed by ti'r Legislature
to suprrntrld the construction "f the He~
halls "f legislation became concerned about
certain Indications Of faulty AoIk in the cdfce.
Pr,,IuJt inquiries were Instituted. The >crvi
ceS of an architrcr "iacku"w ledgr'l ability and
, larg. professional practice called into
QUESTION. 1T ilrs, The imp c'er'I"n> OF the work
were not thong ht IL hr oi Il >eiin'i> character.
and that by taking d,wn anI 'r constructing
an inconsidefabie portion of' H. all defects w,.uii
! he rrmrdipd, wiilnut loss To The State. IL ti'
meantime the original architect MAS ,uprrse-
ded in his employment. by placing Mr. WAR
| cr in immediate Charge uG rU siructinn, aad b,
engaging the services of Mr.. John r. NierlI>ce,
of Baltimore, us kle consulting architect. To
he able to obtain The aid of these gentlemen
was deemed by the commission Il fortunate
| event. in addition TO their valuable services,
the rate of compensation to them per annum.
together with the salary paid to Mr. Mckay,
the assistant architect would not exceed the
sum which the late architect, " ould have re.
ccived had no cause occurred to retard the
progress of the work.
Scarcely had the superintendent of the
building been rcorganized, when other defects
of a more serious character were discovered,
not only in the walls, but in the very founda.
ton, commencing with the laying of tic cor.
ner stone itself; and rca> enable donbt existed
in The minds both of the commissioners and
architects, it the defect in the gr"iucd arches
and the walls OF the basement story could be
remcdied, whether the foundations woull bear
the great weight with they wnnId be required
to sustain. The commissioners believed that
no doubt upon hi, Sahjrct should be suffered
to exist, and They according ly, after mature
delihcraiion and consultation with the archi.
| tecis. gave the order for taking up all the work
which to that period had been done upon the
ediGcc This order has been carried Into cI
feet The material which i available in The
construction Of another baildin. IDS been care.
fully renovcd, and placed where it can be used
for that purpose, as the Legislature may here
after direct
The loss which the State will for the l.rrsent
>u~iu h, 'h> failure in the erection "F the
i,n"v :ia.,s "tIcgiSalion has been ccall, asccr
'anrd !nd Aill appear in the following state
! mcni. he particular items are contained in
the accompanying report Of Mr.. Walker, the
constructing architect.
'fhr SUNS advanced from time to time bv
the Stale for the erection of fire proof buill.
/. ings. aud subsequently for Il new
State Capitol, amount to 80. >3lJ,00O 90
! Total amount expended on build.
mS. 223,2io l.
Value OF property and material
on hand ready for future use l59nl5 81
Lust in 'kmmnship, material &c 72 70, l..
Balance in State bonds and cash
on hand .............. 3i,IHI VI
In this amount expended is inciu
drd square "rp">ie Capitol $4,000 90
For removal aud repairing Of old
Capitol l1,OU0 W
In the sum of $72,257 IS is not included
the forieiures by contractors under their sliI,.
uaions with the commissioners, each Of whom
gave bond, with ample security, for the faith.
full performance of work. The bonds were
drawn in proper legal form, distinctly defining
the manner IN which each kind ofwork should
he executed aud doubt can exi>: that The c,n-
tracts are clearly violated. TO what extent
the State can Recover damages by process OF
law, is yet to be determined. The solicitor Of
the commission Hon. Mr.. DeSauss,,rr, h,,
been instructed to take such steps in the pr
misses rs will protect the State from loss.
The commissioners commenced, and Tor
sometime continued work un'lrr the c,,nlr;r:
system, BY which of course considerable profits
accrued TO contractors, although the rates paid
for work were not larger than are usually admit
ted for buildings of that character; but recently
under complete reorganization of the whole
system for construction, contracts have been
terminated, and the work is now carried on by
day labor, under the immediate auspices and
supervision Of architects and foremen, by which
all profits accrue directly to the State, amount.
ing to at least twenty five per cent whist a ,the
same time labor is now systematically applied
and work more faithfully executed. By this it
will be seen that all losses hitherto arising will
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