The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-12-06


and Archives from danger cf fire and other
destructive causes, during the removal of
tho old capitol to its present SITE Soon
after this event, and during the past spring.
the Commissioners appointed by the Iegis-
lature to superintend the construction Of the
new Halls of Legislation, became concern
ed about certain indications Of faulty work
In the edihcc. Prompt enquiries were m
s'itutcd. The services Of an architect, of
acknowledged ability and large profession
al practice, were called into reduisition-
AT hrst, the impcrfections Of the work were
not thoughtto be Of serious character, and
that by taking down and rec6nstructinr an
inconsiderable portion of it, all defects
would be remedied, without loss to the
State. In the meantime, the original Ar
chtect was superseded in his employment,
by placing Mr.. Walker in immediate charge
of construction, and by engaging tho ser
vices of Dir. John r. Niernse, of Baltimore,
as the Consulting Architect. TO be able TO
obtain :he aid of these gentlemen was
deemed by the Commission n fortunate
oven, ~, in addition TO their valuable ser.
vices the rat. of compensation to them per
nnnum, together with the salary paid to Mr..
Kay, the Assistant Architect, would not ex-
cecd the sam which the Lite Architect would
tard the progress of the work.
Scarcely hrd the superintendence of the
building been 'rcorg tnized, when other de-
fects of more serious character wers dis.
covered, not only in the walls, but in the
very foundation, commencing with the Law.
ing OF the corner stone itself: and n reason
able doubt existed in the minds both of the
Commissioners and Architects, if the defrc,
IN the gro;ncd arches and the walls of the
basement story could d. rcmcdied, whether
the foundations would bear the great weight
which they would be required to sustain.-
The Commissioners believed that no doubt
upon thl, subject should b. suffered to ex-
ISL, anl they accordingly, after mature de-
liberation and consultation with the Ar.
chltects. gave the order for taking up nil
the work which to that period Lad been
done upon the edificc. This order has been
carricd into effect. The material waich is
available in the construction of another
building has bccn carefully removed, anl
placed " mere it c1n b. used for that pur.
pose, rs the Legislature may hcrc,ftrr direet.
The loss which the State will for the pres
ent sustain by this failure in the erection of
the new Halls of Legislation, has bren clear
ly ascertained, and will appear in the fol-
lowing statement. The particular items
are contained in the accompanying report
OF Mr. Walker, the Constructing Architect.
The sums advanced from time to time
by the State for the erection of Fire Proof
buildings, and subsequently for new State
Captoi, amount 10 S3l5,000 90
Total amount expended on
building 22s,9ls I2
Value of property and ma
tcrlal on hand ready for
future use l5o,945 81
Lost in workmanship, ma
teTt''s. &c. 7a,267 rs
Balance in State bends and
cash on hand 9l,7s7 90
In this amount expended is
included for square oppo.
] site Gap tol -, ---ae 900 -nr
| VI" oaPitol $4,000 OF
In the sum of seventy-two thousand two
nundred and sixty-seyen dollars and seven.
! tJ-nve cents, $72, ,267,72 is not included the
| ioriei'ures by contractors under their stipu.
iauohs with the Commissioners, each of
wnon gave bond with ample security for
inc faIthfnl performance Of work The
oonu' were drawn in proper legal form dis
s'nctiy defining the manner in which each
kind Of work should be executed, and no
doubt can exist that the contracts are clear
ly violated. To what extent the State can
recover damages by process of law is vet
10 bo determined. The Solicitor of In.
Commission, Hon. Mr.. DeSaussure,has been
Instructed to take such steps in the premises
as Wlll protect the State from loss.
Ihe Commissioners commenced, and for
some time, continued work under the con-
Tract sy stem by which OF course consider
aoie profits accrued to contractors, although
the rates paid for work were not larger than
are usually admitted for buildings of that
character but recently, undera complete re-
cor9anzatIon of tho whole system for con-
struction contracts have been terminated.
ana the work is now carried OH by day labor
uhder tho immediate auspices aud supervis-
ION OF architects and furemen by which all
Prohts accrue directly 10 the State amount
ing TO at least twenty FIVE per 20 t., viii q,
NJ inc same time labor is now systenlaticul
iy applied and work more faithfully execu.
ted. by this it will be seen that all losses
hitherto arising will be completely covered
before the building is much more than half
completed; and when completed. taking il
Tor granted that a million will be expended
upon it, large amount will actually be
saved to the State.
AS u st! ong necessity is apparent for the
construction of new Halls of Legislation
from the insecurity and decay of tho build
ing now occupied by you, il is to be pre-.
sumed that your original intentions will b.
carried into effect. In that event recon-
mend change Of position for the new edi-
nee. By locating it at the intersection of
senate and Richardson streets with northern
and southern exposures 1t can be seen with.
out obstruction from the four points of the
compass and will present an appearance
more dignifed and imposing. Should this
suggestion be adopted. it would be neces-
sary TO increase still more the area of ground
about it. If the change oflocation be made
in the end perhaps It may not be a subject
much to be regretted that delay and disaster
attended the first efforts to construct new
capitol for tho commonwealth.
have thus laid before you a plain and
truthful statement of the facts connected
with this subject. Doubtless great dissatis-
faction exists rs to the action Of the Com
missoners 10 the premises. You will Judge
them with calmness aud equity. They had
many difficulties TO encounter. Quarryino
and working granite is new business in
this State, and competent contractors and
mechanics are difficult to procure. No pub
lie edifice of the magnitude of this has ever
been constructed here. The commissioner