The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-07-28
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.


committee, President Logan prcsldlng.
Present-Messrs. Beltz, Goering,
Horkheimer, Hoge, Hanson, Hanke,
Long, Myles, McGaw, Pollock, Pryor,
Ritz, Sylvis, Travis, Vogler, Warner
and Waterhouse-l7.
The minutes of the last meeting were
read and adopted.
THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
The committee on Capitol submitted
the following report:
10 the Mayor and Council Of the City Of
Wheeling:
Your committee having under con-
sideration the subject recommltted to
them bv the First Branch of Council, and
also the general interests connected with
the enterprise, respectfully submit the
following report:
The resolution providing for the pay
ment of $500 to j. >. Fairfax, archI-
tect, in part of 81, $50 to be paid him, as
per his contract with the committee tor
plans, specifications, drawings, &c, as
authorized by Council, was submitted
TO Council by the committee upon the
following considerations: The plans ana
working drawings and specifications had
been examined by experienced builders,
N number OF whom, subsequently, maze
bids. From none Of these have the COM
mittec received complaints or lntlma-
tiOns that the plans, drawings, specihcA-
tions, &c, were imperfect or indefinite
They have since been examined by the
contractor, Mr.. Sheppard, and he reports
them rs nearly complete IN his ludgiheh.
rs such drawings, &c, are usually found,
at the commencement of such building.
They have also been examined by the
committee in the presence OF the archi-
tec,. Mr. Fairfax, ana assisted by nm eX-
pert from abroad, the express object OF
such examination beng to assertion any
and NIL defects and errors of every KIND.
to be found therein.
From the information thus obtained,
YOUR committee reached the conclusion
ibat the plans, &c, while in all proba-
bilities not perfect in every detail, were
sufficiently full and complete to cntitle
Mr.. Fairfax to part of the amount liked
for his COMPENSATION, and that the cost OF
,uppIving any probable or possible deti-
cheney would be secured by the amount
$500 retained by Council.
In regard to the resolution (rc.com-
mittcdJ proposing the appointment OF >.
:. Fairfax rs superintendent, your COM
mittec would state in that, in their judS
ment. the public building cannot be pro-
prrly constructed without the supervision
Of Nh experienced architect and rccog.
pizpg correctness Of the principle that
the architect who has prepared the plans
and drawings, is presumed to be the best
internrcter of their character and
meaning, Your committee submitted
the resolution recommending hesppoint-
m,nt Ms stated. Your committee would
further state that in their judgment, the
dutie, of architect and superintendent,
should If possible be combined in one in,
dividual. Otherwise Council may ind
il necessary to employ two officers, IN
stead of one; involving not only an III
creased expense, but also increasing the
liabilities to conflicts Of authority and
misunderstanding, from a multiplicity OF
officers. The subject is one Of great I'M
portauce. and requires an early decision.
This committee is not prepared to re-
commend or nominate any one Tor ap-
pontmcnt to the position of Superlnten-
dent.
Your committee feel themselves COM
nelled to makes statement in regard 10
tn, considerations whichInduced them to
recommend some improvements and
alterations in the public building. They
make this statement because their action
in this respect seems to have been mis-
understood by some, and misrcpresented
by others. -,
When the plans for the public build
inc were first under consideration by the
committee. their attention was directed
To several features in the construction Of
the same, which were regarded rs very
desirable. but which were not included
in the specifications because 1t was feared
that their introduction would make the
build mo cost more than the sum appro-
priated 10y Council for that purpose.
Since that time Il responsible bid for
the construction of the building, in acsor-
dance with the specifications, has been
received and accepted by Council; and
for a sum about $4,000 less than the
maximum estimate OF your committee.
Under these circumstances, your COM
mittee wa again impressed with the de-
sire to make the improvements referred
to; and they were encouraged in this
direction by the fact that careful
estimates Of the cost of the proposed
improvements, added to the contract
price, would not bring the whole cost of
the building IN excess of the amount or.
iginally contemplated. Furthermore it
was necessary, if these Improvements
were to be made, that early action should
be had by Council i'll regard to some of
them, in ordc- that the contractor might
ar ange for them in his negotiations
now pending with sub-contractOrs.
Your committee regret that their action
in th, matter has subjected them to inn
putations not only for extravaganza, but
of undue haste in their tendencies
thereto. After patient and careful eX-
animation of the subject the committee
recommended the use of fire brick in
stead of stock brick in fronts OF the pro.
posed building. Their names for such
recommendation were submitted to
Council. As they were not approved,
the committee do not propose To renew
the recommendation. They, however.
still feel that it is expedient and desra-
bic that some change should be made in
the character of the brick to be- used in
the fronts of the building; and
they now recommend that author
ity be given TO provide that
Eres :ed brick, mot fire brick OF good COL
or and quality, shall be used in the fronts
of the building, instead Of ordinary stock
brick, as provided in the specific ,t.ols.
Your committee renew their RECON-
mendation that terra Gotta blocks be
used in facing the pilasters of the build
ing. There is no doubt in regard
to their durability. Their cost is but
slightly in excess of what it will cost to
construct the tacings Of brick; and their
Use will greatly improve the archtiectu-