New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-09
THE COST OF THE NEW CAPITOL.

REMARKABLE CARD FROM PIE FORMER ARCHIrECT-
Arthur GILMAN SHOWS THE ENORMOUS WASTE
WHICH HAS OCCURRED-THE BOARD OF COMMITS
sIONERs' SYSTEM RADICALLY WRONG.
Fiuen-TbeIe is why sud wherefore IN all
things-tKin Henry W. Act W. seene l.
70 the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: The tax-paying public of the State of New
York will read that portion of the Controllers An
nual Report which relates to the cost of the New
Cnptol at Albany as published in THE TRIBUNE OF
this morning with no very tranquil or comfortable
reflections Ii is there stated that there has been
expended upon the New Capitol, to the present
time including $jOO,0O0 for the purchase of lands
and excluding unadjusted claims contracted by the
Commissioners, fully $5,S0O0OO." What the amount
of these unadjusted claims may be there IL no
means Of ascertaing from the report but aside from
these we have an admitted expenditure OF S5,SD,OOO
upon the structure alone. And it is understood that
the work has been carried but little, if any, above
the first Of the three stories which make up the
elevation of the principal fronts.
Under such an official exhibit OF waste and lmDe-
cilitv it would be wrong for any one who is
thoroughly conversant with all the facts of the
case to remain silent The original Board of Com
missioners repeatedly pledged themselves to an
expenditure not exceeding the appropriation OF
S4OO0OOO for tho entire structure-wlth the single
exception of the ornamental sculpture alone. was
at that time one of the two Joint architects" of the
Capitol and furnished the design which was
adopted by the Board and which. in most OF its
leading features is now being carried out That the
design has been somewhat changed by the present
architect in charge, and perhaps with a material
increase of expense, | am not disposed to deny.
This fact is well alluded to by the Controller, in the
concluding portion of his remarks on the subject
But deem it duty TO inform the public that pro-
nj TINA NJ tpsm
tenders of contract from not less than three separate
firms of experienced builders in NewYOrk to do and
complete all the works on the plans thus adopted
in each case for sum within the said appropriation
of four millions of dollars. And these tenders were
accompanied in each case by the offer to furnish
ample and undoubted security for the satisfactory
completion of the whole work Bills of quantities,
exhibiting every item of the proposed contracts,
were carefully taken out and as a single instance
of the ample evidence that the sum named was
abundant for completion of the design, quote from
the sworn testimony of one Of the contractors re-
ferred to, before Committee of the Senate as
reported in The Albany Argus of the next day after
that he estimated the cost of the new CAPITOL
according to the pres Mt plans, at SSSOO5O and he
was willing and ready to furnish ample bonds pro-
yided he could obtain the contract to build 1t at
that price"
then Commissioners as an iDducement to the Legis-
ature for further grants of ready money! seemed 70
be REGARDED by them Of ne further consequence
Indeed rescued one of them from waste-basket
IN the Senate Committee room within ten days after
the foregoing testimony was given. And 1t very
AEON becamee vident to me that n majority of the
Commissioners at least had wish OF intention to
contract for the work. IL even seemed to me-and
TO MANY Others who were cogn1zant OF the facts,
now for the first time publicly stated-that SOHO OF
the most active of the Board had not the slightest
idea of limiting the expense OF the building 10 Sc
cnre a handsome annual appropriation appeared 30
he the limit of their intentions, and distinguished
citizen of Albany remarked to me at the time that
they would make a placer OF 1t yet How well
tins gentleman estimated the probable result APP
pears from the official report OF the Controller as
published in THE TRIBUNE OF to-day
It is due to the truth to state THAI there were gen.
tIemen in the minority of each Of the Boards Of
Commissioners under whom served who were sim
oerely and conscentiously anxious for different
mode of procedure But their voices and influence
were powerless to effect a change. and they, one
after another resigned, were left out IN success
i've denominations of the Board And tho only
reply 20 my own often repeated and urgent spphca-
tions to the Commissioners to put the whole work
under definite and satisfactory eontract-so as to
assure it's completion within tho sum at which
had estimated the proper cost proved by the bids
above mentloned--was to drop quietly my name
from the " joint design, and 10 dispense with my
further services.
hope that this simple and direct statement Of
facts will suffice TO throw some light on the worse
than folly Of the present system Of executing i'm
pdrtant public works unds the. direction Of a
Board of Commissioners" In rIs respect the
message of Gov DIX last year ht the eao< point Of
the difficulty when he recommended the appoint
ment of some known and tried. efficient profess
siona architect whose whole character and reputa-
ton would bo at stake in the proper conduct Of his
work. and who would be held strictly accountable
in tho public sye Tor the honest end economical dis