, 1877-05-13

talk in subdued tones, and great deal OF plotting
In secret among the County Commissioners, or th'
| ''Riug" members OF that body, looking tc
/ substituting granite for Lcmont stone for tht
three entrance-ways Of the new Court-flousc.
| Such rs have spoken Of the matter above whis-
| per have argued TINT the Lemout stone was easily
;soilcd, would soon become unsightly, and, conae-
.quently, was unit for the entrances, which, it Il
be fact, must have appeared to them nearly {
year ago, even before the stone-contract was let,
| as viyidly az 1t now does. Certainly they must
1 have heard enough OF the stone then to have
formed opinion, yet in the face Of that opinion
they let the contract for the entire building to
| Walker, who at the time, was more OF favorite
than be now fs for some reason or another. 1t Is
fair to infer then in view OF subsequent cveuts
stone contract was let that the stone easily
/ ''solcd and unsightly, that they made the
/ award with eye more to Walkers promises than
to the quality and character OF his material; and,
since he has failed to keep his promises, the de >
fects in his matcria1. and the necessity for Z
change to granite-with the 'Ring"-arc very
There is really some truth in the arguments being
used by the King in favor OF granite over line
entirely devoid of sincerity, and care no more
shout ''soiied and unsishtly" walls than they do
about the ruins at Jerusalem. They began to soil
their fingers with limestone about the same time
they began to see that they could the better line
their pockets il another material was used, and
since then the movement in favor OF granite has
impetus just about the time that McCaffrey and
Comfy visited the granite quarries OFT the coast Of
Maine, but the growth Of the sentiment has been
studiously suppressed up to a few days ago, wh en-
an afternoon paper was given hint Of what was
going on IS 3 feeler Now the question Is an
open. cue, aud having been cautiously and plaust-
bly, introduced is boldly talked over ut mid
day, and among Commissioners is found to hive
few antagonists. In fact. the movement has gone
so lar that
ARCHITECT EaAN HAS BEEs PRIVATELY IN
to lay before the Board tomorrow in the shape of
communication, information showing where
for tho corridors and halls, and Interior coluus,
e2c., and he will obey instructions. A reporter
took look yesterday, at the drawings that be has
granite can be used, and from casual glance
could not escape the Impression that the archi-
tect's instructions had been broad and comprchcu-
marked in plain characters, .'Hallowell Granite"
which; translated, means that the Ring" has
onl assd te ave eon 5he shange made de cast
have particular granite owned by particular
man, and no other. This is the sequence Of the
whole movement, and it may mean much or little.
stump Of jobbery, and in advance it is
safe to predict that unless the scheme can be
ried forward to the end. and the granite gotten
from certain quarry, no action will be taken in
the matter
There is really nothing to be said against the use
Of granite, nor yet against the fitness Of the par
ticuar granite contemplated by the ''Klng"
Granite Certainly would be preferable 10 limestone
for the entrances and wainscoting of the corridors
public will fail to see the grauitc proposed to be
used in ~ fayorablea 4 light tho ttRing" now
sees il unless the widest competition is Invited in
doing the work. aud the owners OF this particular
granite appear to be the lowest and most advan-
tageous bidders- The - Ring" Of course does
Sr h
timent, 1t will be sham. and in thc end the quar-
~ selected in advance will win the victory.
ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS
in favor OF the granite Of their choice will be that
its use will maintain harmony between the ex-
terror and interior OF the building, but in ts they
will find little support for their scheme for the rea
timed br getting the granite nearer at lome~-ln
this or almost any OF the surrounding States. In
exterior and interior is 70 be disrearued than
coveted In the opinion Of architects to whom the
matter has been suggested. This argument then
fails to the ground, und when they are ready to
strike the blow. which 1t Is contemplated will help
them in their old age, when they are known no
more IN official life, they will find severe ordeal
wish they never had started. II they agree, then,
that the work is to oe done, rothing but full aud
the making Of the award to the lowest bidders,
without regard tu their favorites. will remove from
the proposed job the present evidences of chicancry
ment which he Ring" vii doubtless stumble
se pue i Il sssS ao soea
the question Of enjoining the Board from making
the award for the stone work was being argued be-
because 1t WAS able to show that Sf.5, 600 had
been appropriated from the ta1-1eyy the coming
year To carry on the work. When it gets
il will have to confront the same stubborn fuct,-
that it cannot enter into contract before pro-
viding the money to meet it. In this case it will
not be able to show that the county has one dollar
for sucha purpose for the Court House appsopria-
tion is thrice absorbed By the contracts already Lett
and will be consumed during the year. So, while
the Ring" may carry out iis plans to some ex-
tent it ia liable to receive severe check before
anything is consummated Or any divisions are
row.