Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-21

1t was 10 o'clock yesterday before the in
vestigating committee got together, andpro-
ceeded to business. Mr.. Couplin, former
superintendent of work at the asylum, was
further examined in relation to to the way
the contracts were carried out by the differ
ent contractors.
Mr.. Couplin-I reside at st. Peter; am a
butcher; employed to supcrintend the
work at the hospital in June, 1861; was
there till the spring of 1871; have seen plans
of the building; saw the architect who drew
them; part OF the construction was done by
days work; first CONNIE. ICED letting contract
work in 1868; this was for carpentry work
in north extension, return wing and laundry;
days work had brought foundation up ready
for the carpenter. the lumber was
to be supplied by the State, at
least | supposed SO; paper produced is
the original specification; this other paper
is the contract with Snyder and Damren.
made a rough draft for contract. The pa
per shown me agrees with that draft; have
read the specifications. The contract was
drawn to agree with them. The deafening
or deadening was changed. They COM
menced work Immediately. [ was in charge
of the work, l supposed / was told by Mr..
Kerr and DR.. Schanz to superintend the work.
I was not present when the contract was
signed. was told they changed that re-
ferring to the deadening. Specifications say
it was to be lathed and pastered and
stripped; the carpenters had to strip it.
Mr.. Couplin then proceeded to show how
the deadening was changed, and explained
that the contractors knew what they had to
do before the bid was put in. He next
entered into an explanation of the difficulty
occurring between himself and contractors as
previously published in the GLOBE, because
he showed them that they were doing the
work improperly. they told him to go to that
hot place that Beecher don't find in his
theology. They SAID he had no business
with them, the contract specified that the
work should be under the supertindence of
the architect, Mr.. Snyder swore to this at St.
Peter; but on the contrary the specification
says it should be under my superentindence
He called Brown & Schi,nmell's attention
to the work: they looked over the specifca-
tons, but the contractors continued the work
as they were doing; found 144 trimmer
joists left out; 1t would make a difference of
from $50 to $50; the balance of the work
was d ne as Snyder 81 Damren had done
theirs, making difference of 1000 joists in
the whole building. He went on to state
IN detail what he found by inspec. ion. Many
OF the joists want staying up; the floors will
sag and the joists are likely to come down
the building is weakened by the trimmers
being left out.
His attention was next directed to that
part of the specifications referring to stone
and brick work.
He explained that the north wing and return,
was tied in and partitions checked in accord
ing to specifications The next return wing
built by Alton and Fletcher, they built the
stone first and the brick after, and tied every
eight or ten feet by little strips of hoop iron
They should have built both walls at the
same time, and tied every seven courses with
brick. One wing and the partition walls
were not checked III at all. The first wing
and return is the only part of the building
N which the mason work is done according
to specification. Mr.. CoupIin read that part
of the contract of Snyder & Damren
relating to the deadning, showing it was part
of the contract.
The contract also stated that the lumber
was to be taken by contractors in the rough on
the ground. The portico next was referred
to. Mr.. Couplin read from the specifica-
tions showing that the portico to the first
story return wing was to be wood and should
be built by the contractors. It was paid for
outside the contract. He read from the
contract showing the contractors ought to
have built it. Any carpenter would build
the portico for $50 or $75-$429.71 for the
two porticos was an extravagant price.
The front portico was to be of stone. II
has not been built according to plans; they
could not build it because the pilasters were
left out by the contractors of main building.
They would have cost from $500 to $3.50,
and of course should be tied in the wall.
The pore. is now wood and galvanized iron.
The columns are wood in place of stone. 1t
is entirely out of Ike, ping with the rest of
the building. 1t cost $4,454.55, very ex-
trayagant price.
MIR. MAT BREEN SWORN.
Stated he resides in st. Paul; mad two
contracts with the hospital: first was in 1871.
under the name of Mat Breen & Co.; our
contract was for stone and brickwork for
one wing and rcturn-the south wing.
Mr.. Fletcher attended to the work-Cyrus
Fletcher; was only there to pay men; there
was another party interested with Young and
me; J. II. Wilder was the silent partner; he
was ono of the bondsmen; myself, Mr.,
Young and Mr.. Wilder was the one party.
Mr.. Fletcher was the other party
MIR. Wilder furnished the first money, about
$1,000; Mr. Fletcher was supposed to put
in his part; don't know whether he did or
not.
Mr.. Doran to Mr.. Kerr-Was it usual for
the trustees to go on the bond of contract
ors?
Mr.. Kerr-I suppose not.
The following letter was read by MIR. Do
ran:
REV. A. H. KERR-Dear Sir: Mr.. Wilder
you can learn about by enquiring of Mr..
Knight, IT you are not acquainted with him.
He is perfectly responsible. I will also 90 on
the bond and furnish Others if you desire it..
Yours truly, l.. FLETCHER.
MI. Kerr remember receiving such a
letter, but | had forgotten all about it.
Mr.. Breen explained that G. Fletcher
came to him and offered to go in with him
for the contract, and he would superintend
it.
He thought there was less chance for
skulduggery in getting the contracts at the
asylum than anywhere.
MIR. Doran-Which would be the strongest
bond, strips Of iron or brick bond?
Mr.. Breen-Don't see any difference, but
the brick bond is impracticable. I have
never seen it done that way, and don't be-
lleve any other person has. He afterwards
acknowledged it could be done, but would
be more troublesome and expensive.
By Mr.. Kerr-I gave bid for the main
portico or front porch. 1t was $4,000, as
far as I remember.
MIR. Doran-We have your prop
osition here: don't you remem-
Der there was great deal more work
included in your bid. And don't YOU re-
member your bid was SO, 500?
MIR. Breen-I don't remember.
BY MI. Couplin-Was not your bid on the
portlco figured on the specifications for
stone2