Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-15
To the Editor of the Globe.

There has been published al great length
what some are pleased to term complete
''vindication' of the trustees of the asylum
Of their proceedings and doings with relation
to the investigation of the officers of that in
stitution, and in which my name is made to
figure as the scapegoat of their sins.
But, pray, if these gentlemen and their
subordinates are so eminently qualified tc
fill their various positions, how ia it that not
one of the trustees could or can tell the
standing of or condition of the affairs of the
hospital? How is it that these eminent gen
tlemen, learned in lunacy and finance, could
not explain anything of the financial condi-
to the treasurer, and as he could not tell
anything about it, the public examiner had
to be called to unrayel the financial middle
the books were found to be in. His report,
TO say the least, was not very tlattering to
the parties most concerned. But let this
pass.
| assert, so far as I am concerned, the
charges made by the trustees are false, as
their attorney has struggled so hard to get
his clients through. There is a maxim of
law that should be applied right here, :'False
in one thing, false III everything" I propose
in'this communication to establish this by the
testimony of the trustees as given in their
annual reports heretofore.
have resided in St. Peter some twenty
years; if my fellow citizens have not formed
favorable opinion in regard to my honesty
or capacity as mechanic, it will not BE-
worth my while to have them express an
opinion at this time. Having been assailed
by the trustees in a most scurrilous manner,
l shall proceed to clear myself of the unjust
charges made against me as superintendent
of building of said hospital, one, too, of
their own choosing, for I did not solicit the
Job at their hands.
The State, as is we'll known, paid Mr.
Sloan, the architect, $4,000 to provide plans
and specifications as a guide for the work
and material to be used in constructing the
hospital at St. Peter. The trustees accuse
me of drawing up the contract of 1868 with
L. and d., which I never saw until in the
hands of the Senate committee, when was
called as witness. This is absolutely false,
and challenge the trustees to prove it by
producing the contract ITSELF and submit it
to Messrs. Lamberton or Donahower. Let
them prove if it is my handwriting.
In the eighth annual report of the
fiscal year ending November 80, 1874,
the treasurer's report of expenditures, the
seventh item shows that $42S.71 was paid
for two porticos on north and south section,
which the trustees claim the sum as reported
and charged up to porticos was for other
work, excavation, foundation, stone work,
tin roof, plastering, ETC." Now Mr.. Kerr
knew that the foundation, ETC., was paid for
in 1859.
The contractors at that time refusing to
put up the portico, although their contract
specified they were to do SO, the portico
was not built until 1873 or 1874, long after
the contractors had secured their money on
this contract.
Let mo see if I am right in this assertion,
for make no pretension to piety to cover
up rascality. The trustees say in their
special specification for building the south
section and return wing of the hospital,
proposals will be received uutil the 18th
day of April, 1871, by the trustees to erect
south section and return wing in harmony
with, and in all respects similar to the north
section and return wing now completed, and
all jolsts to be put in according to plan and
specifications Of architect AS the portico
was not built on the north wing, the con-
tractors refused to build the other porticos.
SO both went in as extras as the voucher
shows, in 1874. Or is it bogus voucher?
Or is their statement false? One or the
other. The hour of the dilemma is forced
upon them.
The trustees say ':the stairs referred to
were built by Snyder & Damren, according to
their contract, but, on account of a change
IN the brick work, Of which they did not re-
ceive notice, they did not fit, etc. was at
the building every day; no mention of the
fact was ever made by the contractor, or
H11III II
their plans and specifications at this late
clay, and show that a change has been made
in brick work, not strictly in accordance
with Mr.. Sloan's plans, I will pay back the
State for the stairs.
The State furnished the contractors the
Lumber to practice stair building, when
spoiled the building committee magnani-
mously laid them away in the cellar, and
they never paid for the blunder. I have no
doubt if sthe hole could have been built
around these stairs after they we're put up
they could have made them fit nicely. Stair
builders of this description should try to
have the stairs put up before the hole is
built. The trustees say 'the joists referred
to as purposely left out, was SO much saved
to5the State" and in the next line, ssthat the
trimmers were all double.'' If the trimmers
were all double, as was required by speclfca-
lion, now could the joists be left out? They
admit LA were left out in this one contract,
and state some 10000 or $4,000 feet of
joists were left out that the State paid for. If
Purposely left out why did not Mr..
Brown tell me of this fact, when his atten-
ton was called to the manner the work was
done in '68? The contractor then told the
superintendent to go to b and mind his
own business, as no one in his contract but
MIR. Sloan had anything to say about his
work. It was written in their contract sthat
every member of the building committee,
superintendent of building, and the archi-
tect, without any hindrance whatever on the
part of these contractors, shall at all times
have supervision Of the work. Mr.. Brown,
the kpresident of the board of trustees, and
one of the building committee, was well
aware of this. One can not understand whv
he stood by the contractors when they totally
ignored the superintendent, unless for the
reason that Mr.. Brown is an adept in "di-
vision, addition and silence.''
And these contractors could have their
own mode and manner of doing the work,
charging extra, or leaving work unfinished
that the contract required, subject1only to the
approval of Mr.. Brown and Kerr, who could
not tell joist from a stick of cord wood.
The trustees say, no sinking, nc settling,
when they know that the floors in the lower
corridor have settled, and drawn the sub base
from the groove. 1t has been wedged up
and strip fitted in the crevice which any
one can see by going through
the corridor They tell us, "they
changed the tying of wallis" as Mr..
Sloan directed, to more expensive manner.
(see Sloan's letter) would like to cut into |
these walls and show that the brick partition
walls are not checked as required by specif-
cation.