Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-26

ernor aud Senator Hagan being absent,
this motion TO reconsider was laid on
the table. Mr.. Thompson J. Bird was
elected superintendent under the sr-
chitect at y salary of $500 per month.
Mr.. Birds well-known reputation for in
tsgrity and business habits made him Z
suitable person for this important posi-
tion. He was designated as the one TO
draw upon the chairman for funds for
labor done. and to keep an account Of
the disbursements and also to employ
the workmen and to examine the mate
rial furnished by the contractors. Be-
sides this, be was to be upon the ground
all the time to represent the commits
sion. -
! At this meeting Mr. Freret laid before
us hts working plans and the specifica-
tions in detail for the work to be let ont
by contract, and gave tbs all estimate Of
the cost which was within the amount
appropriated, to-wit: $l76,OOO.
Mr.. Freret was then elected perma-
nent architect for the building. At q
subsequent meeting, after consulting
other architects, his salary was fixed at
$500 per anuum.
Bids were then advertised for the fol-
lowing work and materials for thirtv
days; for carpenter work, stone work:
sand, line, cement, brick and iron work
And the following bids were opened in
the presence of the commission, resd
aud accepted as the lowest:
Stating, j. G, Lee. $115N
Copper, Phil McCabe. ........... 1875
Stone work, Keersbedtl T. Bienveuu, 24,s75
K. H. Bafke, for carpenter work. $1,000
Brick, Garig 4 Roseufeld, 100000 in
in number, at 1915 per 1900: lime. 200
barrels at $l,Nt per barrel; cement $s.-
25 per barrel.
The following bids remained to be ID.
vertised for:
J0iners work estimated at. .$16 5O0
PlaSterer8. 73dG
ri"'noers 2,130
Painting and glazing ll.l5O
Gas fitting. 72O
$n,1ls
1t was considered best not to adyer-
t'se for the remaining work and material
good part of which would not be need.
ed for a year hence.
. The bid for the iron work being con-
sidered too high was rejected, and read.
vertised. At the last advertisement
there were two bids-one from the Mnlri
Iron Works Of Louisville for $S3, 900, and
one from the Shakespear Iron Works Of
this city for $5,0OO. The latter was
accepted as the lowest. The chairman
and Mr.. F. L. Richardson were directed
to enter into nOtarial contracts with
those whose bids were accepted, and to
examine their sureties offered. On the
first Of this present month (August), as
preliminary work, the architect directed
the superintendent to employ men to
remove the debris, pull down some inner
walls and to prepare q shelter and q de.
pot for stores. This was done. On the
sixteenth of August the commission
again met at Baton Rouge; all present
except the Governor and Lieut.. Gov.
ernor. We examined the work, which
had only been begun about fifteen days
previously by order of the architect. and
found that two Of the towers had been
rooted over and aoored for Offices and
'tore-rooms; deep well had been sunk
Two large gates put up, large quantity
of debris carted of, broken walls pulled
down, aud broken corners of the walls
nthe basement repaired. The superin-
tendent bad employed an experienced
builder, Mr. Brown, as foreman of thu
1ricklayers, at IS per day, aud some Of
The other mechanics at $3 per day, and
lay lsborers at seventy-dve cents per
lay.
Thus, it will be seen that the work Al.
'eady let out by contract to the lowest
bidders, and the estimates of the arcbi.
;ect for work yet to be done to connlet.
he building, amounts to l61 900. leav.
pg balance of the appropriation Of
$4,000, aud the architect further as.
ures the commission that the buildjnu
will be completed in time for tho re,no.
7al of tho archives and the holding Of
be next session of the Legislature in
1852.
1t will be seen that the statements of
senator Hagan is 80 much at variance
With the facts that your committee can
ee no other reason for his course than
lis disappointment in not having hi.
Ian adopted and his failure to be elect
an marin nknrIouk o.l 49,. .