The Ottawa free trader., 1881-01-29


ters, but was ready to open up everything con-
nected with the whole business. As to Beers
he can go on making plans until one is made OF
a building costing less than 100000 when he
gets his 81 600, Then If you build this one VII.
cox will sue III you don't build at all Beers VIII sue
II the county shall not be held liable for stolen
ideas and he was ready to build, but this plan
gives Wilcox's interior and Furncss's exterior
double steal Mr. Beers, he held, was in no
way responsible, and in common with all the
committee spoke in high terms OF that gentle
mani but the committee never could have made
their plan without seeing these other plans
The committee and other members insisted the
plan embodied only features suggested before
any plan had been seen in the circular sent to
architects, and claimed that paper proved them
not guilty of plagiarism.
Lewis denied that Wilcox was given show.
His plan was looked at but his merits not dis
cussed, though his buildings this
last pan-could be bullt for $4,000 as per bids
the committee refused to look at or receive. Bel
linghausen weren't his walls light" Lewis
~ don't know. The committee never inycst
gated them"
Armstrong also stated the animus OF the ma
ority in this-"Wc haye never discussed plans
but only men, He said it was curious but
none OF the architects would commit themselves
to hot air or steam; and more singular-they all
acted to each other as total strangers, and all or
iginally insisted on ) per cent, though Myers
and an others agreed TO 8 per cent. The plans
were discussed but once and no one but Lewis
ever expressed preference.
Flaherty said it was true men were discussed
most but the committee thought it as essential
to have q good architect AS good plan and that
their previous character should be known. AS
each plan came up the architects personal OBJ.
stacles were presented. Wilets plaH might
have been presented but 1t was not within the
limit.
Lewis said he always favored hot air and voted
against the tunnel for steam pipes. Never ad
yocated Wilcox. He argued for his plan to be
carried out by some one else; but when he came
to discuss that he was ''sot down on" lie knew
Armstrong; views, but not those Of any other
man on the committee. There never was time
when the majority discussed the plans, and they
never were thoroughly discussed.
McIntire-"lf you had taken plan, would you
now have been ready to contracts" Lews-T
think So" could not tls plan Of Wilcox be
used? ~ think So" Flaherty-"But the ne
cessity of good man is as great as OF a good
plan"
Armstrong added that only Furncss and Beers
OF all the architects had nothing to say Of their
rivals Beers is all right, able to do his work,
and has taken hold admirably He was in favor
of Furness's pan-and to use La Sale county
materials, stone, glass, &c.
: at onl ftpr in
yt;ng these architects and studying for three
months had the committee found they were all
bad men.
The squabble was serious and ridiculous and
the talk furious. The main facts brought out,
however, are given above. After about three
hours Of it, the Board adjourned till next morn
ing.
Thursday.
By morning the Board and the committee had
somewhat subsidized, and entered the room in o
temper to do business. However, Barton wanted
to see Myers's plan, so it was sent for--to show,
as suggested, that all the plans had the same
general features. Myers had offered to back up
his estimates by deposit Of government bonds
any other sort OF security that it could be built
fire proof inside of 100000. Flaherty objected
TO Myers on account of his past record, and cited
Macoupin county. Armstrong insisted that the
truth in that case had not been told, and that
Mycrs's record in that and other cases was of the
best. The plan had been ruled out by the COM
mittee on account of the man, and they never
had seen the plan before, never having been
opened until Wednesday night.
The regular business was then resumed Pool
suggested he didn't know what the committee
wanted-they had recommended nothing. Bel
ilnghausen said they had shown plan which
didn't come within the appropriation; now they
wanted instructions to 60 ahead or get a new
plan The committee hold this is the best plan
that has been shown. He thought it best to get
what the county wants even If 1t cost more than
was expected than take what is not wanted at a
less cost. He considered the money as appro.
priated not sufficient to build such house as
the county wants The committee has done the
best it possibly could; il not satisfactory the
committee has lost the Boards confidence let an.
other be appointed.
Armstrong said he thought 4 recommendation
should have been made by the committee. He
was willing to be held responsible for an addi.
tional appropriation, and to put it at the outside
he thought $50, 900 more would be needed. The
tunnel (S60 ft) will cost s300O the Jail $50 Zoo,
with three tiers Of cells and unforeseen incident
ais may eat up the balance. The buildings will
be good, and just what is wanted. Money can
be saved by using hot air, but that is not safe !;
money may be saved by locating the Jail else
where. But as it stands, it will take nearly $500,
900 to see both buildings ready for use, and still
have them built cheapy as it is possible for it
to be done. He would be in favor Of asking for
$4,000 more.
Barton moved not to accept Beerss plan, be-
ing opposed to an additional appropriation.
Stormpnt then changed the drift Of the talk by