Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-04-16

no allowance for any change, or ex-
ira work, the commissioners would
have been saved much trouble and
annoyance, but the county would
have been the loosser by having a
building very incomplete in many
particulars. As y sample, in one in
stance whilst the specifications say,
tprovideinside blinds forcourt room
windows" no provision Is made
for blinds 10 any other windows Of
the End story. And yet what is
termed court room windows are on
ly about half of the windows of this
story. On the east front of the build
ing, there is not a single court room
window proper, and yet thesr win
dows, and all Others of the End sto-
ry, are equally as much in need of
blinds as those of the court room.
In the specifications no mention is
made of any stairway to the tower,
without which no communication
could he held with the clock, except
by ladder.
The f~rstserious misunderstanding
that arose between the commission
ers, and contractors on account of
the specifications not being as full as
they should be was in regard to eX-
ira excavation, and extra work on
the foundation, amounting to about
5000, and the next was in regard to
the finishing of the north end of the
building, ofnearly the sameamount.
1t would require too much writing,
and printing to state in detail all of
the facts in regard to these two
items, but the members of the COM
mission will cheerfuly explain them
in person to any citizen who may
desire to seek information on the
subject. A few items of less impor-
lance that will not require so great
an amount of writing l will state in
detail. The specification called for
a clock to cost $500, and a bell to
weigh only a 900 pounds, both cost
ing less than 5000. We learned from
reliable authority after a thorough
investigation, that a clock which
could be purchased and placed in
the tower for the sum of 5000 would
be entirely unreliable as a time
keeper, and therefore not suitable
for the position. As some proof of
this, the Chattanooga Court House,
the building of which was controlled
by men of practical experience and
economy, although not so massive,
or expensive as Our own by over
one third, has a clock and bell cost
ing 50, 500. The clock alone, which
was selected by an expert at an ex-
ira cost of 800 costing $500. By
corresponding with many of the
most noted clock makers, and bell
| fOunderies of the United States, we
were finally able TO make a contract
with reliable parties for ii clock to
cost 81, 900 and a bell of 5000 pounds
weight, both to be pnt up in the
tower, and left in good working or
der for the sum of $500. The clock
is warranted for ten years, guaran-
teed not to vary ten seconds per
month in time, for five years, and
to be equally as reliable in ali par
ticulars as that of the Chattanooga
Court House; written guarantee OF
which L have in my possession.
This will be one item of extras that
will cost nearly 81, 900, but the COM
missioners were of the opinion that
it was best for the interests of the
county to pay $500 for something
really valuable, instead of 5000 for
something that probably would
have been almost worthless. The
next item of extra expense that l
will name, is the increase of iron
beams, or ioists beyond the number
named in the specifications, under
the stairway, and under the floor If
the second story hall, at an extra
expense for their purchase, freight,
and putting in, of about 81 400. We
went to this extra expense because
upon investigation it was thought
that neither the floor named, or the
stairway, could be considered per-
tectLy safe upon occasions OF dense
crowds without them. Whilst they
were ordinarily safe, and possibly
might never have given away, they
were not deemed perfectly safe, we
therefore believed that there should
be no uncertainties in a matter of SO
much importance. In this connec-
ton 1 will take the liberty of say
ing, that in supervising the con-
struction of the Court House, as re-
CARDS extra work, and various other
matters, we have acted as we
would have done had the building
been our individual property. In
pdlullIS, the oPOSlhN"IiOho
for plain three-coat work, both out
side and inside, and as Messrs. Tar
pley & Mcclure proposed to give
the entire outside, of wood and iron
an extra coat of paint, and two coats
OF sand, and to grain inside wood
work, for the sum of $500, which
proposal, as regards amount, being
very reasonable we deemed it best
for the interests of the county 10
accept. Although this extra work
of painting, and sanding will add
very much to the general appear
ance of the building, it was upon
the grounds of economy more than
for any other purpose, that we en-
gagged to have it done. Whilst plain
painting will look well, and is a
protection to wood and iron work
for a short while, sanding and grain
ing presents a much better appear
ance, and will stand the test of time
as regards protection, more than
twicp thp length of time. AuOth-