Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-01-21

81 900, but this extra amount was
expended for such things as were
not contemplated by the plans and
specifications and for such changes
and additional Improvements as the
commissioners knew to be best for
the interest of the county. In this
connection l will state a fact rot
generally known to every one who
has had but little or no experience
| in building.
There are very few public build
ings of any extent, as general rule
whose final cost upon completion,
has not exceeded original estimates.
Even private buildings of compare
lively small value, will more fire.
quently than otherwise, exceed in
cost the expectations of their own
ers, as many who have had expert
eDce in this matter can testify. For
my own satisfaction [ have taken
the trouble to learn the difference
between the estimated cost and the
actua! cost of few public buildings
not Wholely unknown to all of the
people of this county, and as this
information was obtained from the
most reliables sources, it may not
be entirely uninteresting to some of
your many readers. The estimated
cost, for building aud grounds, of
the state capitol at Nashville, did
not exceed 81 100000, whilst its act
ual cost, from the most reliable in
formation that can be obtained, is
81, 100000 or 100000 over original
estimates. The new custom house
at Nashville will greatly exceed in
cost its original estimates, but as it
was not completed l could not get
reliable figures:
Nashville courthouse. Contr't prs $4,000 90
Cost when completed. llS,Oo0 90
over contract price ................... 3S,OQO 10
tract prfce................... $1,000 90
Cost when complete. 10000 60
over contract price. . 25,OOO 20
price e...............,..... - ........ $1,000 90
same. l -. ....,.. 5000 90
in suit. 49, .. ...... ............ 1900 90
over contract price $4,000 90
inai estimate. 1900 90
Cost when completed ~ ............... 10000 90
Over original estimate. e................. 5000 90
| Presbyterian church, original esti-
............ $4,000 90
| Cost when completed, about. 81, ,5OU 90
over original estimate, about......... $500 90
Episcopal church, original esti-
mate. HU,UUO w
Cost when completed, about. 10000 90
over original estimate. 10000 90
price e........... ......... 5000 90
| Amt that the contractors propos-
ed to take as compromise
settlement in full ........... 81 ,045 56
Over contract price. 6,O45 So
Percentage OF cost over original esti-
mates:
Nashville Courthouse per cent.
State per cent.
Bowling Green Courthouse -. 2912 per cent.
| Hopkinsville Courthouse about IS per cent.
| Tobacco Exchange about.............1S per cent.
Presbyterian church about..--;2o per cent
Episcopal church per cent
Clarksville Court-house....... per cent.
1t will be seen from the foregoing
statement that the percentage of
extra cost of the Montgomery Co.
courthouse over original estimates
is less than any of the buildings
named, even after admitting within
the calculation the full amount that
the contractors proposed TO accept
as compromise of the matter.
In conclusion will say, that both
as a commissioner and secretary of
the board, and as citizen of the
county, 1 have taken upon myselfthe
individual responsibility of making
the foregoing statement for the ben
eft of your readers, and all such
others as may feel an interest in the
matter. I am fully aware of the
fact, that the idea of paying $780,
600 and over that amount, for a
courthouse property is not an ex-
ceedingly popular one with some of
| the good citizens of this county !;
but if it must be paid, il is not only
their right, but their duty to know
| it.
/ have ever been myself, fully op-
posed to any useless extravaganza
in regard TO the matter, and at the
beginning was earnestly of the
opinion that 500, 900 was enough for
the county to expend in that way,
and owing partly to this fact, l did
oppose the purchase of the grounds
that were finally selected, and would
have greatly preferred plans for a
much less expensive building. But
since it was otherwise willed, and
! after a due and full considera-
ton of the matter, have been i'm
PEELED to the conclusion that 500,
600 properly divided up among the
entire taX-paying classes of the
county, will not seriously effect the
financial basis of any one; more es.
pecialIy when it is considered that
it has given them a magnificent
property, that without accident,
will serve them faithfully as TEN.
pie of Justice for generations tC
come. And besides this, why
should not sold Montgomery" re-
nowned as she is for the prompt pay
ment of her dues, the honesty, and
h0meldness of her men, the intelli.
gence, and beauty of her women,
the rich, dark color of her tobaccos,
and the excellency of her "Bars,'
both, as regards legal and tiqatear-ous
qualifications, be just as much enti-
tied to: the possession of grand