The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1883-01-05

ling tho postum Of The contractors 81
the new State house. ia yesterday morn.
ing's Journal, was the subject or con
Iyersation IN all quarters yesterday
}, During the day. Mr.. Denig, one Of tho
contractors. submitted to the board 81
Commissioner their answer to the IN
lterrogatorics propounded by The Board
in which their wants and purposes ars
CLEARLY set FORTH The communication Il
las follows:
II THE CONTRACTORS COMMUNICATION.
ITO the Honorable. the Board OF State
Il house Commissioners:
4 GENTLEMEN In rcnly to your com
lmunication Of the cath ul;., We would
say that during the working season jus'
Iclosed We have completed the first story
|of the dome and all Of the first story
walls thst remained unfinished at tho
,,cIosc Of the year previous; have com
)lpIeted the second story walls. and have
carried up the greater portion Of the
loutside walls, 10 the top Of the window
sills Of the third story. We have been
enabIcd 70 do this only BY reason Of onl
large equipment and by using the cleo.
Itric light 70 enable us to run much oI
our machinery day and night.
As 10 The qualify Of the materials fur
inished and labor done, we confidently
assert that II Is nncqualed in excellence
Iby any similar work in any public build
ling In the country.
| Our plant, consisting or stono saw
|mill, stone plancrs, travelling engines,
ldcrricks. steam powers and brick eleva-
TORS, has proved itself adequate 20 the
handling, working and setting OF this
large amount Of material, with degree
Iof rapidity and economy rarely attained.
The heavy outlay for the purchase OF
much Of this machinery was made In the
| hope that the greater economy effected
|by its use would enable us TO do the
work Inside OF our contract price; but,
Notwithstanding tho great advantages
gained by this machinery, instead Of re-
gaining part Of our previous losses, e
we had hoped, the loss has continued
until now We have expended OF our pri-
vate funds, since the beginning Of the
work, about e2s0000 over and above the
amount received from the State.
! This loss Is due 10 differences In the
Interpretation placed upon the specifica.
Itions. - well as 10 the large advance in
The prices 81 labor and materials Of al
kinds. These advances have been 90
|pcr cert. on common labor, 37} per cent
ION etonc-cuttcrs, ~ per cent. on brick.
layers, and we are now paying for stone
los per cent moro than the price quoted
20 Us st the letting.
\ Tho sum stipulated IN the contract
would have been ample for the compile
,tion OF the building at the prices then
Icurrent, but with the prices now ruling
|that sum IL entirely inadequate.
/ We have given the subject careful
Istudy, and can sec no means or further
ECONOMY in the methods OF doing the
work, as wo believe We are now work
ling It . minimum Of cost.
4 We are, therefore, constrained to ask
Iof you, and through you the Legislature,
20 add to the amount 70 be paid us under
|our contract . sum sufficient to cover
the cost OF the building, that We may 20
lon with The work and push i rapidly g
!complction.
The walls have now reached 3 height
(which requires large outlay in the i'm
lmcdlate future for fitting top masts 10
'ldcrricks, or building new ones, provid-
ling additional ropes and rigging, raising
1.-THE derrick at tho dome 10 greater
height. or substituting for il some other
form OF machinery. This additional
Ioutlay We do not feel encouraged 70
make unless the compensation Is made
proportional 70 the cost.
1.-THE contract for this work were 10
be made now instead Of four years ago,
lii would cost the State much larger
sum than the contract price with our
Losses added. We believe we have
shown our good faith IN this matter By
doing better with greater expedition than
has ever been accomplished on similar
buildings, and BY perscyering thus far
in the face Of discouraging losses; and
1--WE think these facts should earn for us
favorable consideration when we ask the
Estate 70 relieve Us Of the burden Of the
|change IN the markets and largely in
creased expenses caused by intcrpreta-
ltions put upon the contract which seems
Ito us oppressive.
Should this difficulty and these differ
cnces be satisfactorily adjusted, wo will
be prepared with our present plant and
1.-The additions contemplated 20 push, for
ward thc work during the coming sea-
son, 90 as TO finish the main walls ready
Ifor al of the roof, except that portion
lover the corridor. around the dome, and,
IpossibIy, the east and west central pro-
|jcctions. by running all machinery
might and day, working large force n
linen as well, Il may be possible 20 build
both tho second and third stories Of ne
dome, III which case We would be ready
for the roof surrounding the dome also
The preparation or the iron work fo'
1.-The roof can Be n progress q the same