The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-13

| llluI CoSSu W tiIC gov llOl as lOliOMo.
We are in receipt OF the enclosed
communication from the contractor
of the capitol building which will ex-
plain itself. We have made the sub
joined replies, subject to the advice
and counsel of the board, to whom the
whole matter is hereby referred.
TO the first question we answer that
the designing architect claims that
the eight inches named in article 50 of
the specifications is typographical
error, and should be changed to six
inches; therefore the size of the down.
fall pipe will be six inches, interior
diameter.
The second md third questions, in
volving the same points, will be con-
| Sidered as one.
Perhaps no great structure has ever
been erected wherein actual conStruc-
ton has not disclosed some slight dis
crepancles in the drawings, which
considt red apart from the contract
and specifications, would seem to be
errors or omissions, but when taken
together, the omissions of the one are
almost always supplied or cured by
the terms of the other. A mere plane,
without height or depth, on base
ment or floor Ian. implies a wall to
the next above, just as the definite To-
cation of water closets, etc, in the
several stories directly oyer one anoth-
er, implies common connection to
the sewerage below as the only posi-
ole means by which they can be made
| fit or available for the purposes they
are intended to subServe. When, how
ever, the evident intent of the plan is
supplemented by the language of both
the contract and the specifications. it
would seem that no controversy
could arise. We think that the entire
system of pipes, fiues, ducts, shafts.
ETC., of every character. and for every
purpose, with all their connections
necessary to the perfect completion of
the building in all its parts, is fully
secured by the terms of the contract,
whether every minor detail is shown
on the drawings or not, and that the
designing srchitect, or the board, may
| Instruct at anS~ime in such minuti@
as do not effect tic design, proportion.
Arrangement or value OF the
building, or violate the shirt
of the contract, without impafing OF
in any wise changing the obligations
of any one connected Herewith. AS
stated in the contract, the contractor
is to furnish all the rs, elbows. traps,
| Us, and all connections for all sewer
or drain pipes Numerous articles
and specifications of the contract are
( referred to-
Should the judgment expressed in
query No. be maintained by the facts
developed in the process of actual
construction, we think safe and good
work may be secured by the applica-
tion of reasonable judgment without
departing from the spirit of the plans.
This question and the next are among
the many which will present them
selves in the course of this constru :
tioD, and which, sooner or later, must
be deferred to the Judgment of
some person or persons on the
ground, who gre authorized to consid
er and adjust them as they arise. I'm
less absolute perfection in detail is
achieved and the language used sus-
ceptible of but one construction, the
/ power of intelligent discretion must
be vested somewhere, or else be daily
exercised throus h the personal super.
vision of the board.
In answer to the fifth inquiry, we
should be distributed between the tor
and bottom of,walls, and in such loca-
tons as will connect with the fiues a:
shown on plans.
| The sixth question involves such
changes as the capitol board only car
authorize; it is therefore referred
without comment.
In this connection we respectfully
call attention to communication o.
G l. Abner Taylor, addressed to you
Excellency, dated June z, 1888, which
was referred to Col. Myers and replied
to by him; but upon which reply tn,
board has not yet taken action.
Respectfully,
JOSEPH LEE,
n. l.. NORTON.
Ga itol Commissioners.
The question in reference to the is
suance of certificates for installment
of the capitol lands was discussed, anC
Secretary Dickinson instructed to fur
nish the commissioner of the LAND
Office with copy of the certificate
issued to the contractor for the frs
; installment of lands on April 8, 1883
for A, 280 acres of land, and hereafte
to furnish the land commissioner will
a copy of each certificate when issued
Architect Myers, by direction of tn
board, is requested by the secretary t
come to Austin by or before Januar,
next to consult with reference to tn
subject of Col. Taylor's letter to gov
ernor.
The two communications were con
sidered, and the questions of the con
tractors acted on as follows:
The first question was read, togeth
er with the answer of the commits
sioners thereto, and the answer wa
adopted.
The second and third question
! were read, together with the answe
of the commissioners thereto, and tn
answer was adopted.
The fourth question was read, to
gether with the answer of the com
missioners, and their suggestion
were adopted, leaving the subjec
therein to the discretion of the com
missioners and superintendent of con
, struction.
The fifth question was read, to
gether with the answer of the CON
missioners, and the board decided (,
leave this subject to the discretion o
the commissioners and superintendent
> of construction, for them to designat
the location of the ventilating regis
tiers when called upon so to do by tn
contractor.
As to the sixth question the boar'
decided to allow the contractor nnde
direction OF the commissioners ant
superintendent of construction +
postpone the construction OF the sew
, erage pipes ia the building until sucl
/ time as the commissioners and super
2 intendent think it proper to put then
3 in, so that they will not be brokel
f or Injured in the construction of tn
; building, and such amount O
land will be reserved from
the second installment whei
! applied for on account of the pre-
} sent omission of the sewerage pipes
as may be agreed upon by the boar,
: and contractor.
t In accordance with the action Of tn
1 capitol board Secretary Dickinson ha
I addressed the following letter to MI
: Clark:
y OFFICE OF THE CAPITOL. BOARD,
Austin, Texas, Ice. Z. 1883. (
@ MIR. w, ID. Clark, Superintendent OF Constru,
2 ton State Capitol
}. Dear Sir-I am directed by the Stat
: Capitol Board to inform you that you
D communication of the 2lst ut. ten
g dering your resignation as superin
tend, Mt of constrnc ion of tt g ne,
state capitol building. was COZ sidere
by the board on the 2Sth uit,, and az