The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-04
THE NEW STATE CAPITOL.
The Commissioners Preparing to De-
clare the Contract Abandoned.
Mr.. Seward Sympathizes with the Contract
Ors-Can the Building Be Completed
Within the So 10000 Limit?

mysterious session running through several
days, have drawn the curtain and revealed to
the view of the public their grand tableau of a
big indian about to tomahawk an already help
less victim. For months they have been ex-
pected to take some kind of decisive action in
reetting the contract for the building OF the
state-house, but they have moved in the matter
with the caution which characueriZes all large
bodies The failure of the Legislature to act
honestly with the contractors, heed the ad-
vice of the investigating committee, placed the
commissioners in Il predicament of the greatest
embarrassment The mistake is likely to result
in loss to the State, as the commissioners have
stated, time after time, of upwards of 81 900, 900.
In the performance of their trust the commits
sioners are required to complete the building at
cost not to exceed $2,00O,o00,
and this Is the thing which
they keep constantly in view. In
moving slowly, they claim that they have been
acting in accordance with the best legal advice
ard have only exercised the caution which
would save them from making a serious mis-
take.
Since the eth Of last March very little work
the SUate-house building has been done, and for
the last three months all work has been practic-
ally abandoned. "What are the commissioners
going to do2" has been standing
and yet 1t was evident that there was only one
thing for them do. In the preliminary pro-
ceedings to the step which they have taken the
history of the contract and its conditions were
reviewed Their action is based upon the provis-
ion in the contract that "whenever the contract
ors fail to prosecute the work upon the new
State-house building as rapidly as the commits
sioners may direct they may declare the con-
tract abandoned" Their next step was to
serve formal notice Columbus r.
Cummings and Elias +. Gobel, of Chicago,
that as the suretles of Kanmacher e. Denig. the
contractors, they would be hold liable for the
failure to continue the work on the building. In
the notice which was served on the sureties the
commissioners say:
"That Messrs. Kanmacher g. Denie. contractors
for the new State-house of Indiana, have failed
and refused to proceed with the work or con-
STRUGGLING the said building during the present
building season as directed by this board.
ION the 9TH day of March, 1885, written
orders given TO the said contractors Messrs.
Kannacher 81 Denig, FOR the completion OF GER
tain work by the goth day Of April, 1888, and
completion OF certain work by the
3lst day OF May, 1888; and again, the 5th
day or June, written orders were given the con-
tractors for the completion of certain work by
the 30th day of June, 1888.
"But little, if any, attention has been given to
the orders above mentioned by the said Kan
macher Deng, and only a very small portion
OF the work designated has been completed, al
though the amount of work required to be done
within the time mentioned was reasonable, and
with ordinary diligence on the part OF the CON
tractors could nave been completed within the
to you, as sureties of said KaEmacher
& Denig, contractors for the State-houss of In
diana, that unless the said contractors, you
as their suretles, proceed without further delay
to prosecute the work of completing the said
new State-hOuse OF Indiana with reasonable
degree of rapidity. then this board will proceed
Tn an nm mar
OF the contractors, and will hold the said Kan
macher Denig and you as their sureties, liable
on their pond for all damages Occasioned by said
abandonment of the contract"
AS was expected, the commissioners received
no satisfactory response to the foregoing docu-
ment, and after reviewing in full all that relates
TO the work on the State-house building since
the adjournment of the Legislature, the proceed
ings of the commissioners conclude with the fol-
lowing, fixing Sept. as the time for declaring
the contract abandoned on the part of the con-
tractors:
''Now, therefore, the board of State house
commissioners hereby direct and require said
contractors to prosecute the construction of
said building as required by said contract and
perform all the work thereon, and deliver all the
materials here specified. by the Sd day Of Sep
TENDER next that is to say,
"First-Leveling up the foor,joists of the third
story beams with brick.
demonstrating of cut-stone work on Missis
sippi street, center part, same height as Tennes-
see street center part, and backing up tine Same
with brick.
setting the thirteenth and fourteenth
courses of cut stone around, the en-
tire building, and backing up the same.
notwithstanding of all the granite pliuths ana
limestone bases for pllasters in the third story
corridors.
(our feet six inches) on all inside walls in the
third story.
"sixth-Cutting and rubbing of the outside
f-gfn nPk fn fhn Ton ~ ntaar
course.
'Seventh-Cutting. rubbing and setting of the
twelfth, thirteenth ard fourteenth courses of
the dome, second story.
"Eghth-Delivery of sufficient material, brick,
stone, etc, TO insure speedy continuance of
the work.
And ON the failure OF said contractors to per
form the work and deliver the materials en-
braced in the foregoing specifications by the Sd
day OF September next, the board of commits
sioners hereby notify the said Kanmacher e
Denig, that they will then declare the said con-
tract abandoned on the part of said kanmoaher
Denig; and the said board will treat the
SAID contract as abandoned from and after
the Sd day of September next on the part
of said contractors, and will proceed to relet
the construction of said building to other party
parties, and hold said Kaumacher & D6Dig
responsible upon their bond executed to insure
the performance of said contract for all losses,
damages, and expenses, direct and indirect,
caused or occaslOned because of SUCH abandon
ment of SAID contract by said Kanmacher &
Deuig, well as any and all increase in the
cost Of constructing said building caused by
such relettiug thereof to other parties"
The secretary of the board was directed to
notify Messrs. Cummings and GOble, of Chicago,
of the action of the commissioners, and that they
will be held liable as suretes on the contract of
Kaumacher & Denlg, Mr. Denig is in Chi
chago, but he has been notified OF the action OF
the commissioners.
Commissioner Seward was interviewed during
the afternoon by Journal reporter, and when
questioned regarding the reletting OF the con-
tract, said "rhe contractors are given
one more chance, but L do not think
that they will resume work. They are
not prepared to do the work specified. The
truth they cannot proceed, and the contract
will have TO be relet."
son what conditions will the new contract be
let2' asked.
'The commissioners will, of course. reserve
be completed for 81 0UO, 900, and any bid pro-
posing to do the work for larger amount will