The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-08
THE EVANSVILLE ASYLUM.
The Hospital Commissioners Deny the State
ment that 1t Is Improperly Built.

The Insane Hospital Commissioners returned
yesterday from Evansville, where they went to
inspect the building in course of construction
near there, and to learn whether or not the
charges published in the Evansville Journal.
that the material being used in the structure was
defective, were true.
When asked about the result of the investi-
cation, Governor Gray said to Journal re-
porter. last night: ''There was nothing in the
charges. Some one told the reporter of the
paper that the material was defective, and,
without investigating the matter, his statements
were given publication. Mr.. McNeely, the ed
itor of the Journal, told us that he haa been
misled. 1t was simply newspaper charge,
such as sometimes appear, and was without
foundation. The work is progressing well, and
is being done according to contract"
The Evansville Journal of yesterday, in speak
ing of the investigation by the commissioners
while there, says: with the exception of some
damage done by the hard winter weather, which
would be repaired, they said the work was done
according to the contract 1t appears that, in
consequence of lack of sufficient money to build
that edifce-also those at Richmond and Logans-
fled after the award, and amended specifications
were written which reduced the grade of some
of the workmanship and materials, and saved
about 5000, 600 in the three asylums-about $780,
900 in ours For this reason the gentleman who
brought the alleged deficiencies in the work to
the Journals attention expected higher degree
of excellence than was required He is an en-
tirely competent judge, but he was absent from
the city when the official examination was made.
He returned last night, after the departure of the
Governor
work is not up to the modified specifications. So
the affair stands between his judgment and that
of the responsible officials"
Mr.. Il. ii. Ketchum, the supervising architect
OF the new insane hospital buildings, explained
to Journal reporter yesterday that the charges
affecting the work on the Evansville structure
arose from changes which were made by the
commissioners In the specifications after the
letting OF the contract: "The man who gave the
information to the Evansville Journal" he
stated, wanted to be the superintendent of the
building there, but did not get the position. He
found that the work was not being done accord
ing to the original contract, and without know
ing that the specifications had been modified he
at once concluded that the contract was
not being complied with. The commissioners
found that the Evansville building was going to
cost too much, and SO, without reducing the
size of the structure, they made changes pro-
vidlng that instead of Flemish bonds there
should be American bonds that white instead of
red mortar should be used, that instead of
pointed joints there should be trowel joints, and
that there should be row-lock arches instead Of
gagged arches. The changes provided for an
inferior quality of work. although it is perfectly
SAFE and the cost thereby reduced about
SIC, 600 without changing the dimensions of the
building"
How is the work progressing!' was asked.
TITS getting along WELL but it has been de-
layed some by unfavorable weather. ABBOT |, 300
feet of brick that had been laid had to be taken
down at Evansville on account of damage by the
frost and there considerable work the
Logansport building that had to be done over for
the same reason believe, though that all the
buildings will be under roof before the end of
the fall season."