Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-05-14
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10 the editor Of he Alexandria Ga=etie:
Daar Sir: l have few words of explanation to
make in regard to tho report of the special conf
mittec in lief florence to my claim for balance duo
me on tho Washington School Building, of this
city. AS that report reads it seems to give the
impression that ]. through the Influence of Mr..
w. +. Vincent, was excused from completing the
School House Building in accordance with the
plans and specifications, which is not the case. l
have done everything contracted to do. AND
MORE, in full accordance with plans and speciiica.
tions The whole trouble was caused bya clause
in the agreement, which / will try to explain.
made out my bid from plan of the Amidon
school binding, in Washington and a curtailed
specification (not the original specification Of that
Jwiding) The specification that ] bid from did not
mention anything about blinds In fact Mr.. Vim
cent distinctly told mo ho had kept the blinds
out together with many other things, to reduce
the cost of the binding, and that they would be
an after consideration and could be put on at any
time. | was considerably tho lowest bidder for
the work; my bid was accepted, and tho contract
awarded to me. and that the house should con-
form in size and general appearance to the Ami
don buid e. and in accordance with the said
curtailed specifications. Now comes tho trouble.
The contract | consider, WAS then virtually made
Mr.. Albert Stuart was employed to write the
agreement, in which ho put in :; clause Il have
been told, at the suggestion of Mr.. VIM. F. Carmel
to tho effect that wherever the specification was
TO do the work and find material the same rs the
Amidon building, &c. &c Tho agreement was
read over to me, and thought at the time it Was
all right. signed my name to it, and short
time afterwards l WAS handel one of the two
copies That had signed which, when came 10
read over at my leisure, and compare with tho
specification, l found my specification WAS silent
on the blind question, and according to the agree
mcnt the School Board could hold me to do GER
tain things that were not in tho specification
the blinds being the most important point. Mr.
Vincent having been appointed by the School
Board to snperintend the work, and to sec that it
was carried out according to the contract,
went to him and expressed my fear of that clause
creating trouble. lie asked me in what respect?
told him there were no blinds in my contract
but according to tho clause in the agreement the
School Board could hold me for them. His reply
was, to make use of his own words: "Glbson, do
you think there is man on that School Board
who would take that advantage of your ans
worcd did not think there was l then went
ahead with the work thinking there would be
no trouble; but my expectations we're not realized
In conclusion, will say, find no fault with the
School Baord, as body, and individually they are
all friends of minc, for whom have the greatest
respect, but cannot refrain from thinking that
the way in which Col. Smiths report reads, it is
calculated to give to the citizens OF this city
contractor and an honorable man as he seems to
infer in that report that am paid for work that
contracted to do, but failed ito keep the contract
tHence this explanation in regard to the one
hundred tS1OO) dollars retained by the Board
until the tower is made perfect-that is all right,
aud in accordance with the contract, and it ia
my wish ID complete the house to the satisfaction
of the appointed Superintendent.
WILLIAM GIBSON