New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-19

ouartered oak 1t is frst-rae cabinet WORK, nor a
Il received the finch required BY Ihe speeiaeau,es
The specifications require either nat panels OF quar-
tered cak. properly glued Up. or Nauiteo pap,ol
nanels as may be directed by the Supenntenuea-.
This vaulted form, as constructed is wholly un'"'
to wood but Is perfectly proper In paper m"'"'
costs per panel than fiat, plain quar'eiea
proper decorative treatiren Of THESE 'auis -
mache panels should have been adopteo lnsVe"a =. w
n,ssen. imitation Of oak The specifications pefms inc
use Of paper mache in the panels Of the ceing oniy
wherever else It has been used 1t Is nov prOpes nv "
accordance with tho specifications and IL seoua DO IT,
placed with and carved oak by the contractor
Sya hava exausned and made an exhaustive chemical
a,a,vsJa no the material Of which the panels are COM
posed We md It may DO fairly calico papef mschs
II is used by architects and builders under that name
and IL Is emlnently suitable for the vauted panels
ua statements In the certificates furnished monthly by
SUPERINTENDENT Andrews upon which payments were naue
to the contractor incorrect Many items IN u aeso
monthly statements excessive both as 70 QUANTITIES.
and prices, in some cases being more tnah oouoie @
actual furnished The total Of these monthly
statements as certified TO by Superintendent Anufe"S 20
s2es 82s whereas total amount Of the contract IS ohy
s27o t50 Under the contract 20 per cent snouio We TO
talned from Snath until his work Is aecepeeo on''
ESQ 0Se has been retained instead OF Sos'VoO Ihe o
tractor has therefore received account to DATE s'as
more than ne is entitled until the work is accepted
NO EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES
We wholly unable to ascertain the source o. 'neso
monthly statements how the data were obtained upon
which they were based Mr. Andrews testified tnst inc
data came to him through Mr. Rowe from Contractor
snaiths booka Mr. Rowe testified that he haa notnins
10 10 with making them up Mr. snaith testinea 'nas
they were from Mr. Andrewss ONCE that nc
never examined them signed only fer the purpose
Of getting his money. Neither Mr.. Andrews nor Af.
Rowe according their testimony have ever measured
up or verified any Of the quantities or prices nor nave
we been discover that measurements or cal
cuations Of quantities have ever made the work
this contract either for preliminary esuns'e' "N
estimate In progress or final estimate.
What the actual value Of the work proposed py the
original plans and specifications have been we have
no sufficient means ascertadng on account Oh neon
piete data but we find the value OF the total work
actually done under this contract Goes not eAceea
s165 600 This estimate is based on an examination oil
plans constructed the speohcauons as
furnished 20 us the description done given
by Messrs Andrews Rowe Snath and Sinclair and our
examination OF the work itself In this estimate OF
s165 900 liberal allowance has been made Tor all risks
contingencies and profits.
You have asked US 20 examine and report specifically
on certain questions submit each question: with our
answer thereto:
Has the present ceiling been constructed In all respecH
IN accordance with tho plans speeifcaonsf Ans-No
What would be the cost OF the said ceiling quar-.
tered oak were substituted In place Of papiermaeheI
Answerwe estimate that ceiling entirely Of ouarerea
oak. similar the present one. but substituting inc
plain fat panels shown the original plans Tor the
yaulted ones would practically the same as the
present ceiling of 0ak and papermache
What would be the cost for constructing proper
carved ceiling accordance with the plans adopted Tor
the building OF tho present ceiling in Gaze carved oak
substituted IN these specifications in place OF QUAR-
tered oak or paper-mache7 Answer-We understand
this question what would be the cost OF ceiling
exactly like present carved oak was USED In
stead Of papermaehe The construction Of such ceiling
never contemplated by the plans and specifications
The only alternative allowed under the specifications Is
the substitution Of yaulted papiernache panels for the
Cat plain quarered panels shown in the plans This
question therefore, bearing the present case,
but as been asked that 1t would cost
from 100000 to $4,000 more than the present ceiling
That said committee further investigate and report on
any pertaining the building OF such cell
ting they may material. and also IL the article OF
papiermache used in the ceiling is proper and first
class material Answer-As already stated, we
consider that the material may be prop
erly called papiermache, and that IL Is
rclass and suitable as used vaulted panels but
that f should used elsewhere in the work
SAVE SOMETHING FROM THE WRECK.
In view Of the facts above stated. think that no
payment should be made the contract until the
whole matter finally Investigated. We think that the
contractor required replace the spandres ana
all other papermache In the ceiling, except the Fanised
panels with quarered and carved oak required by the
specifications Tho Of such replacement would DO
about 10000. We furthermore think that at least
$4,000 should have deducted from the contract price
for the changes the substitution OF the
present ceiling panels in place Of the original ceiling
OF 7sS panels and for other omissions above stated
Finally we would call the attention Of your honorable
body TO the extraordinary that not single professional
name appears on any the plans submtt TO
us and that the entire charge Of work Of this Importance
was placed the hands Of committee necessarily mex
perienced ana unfamiliar with such matters in connection
with frankly Acknowledges his own
Incompetence.
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