The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-19
ASTHE CONTRACTORS LIKED.

ASTHE CONTRACTORS LIKED.
scuooL BUILDINGS ERECTED REGARD
LESS or SPECIFICATIONS
rorwer superintesseat OF Bsnaings Dsbs-
vols. InviteA ~ the Board or EAacstior
20 Expiaia Irregularities Extendins
Through Many Ysars-Chesp Pipe and
Cheap stone substitstsA Tor Better Qual.
tiles, and sons Thiaxs Omitted Altogsth or.
Nineteen members OF the Board Of Educa-
Hon were present at the regular meeting OF the
Board held yesterday afternoon. 1t was gen.
sr.lly understood that the report Of the Com
mittee on Buildings about the investiR cations
into the complaints received Nom Ward Trus-
tees about deviations and omissions from the
specIncattons for certain school buildings
.ould b. presented. The report was looked
Tor with great deal Of interest and those
vho had been expecting something worth
hssrins were not disappointed. The Commit
tee on Buildings has been in daily session for
some weeks, and a tremendous amount Of tes-
tmony has been taken
The routine business was quickly disposed
Of, II included the usual reports from Ward
Trustees and the communications from the
Mayor announcing the appointment OF new
Commissioners and Inspectors Then Com
missioner Little. Chairman Of tho Building
Committee. submitted the reports Of his COM
mIttee. There were two Of them. Tho first
had been read to the Board in executive ses-
sion. and q second reading was dispensed
with. The second re ort was then read. Two
resolutions were introduced affecting the re-
ports, The first referred the reports to the
counsel Of the Board for his opinion as to
what action was necessary to uphold the
dignity of the common school system OF the
city and the second authorized the employ
ment OF a committee OF expert builders to as
sst the Superintendent OF Buildings Tho
first resolution was laid over under the rules.
The second was adopted.
The first report Of the committee rehearsed
the facts OF the receipt Of the complaint from
the trustees OF the Twenty-third ward in re-
gard to Grammar School IS. It then told how
the present Superintendent OF Buildings. c. b
J. Snyder. had been instructed to inspect the
building with regard to the sanitary condition
Of tho closets. the defective system Of water
supply above the first story. and the non-com-
plisnce OF the contractor with the terms Of the
specifications. Mr. Snyder reported that he had
found six vent pipes instead Of seven. that the
traps were not In proper condition. that the
waste pipes were defective. that the ventilat-
ing pipes extended but one foot above the
roof instead Of three feet or moro. that the
water supply was defective. that galvanized
iron pipe had been substituted for IA lead
pipe. that there were but ten closets instead OF
eleven. that there were no street washers. that
stoves and boilers had been entirely omitted.
that the slate In the pupils closets were set in
wood instead Of iron. and that there were other
defects
After receiving Mr.. snyder's report tho COM
mittee called Eugene 8 Odell the sanitary
inspector who had had charge Of the plumbing
in Grammar School IS. Mr.. Odell said that he
had certified to tho proper completion Of the
building at the order Of George W. Debevoise.
who was then Superintendent OF Buildings.
who know Of the discrepancies. Odell also
said that the various changes effected consld-
cradle saving in money 10 the contractors The
committee then asked Odell to submit list
Of this buildings which had been erected dur
ing the time In which no had been sanitary in
spcctor. and In which deviations and omissions
from The Ped Sss been made od dsa
omissions from specifications in the erection
Of Grammar Schools Nos. ga 81. 90 aud ~.
lions and omissions from specifications were
similar II end estent to those In
ssausptiy a Ias red someshat Similar state
q analrs In Grammar School No: 90
The committee then asked Clerk McMullin
ss re IL had
creased By reason Of these changes. End aiso
s sSosS shs. Pnla one 1877 csse
School SO: deduction Of s1290 , had b.. bee 3
stsss sssss nsssiy ss.Ooo Extra had been paid
ssssnS TN
fs3bs tas ~ ana ri
don had been called to the deyiations from the
e
ssn & Rs. sS sHsf Pr sRa s s nss
sssa n oTe S'S& ms dse
could Be- distorted Into such ins tructfons: and
h Fss Mas ea me- Except
Ssss Indignation e. 10 had had the news
Inspected detslls of Construction. but mad de-
pended on the certificates Of his assistant in;
tfsn Without s mental or Other reservation Tor
me,r null value as expressed on their faces.
s ssn M asa Sss s oas
Questioned by one Of the committeeman ne
S +, Of the present cou,mittee on Buildings to
another question. Mr. Debeyoise admitted
that he had recommended Odsll for an IN
month Mr.. Debeyoiss, resigned his office as
superintendent OF Buildings
Investigation by the committee disclosed the
Ss tss sss
ment and hEst-story windows. had not been
furnished In several cases. In Grammar
School S8 twenty -four screens are missing. In
0rammar school 30 eighteen screens were
School % Screens for i28 Windows
we're we're, not fqrpishsd; being In all TN. las
$3.50 @ 81 each. according to. sIse: Ii
She CASE OF the stone work OF Grammar
School ~. TO which reference has been made.
whom the substitution OF another stone for
blocks than those specified was not contem-
plated By the trustees. Smaller blocks were
t esH walls were reduced 70 q ~ per cent This
They saved on tho cost Of the smaller blocks