The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-03
THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.

THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
Some Figures and Facts Relative to IL
Construction.
The following communication was writ
ten by a gentleman qualified to speak VIII
authority on the subjects dealt with. \
will amply repay careful perusal;
According to the architects statement
they had 10 20 ten feet deeper with thu
foundation than originally designed. The
building girds 45O feet and ten feet deep. al
stated, and the thickness Of walls is three
feet; this is equal to sls perch Of rock. IL
this must be added the cross-walls. which
measure in length 240 feet, by ten feet deep,
and two feet six inches thick. This is equal
to 263 perch; plus the above it makes 1,lSl
perch extra. Tho plans call for a founda-
tioE Of only three feet in depth. Who has
ever heard of a foundation for a three
story school building, each story fourteen
feet high in the clear, all walls built OF
granite. interior halls arehed with brick,
between steel girders, this immense weight
to be supported by n foundation
three feet in depth, a foundation
that il being built under any
ordinary frame dwelling. Three feet
in thickness and 400 feet in length, (gird of
building.) This is equal to 246 perch.
The plans call also for a foundation for
the boiler room, being about ten feet high,
located below the basement floor. In
width and length it measures thirty feet;
thickness of walls two feet SIX inches.
This is equal to ISL perch, and plus the
above makes 427 perch.
Extra work, 1,1sl perch at 81 per perch
makes 81, 724; work originally d~eslgned,
427 perch at 81 per perch is equal to $l,1oe;
total, $6,432. According to these figures
the foundation ought to have an average
depth Of thirteen feet, and boiler room a
depth Of twenty-three feet. that IL below
the basement floor, but the same IS IN
front two feet six inches deeper thai the
grade, and therefore the foundation ought
to be III fact fifteen feet six inches below
grade. We have been informed the founda-
ton is in fact only six feet deep at an ay-
erage below the basement floor. But the
price per perch, as estimated above, IS also
to be taken into consideration because 1t IS
exorbitantly high; So would be accepted
as very good pay by every stone contractor,
ever if he had to use a barrel OF cement Tor
every six perch of rock.
Figure these perch of rock at So per
perch, that is equal to $4,s24, extras and
all. Consequently, with the amount OF
S6. 1872, which has been spent, allowing
$432 for e1cavating, n could bulid a
foundation sixteen feet in depth below
basement joints and eighteen feet SIX IN
twelve feet six inches deeper than
has been built and paid for.
These figures are made regardless
of area walls, as these walls have nothing
to support, there was no necessity to build
them deeper than originally designed.
The architect speaks about the Slope OF
the ground necessitating the additional
foundation walls. This is no excuse for the
blunder, because even an architect OF very
little experience informs himself about the
slope of a piece of property before design
ing a building to be erected on 1T. 1t IS al
most ridiculous to think that he did not
know anything at all OF the slope OF the
tion only three feet in depth. which, accord
ing to the actual grade, would as he un-
doubtedly knew, upset the laws OF .grav1ta-
ton, because it would haze had to be erect
ed in the air, SO to say, placed between
Heaven and earth, instead of upon solld
ground.
By figures we have proved that the
foundation ought to have been fifteen feet
six inches below the ground level, and that
one could be built eighteen feet six inches
deep for the money expended for same ana
still there has a foundation been built only
six feet deep, as we have been informed by
proper authority, The excuse that an Or
dinanoe was passed only last summer re-
quiring public buildings to be covered with
tire-proof material is not permissible, be-
cause almost every resident knows, more SO
an architect, thatthe Central school building
is and has been within the fire limits for
the last few years; hence it could not be
covered with shingles, and if 80 specified, it
was not only a blunder on the part of the
r,nE14ooH I-< %bo nrph,kno% had pun+har oh
ject in view in doing so.aIhe reason was
the following, as we have been informed by
professional men: The architect submitted
a design, the cost of which was about 49,
Coo. The trustees were not inclined to
spend that much money, III fact they did
not have it. For this reason they told the
architect to cut the building down to S62,-
600. This was the condition under which
his plans would be accepted, and it was I'M
pleted for this amount. He cut it down in
order to get away with the job, but how did
he do it? AS we have shown, by making
the specifications and plans defective, de-
signing a foundation too weak to support
the upper structure, or one that would have
to be suspended in the air, and specifying a
shingle roof, knowing we'll that by doing
SO he was taking advantage of the lack
of knowledge of the trustees as regards the
construction of buildings. The scheme
worked ike a Cnarnl, as every one can
readily see, because the architect succeeded
in gaining the point in view. The building
must be completed o according to the &C
cepted plans even if it exceeds the original
contract, which was $62,O 00, by $4,000 at
thesvery least calculation, because the ex
tfas amount to-day to 1921 600. Who knows
how much they will amount to by the time
the huilding is completed?
'a1aEhis is the true explanation of nov those
c0stly extras were caused which created
such dissatisfaction among the taxpayers.
Women on the School Board.
On Saturday, April 4th of this week, the
election of school trustees takes place. This
event and it's results should be of vital in
terest to all of the men and women O.
Helena. to those especially who look upor
Helena as their home, to those who ar,
identified with it's progress and to thos'
who take pride in that progress.
The public school is not only an exponen
of the towns growth but a Fundamental
factor in it's growth. The administration
then, of public school affairs should be en-,
tered into with serious consideration b,
all the citizens of Helena.