The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-19
TO FINISH the SCHOOL.
An Arrangement Possible BY Which
the Contractors May Complete
Their Job.
Meeting Between Them and the
Trustees to Talk Over
Matters.
Bill for Extras IN tile sewernge-Mu d
Line to the Seventh Ward school
Holidays.

Us. Grant and y. r. Whalen, the con-
tractors for the high school building, were
present at yesterdays meeting of the school
trustees. whom the following letter was pre-
sented:
Gentlemen: We wish to call your atten-
ton to the fact that we must have money
at once in order to complete the high school
building. We have worked on this struc-
ture now about eighteen months and have
put into it all monev paid US by your board.
using all means that We could rake and
scrape together, and hnvs borrowed be-
tween $4,000 and $l3, 0GO. on which we are
paying interest, and we now owe between
$4,000 and 5000 for work md material
put into tho structure, and it will require Mt
least S9,OOO more to finish it and meet our
oDllRat!ona on tho structure as they arise.
10 prevent trouble and expense we want
ana demand that you pay US at this time
$4,000 on account. If this request is CON-
Piled with We will furnish ample guaranty,
if desired, to have the building completed,
ready for delivery, in ninety days or less
time. The foregoing are facts, and unless
this amount OF money is forthcoming in
stantly we will be compelled to let the
building stand until auch time rs the money
is Forthcoming. There is more than 500, OCO
now due US, and we must have it.
"kespectfully,
H A "WHALEN d GRANT"
When the letter had been read Trustee
Guthrie said it was not right to keep the
money in bank when they could clear tie
thing up. The board should employ an at
torney to advise them how and to whom
TO pay the money. Even if this meant an
expense they had better do it than do the
contractors any injustice. Trustee Gill
patrick favored letting the contractors have
what money was due them, SO they could 20
ahead and finish the building. Trustee
Langhorne suggested that a committee of
the board meet the contractors and settle
could have their lawyers if they wanted
them. @
Contractor Grant said he did not want
the money for the purpose Of putting it
in his pocket, but to pay the honest debts
Of the firm and to finish the building. Con-
tractor Whalen also said the proposed
committee meeting would be satisfactory
to him.. Trustees Langhorne, Guthrie and
Jockey were appointed. the committee to
consult with the contractors. The consul
tation takes place this morning, when it is
expected that arrangements will be made
DY Wnlcn the contractors can get enough to
pay off some of the claims against them
and go ahead and complete the building.
The Helena Steam Heating and Supply
company notified the trustees that the
steam heating plant in the new high school
was ready for firing up and testing. and
the ventilators were completed, except for
some connections. They asked for part Of
the money still due them on the contract.
Arthur O'Brien presented a bill for
:Sl, 262. 70 for extra work on the high school
sewerage system. Both matters were re-
fer ed to Superintendent of Construction
Williams for Il written report.
Superintendent Young reported that so
far as he could learn about thirty childten
living outside the district were attending
Helena schools. The trustees will make an
effort to get from the district where the
children are registered the money appor-
ttonment for them or else charge the chill
dren tuition fees.
On motion of Trustee Miller a resolution
was passed asking the city council to lay a
board walk on that part of Broadway lead
ing to the new Seventh ward school. The
road to the school is so muddy that the
children find it hard to get along.
It was decided to have the spring vaoa-
tipn of the schools in the week beginning
March %. The schools will also be closed
on W~ashington's birthday.