Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-04

ae finished. Meanwhile worK Was PR
crossing on other lines.
On November /, 1889, the building
committee met the contractors on toe
court house grounds and with the
architect and superintendent staked
out the lines for the building and the
foundations. About the middle OF the
month the contractor began putting ia
the concrete, and owing 10 the favora-
BILE weather was able 10 continue the
work until the latter part Of Decem-
Der, all the work being finished and
under cover by January. when work
ceased for time.
Contract for Vault Fixtures.
The contract for the vault fixtures
was let TO the Fenton Metallic Manu-
featuring company Of jamestown, n.
Y, three times, and as many times re-
considered, being finally disposed OF 10
Hoffman, 0Keefe 4 Co. OF Milwaukee
for s., 900 less than the bid of the Fen
ton people. Hoffman's contract called
for No. 3 guage t,ils and q superior
quality of steel. There was quite a
squsbble over the awarding of the con-
tract by the board of supervisors. who
finally took it out Of the hands of the
building committee aud authorized a
special committee Of three, consisting
Of Messrs. Skeels, sullivan and Solo
mon, who were opposed 10 the Fenton
goods. This committee closed the con-
tract with Hoffman, Keefe d Co.
Another UNPLEASANT episode in the
history of the building occurred when
the trouble arose with Sub-Contractor
Doren. He left, and on the advice OF
his attorneys took the plans with him
and refused to give them up 10 the
building committee. Papers were
served on Mr.. DoIen and the plans
were recovered. The trouble with Mr..
Doren arose primarily because he used
TOO cheap labor and material. Each
one of the sub-contractors still has
claims of Is per cent of what was
earned up to the time the county took
the responsibility from the Western
Construction company.
The history of the building has been
marred by one accident of fatal char
acter. In July, 1890, AN IRON worker by
the name of Christopher Harms was
killed by falling from the top floor TO
the basement He made q misstep, aud
during the descent he struck an iron
beam and his neck WAS broken.
Amounts Already Paid.
Final reports show that there mas
been paid up to date on account of the
building and furnishing $203, 6s2.07.
OF this amount SIS, 265. IS has been on
account of furniture. gas fittings, Gle
vstor and connections, mantels and
CRATES, stone walk and coping, ETC..
leaving 1855, 4ls.22 paid on account OF
the building. OF this amount sls.-
6e0.53 is for extras, aud Sl66, 1850 IL
on account of and under the terms of
the contract as made with the Western
Construction company. There were
placed TO the credit of the court house
| building fund the avails of the county
bonds amounting 20 the sum of Sl57,-
727. There was added 10 the fund by
direction Of the board of 1890 SIC. 900;
added.to the fund by the board of 1891,
sac. 900, making a total of S27 ,727.
There is still IN the fund undrawn
3.so3, but there remains TO be paid
to complete contracts already made,
including furniture and stone side
walks, grading and sodding, $40, 2Se.
making it necessary 10 replenisb the
court house fund TO the amount OF
So, ZOO.
To meet this overdrsft the board of
supervisors at the meeting June %,
1892. recommended that the sum OF
81, 900 be transferred from, the general
fund to the court house building fund,
TO he used only for the purpose OF est
mates for the construction and furnish.
ing of the court house and subject to
the same Limitation heretofore govern
ing the fund.
The report was adopted and the rec.
concentrations therein contained were
concurred ID.
The estimated cost of the building
completed and furnished throughout /.
$500, 900, though 1t may fell a trifis
short of that figure. While the prices
paid for material and work have been
fair no one has reaped q fortune from
the building, because good msteria
and good labor have been utilized
Kent county is one OF the best in ths
United States, and outside the couri
| house has not one dollars worth OF 10.
debtedness. IL iea me county and Ia,
building is worthy of IL.