The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-01
FIND MANY DEFECTS.
Commissioners Condemned by
Their Own Committee.
An HscompLETe SET or PLANS"
gaperfn tendsnt % Csuaty Aimshonss
Censsruessen Tneempetent-First
Report by Investigators

yesterday. The COMMITTEES Was selected
By c. r. Retire. the contractor.
who was empowered 20 do 80 By
the commissioners. and consisted
Of himself. z. II. Fisher. the srchitecs; ID.
n. Hughes, . briekssyer: ]. c. Reward,
contractor: ]. 3. Mcclellan. master
plumber, and y. J. CatteII, builder.
This COMMITTEES put In several days
making q critical examins tion OF the
building. using the specifications on
fle with the county andiior - their stand
ard OF what the building should be. and
not considering the question Of bow the
contract was let or OF other alleged plans
and specifications. The findings Of the
committee are as follows:
SEATTLE, Sept. -, 1898.
ITO the Honorable Board OF County
Commissioners of King Iounty-Gentle-
MA Ia accordance with your request we
have thoroughly examined the plans and
speclleaEiops OF the county aims house and
hospital, and also the building itseli.
I'VE ind an incomplete or unfinished
set of plans and set OF specifications not
rs definite a. should be, rendering it quite
difficult TO arrive az an exact knowledge
OF what Was intended 70 be done, the plans
being imperfect in not showing cross or
longitudinal sections, and not being
r01UFe0 10 tnGtcate TIE utNctcAS anus %
material TO be used.
I'VE found hlueprints OF the steel work
for the second floor. third floor, third story
ceiling and the roof OF the building, but
We find none of them on lie with the COM
missioners, and We lind no written speci-
fcations Of any steel work either on tie or
at the building.
I'VE find the building in general Is be-
ing constructed in accordance with the
plans and specifications on file.
I'VE find number OF changes and many
defects and that all OF the detects touid
have been remedisd by a more efficient
SUPERINTENDENT as the work progressed.
I'VE find that all the changes made we're
authorized either by yourselves or by the
superintendent.
1--WE find that tho specifications and
agreements on file provide for the valua-
ton of all these changes, either additions
or omissions. by adding 10 or deducting
from the contract price. The changes We
find are as follows.
'sFirst--The extra depth of foundation
beyond what Is called for on the plan be-
ing two feet, three feet. three feet. three
feet and three feet two inches respectively.
In the five different places where we meas
ured il.
''second--we find oil walls of the out.
side Of the building built solid instead Of
hollow, as shown on oil plans.
"Third-~We end that the rustic work OF
the first and second stories as shown by
the plans, also the ornamental work
around the windows OF the third story en-
tiFely omitted.
.Fourth-We find the exterior of the
walls laid up with common brick and
white mortar, and then painted. and that
there was no attempt 10 select the brick
for the face work. as required by the speci-
flcations, and consequently the whole ex-
terror presents a rough surface.
"Fifth--We find the first floor laid of
ciinker brick set on edge. making depth
of four inches of brick instead Of sir inches
OF concrete. as called for by the specifica-
tons and detail drawings. We were in
formed by the superintendent ia charge
that there would be three inches of con-
crete on the top OF these brick. Mr..
Richie, the architect. informed us that
there would be six inches OF the same
material, but We find II impossible that
either could be used and retain the en-
tire height of the story.
.Sixth--We find the entire drainage sys-
tenn changed and that this change will be
Of less cost than at first intended, but We
find that the change has been benefit to
the building.
I'VE find the building site required the
extra height of foundation wall.
I'VE find the solid walls TO be a detri.
ment 30 the building. considering the pur-
poses TOT WutGu IL - 10 DE HHe1.
I'VE ind that the changes from rustic
finish of brick walls 10 plain finish, and
from red mortar 10 white mortar TO he in
no way detrimental to the strength or
durability of the walls, but simply makes
the work less expensive.
I'VE ind the defects TO be as follows:
''first-We find the stone water table
Improperly set IN place and several de-
fective stones used.
''Seeund-We End the straight arches
over the windows to be improperly and
poorly constructed.
Hfhird-We lind the cement of the omen
court to be nf very poor quality.
'Fourth--We hBd the outlets and down
spouts from the roof cutters 20 be two
inches In diameter instead of four as
called for.
Filth We find the tin for the roof to
he OF an inferior quality 20 what is called
for IN the specifications, Il being Mer.
chants |. G. Footing tin instead of Mer-
chants old method, or Tayior's old style
We ind that the contractor might
have been benefited not 20 exceed 81 500 by
the reason of the various defects We have
reported
I'VE mud the first iloor should be a con-
crete ioor made on the earth aud that no
steel beams are required for this door by
either plans or specifications on Tie or at
the building
1--WE lind the stone foundation 10 be a
good JOB.
Eve ind the brick walls 20 be Of a good
quality OF hard common brick, aud 60 lie
strong aud durable.
We ind the mortar in al cases TO De
very rood.
We ind the plumbing job as good as
inquired by the Specifications on tile, with
the exception of the down spouss. and
that the drainage system was changed as
above, aud with the exception OF the down
spoafs i fair lob
we hRd The holiow tiles 10 be as re.
ausrsd BY the plans ana specifications.
I'VE find sli other material anu ali work
except that which We have specifically
mentioned 80 be coed
''kespectfn " submitted.
20 +. R9Irkw. Builder.
"E III. EtsUER. Architect
~. NJ. HvGREs. Rriekiayer.
-, e. kEhw kgn Contractor
~, ;. MCCLELLAN, MISTER Plumber.
IN. J. tArTKth. Builder"
Chairman 6aseh. Ct the board. upon re-
ceivins this report, which plainly declare.
81 least the caresssxneSs OF the hoard A.
once sent for Architect Richie and Con
tractor Righy 10 demand OF them an ex.
PLANTATION concerning the charges OF col.
fusion in the letting Of the contract. Mr.
Richie did not appear. having gone "a
Spokane. aad Mr.. Risby paid no attention
Go the Summons.
A third committee. made up OF members
Of different building trades, viii so - the
hospital today 10 make an inyesti gation
into the character Of the work done
IN constructing the building. The
committee consists Of W. II Md.
dleaon, briektsyers Il ]. Bower. car
pNnfRrs Sfenhaa lev s4naaeussNrs