The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-08-31
THE HIGH SCHOOL TOBE BUILT
The School Board Sells the Bonds
Again-The Northwestern
Bank Gets Them.
Dan Mckay Will Build the High School
Construction Work Will
Soon Commence.

The school board held some very i'm.
portant meetings Saturday. They as.
sembled at 12 o'clock noon to complete
the work Of selling the school bonds
The bid Of Mason, Lewis & Co., Chicago,
was accepted a week previous, condi-
toned on the money being forthcoming
at Great Falls Saturday loon. AZ this
condition had not been complied with
the board listened to an amended propo.
sition from the Northwestern bank OF
this city. At the last meeting the presi-
dent of the bank bid $1,1OO premium,
interest to commence July l., 1894. This
bid was now raised to S1,23333, or
s6,S3333 with interest commencing May
l, 1893, the date Of the issuance of the
bonds. Both Of these figures amounted
to the same thing, in the latter amount
the interest being computed and added
to the first sum. This offer was made
on the following conditions. The
matter of the legality Of the bonds
was to be tested in the supreme
COuIt hb tuC DVdIu was ~ q
sirous Of commencing work on the
school at once, however, the bank in
event Of the acceptance Of their bid
agreed to advance the board such sums
as they need up to $4,000 while the suit
is pending, and the balance on a favor
able decision Of the court. In event Of q
contrary decision each trustee pledges
himself individually to take such action
as will result in the reimbursement Of
the bank Of moneys advanced. As a
matter of fact the bank has no doubt Of
the legality Of the bonds but desires the
point settled beyond a question by
the court.
After discussing this proposition for
some time the board adjourned till
$50 p. m. On re~assembling it was voted
to accept the bid of the Northwestern
bank. A contract embodying the above
features was then drawn up by the bank
attorney and signed.
The question of acting on bids re.
ceived for the construction of the new
high school building was then brought
up. These bids we're made about
a year ago and reference to the
old minutes showed that only two bids
we're received, one from Leuchres &
Mckenzie for $65,40O, and one from
Dan KcKay for s59,94O. These bids had
both been laid on the table by the old
board and reposed there ever since.
j. II. Earl moved that the bid Of Dan
Mckay be accepted and the motion was
supported by o. M. Holmes.
Trustee Emerton thought the board
should r~eadvertise, and stated that many
contractors had assured him that they
had refrained from bidding the last time
on account of the financial conditions at
the time and the fact that the old board
had no prospect of paying cash.
This view Of the matter did not seem
to meet with much favor, however, with
the rest Of the board, and Mr.. Mckay
stated that it would not be fair to him
as he had made his bid in good faith
and new bidders would have the advan-
tage Of knowing his figures.
On the motion, being put Trustees
Holmes, Gockstetter, Poole, and EARL
voted in favor of accepting the MLKay
bid and Trustee Emerton against it.
Mr.. Emerton then brought up
the question Of supervising the
construction of the building and thought
an inspector should be appointed at a
salary Of S. per day.
j. T. EARL moved that the supervision
Of the work be given to Architect White,
who drew the plans, and he was sup
ported in his motion by o. M. Holmes,
who maintained that an architect-and
not a mechanic was required for this
work. He was vigorously opposed in
this view of the matter by Trustee En-.
erton, who wanted to hire a superinten-
dent of construction first and then a gu.
pervising architect afterwards IL the
board could afford it. After a long
wrangle on this point the board finally
concluded to hire MI. White as supervis-
ing architect at a compensa ton Of IL
per cent Of the cost Of the building and
laid the matter of employing a mechanic
to superintend construction over till a
more convenient season.
Fanny Philips was employed as teacher
in the Chichester district.
James O'Grady appeared on behalf of
the children in Little Chicago, asking
for more convenient school facilities for
them, and the matter was referred to a
committee to see what arrangements
could be made for their accommodation.
The board then adjourned till next
Wednesday.