The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-15
Raphael's
INCORPORATED,
TROUBLE AT SANTA CRUZ.
Protest Against the Letting of
the Courthouse Con-
tract.
jacksonville Citizens Oppose the
Action of the Super
VisorS.

SANTA CRUZ, CAL, Aug. 14.-The
action of the Board of Supervisors of Santa
Cruz County in awarding the contract for
the erection of courthouse building to r.
M. McCabe at a cost of $53, AIS has caused
much dissatisfaction, especially among
the residents of the southern end of the
county.
The District Attorney was yesterday pre-
scented with a petition largely signed by
prominent citizens and taxpayers of the
city of jacksonville requesting that official
to commence an action against N. A. Com
stock, the architect of the proposed build
ing. to recover the amount already paid
him, by order of the Board of Supervisors,
for his services as architect, and also to in
stitute actions against the individual Sup
ervisors and their bondsmen to recover
damages for allowing the same.
The petitioners aver that Comstock had
no legal claim against the county; that the
Board of Supervisors proceeded illegally
in their adoption of the plans and specifica-
tions for the courthouse; that no proper
bond was exacted ofthe architect; that the
Board of Supervisors had no power under
their resolutions adopted to let the con-
tract for a greater cost than $4,000, and
that McCabe was not the lowest respon-
sible bidder.
In their advertised notice to architects,
inviting the subm ission of plans and spec
ifications, the Supervisors announced that
the cost of the proposed courthouse should
not exceed $4,000. Among the plans SUBJ
mitted those of Architect Comstock were
considered the best and adopted by the
board, who then proceeded to advertise for
bids for the construction of the building.
Under the law it was necessary that this
advertisement should continue for sixty
days. during which time iron, steel, terra
Gotta and building material generally ad-
vanced rapidly, with the result that when
the bids were opened all were found to be
greatly in excess of the estimated cost.
The Supervisors finally concluded to &C
cept the bid of Contractor McCabe. The
contract was duly entered into, the bonds
of the contractor and architect were ap-
proved and the work of excavating for the
foundation of the building has been stead
lily progressing.
1t is contended by the dissatisfied citi-
zens of jacksonville that the Supervisors
were bound by their order fixing the esti-
mated cost of the building. and had no le-
gal authority to enter into contract in
volving greater expense to the taxpayers,
and that, consequently, all payments made
to either architect or contractor are illegal.
1t is not known what action the District
Attorney will take in the matter, but it Is
expected that he will hold that a differ
ence of opinion exists as to the wisdom of
the action of the Supervisors, that they
acted within the scope of authority granted
them by the county government act. and
that, consequently, no proceedings against
them will lie.
There is a decided conflict of opinion
over the matter, many of the most promi-
nent citizens and largest tax payers hold
ing that the Supervisors have exercised
sound Judgment in awarding the contract,
and have acted for the best interests OF the