The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-09-04
MAYOR WOULD KNOW
Sharp Letter to the City Hall
Commissioners About
That Architectural
MonstrositY.
WILL BE FINISHED NEXT SPRING
Architect Broome Insists That the
Roof Must Come Off-Carpen.
ter Kiernan's Fix.

Mayor Wanser has taken hand in
the City Hall building muddle. The
Commissioners 90 NOS appear to know
just where "they are att and the
Mayors intention is to help them out Of
their difficulty At the same time he
wants to know things about the areEi-
tectural- monstrosity that have been
kept covered up to the present time.
The Mayors inquiries are embodied in
the following, received by the City Hall
Commissioners at their meeting this
morning.
THE MAYORS LETTER.
''The contracts made by your board for
the construction, etc., of the new City
Hall require that the work in all cases
be completed not later than January 2,
1896. As that date is only four months
distant it seems to me that the build
ing should be very near completion, es-
pecially in view of the fact that the
winter season is rapidly approaching. It
is my desire that your board submit to
me as soon as possible a statement
showing in detail how far the work has
progressed and what work still remains
to be done in each instance before the
completion of the contracts. This state
ment should contain all the information
necessary to indicate how much of the
work has been done in a satisfactory
manner and how much has not. The
latter should also include the reasons
why in your Judgment, the work, il
there is any of an unsatisfactory char
"In work of such magnitude as
the erection of a large municipal build
ing it seldom if ever happens that
everything progresses in a smooth and
even manner. and in the construction of
the New City Hall many details have
cir h1F
Board in order to have them made
right, which have been very annoying,
but have been satisfactorily adjusted in
almost every instance. have often YER
bally enjoined upon your Board the
necessity of taking some means CT ad-
justing the trouble caused by he
believe that the time has come to force
the matter to an issue, especially mas
much as your Board has 3een unable SO
far to bring about its settlement.
THE ROOF IN BAD SHAPE.
I am advised that the tiles on the
roof have been laid in such manner
and perfect job in it's present shape. 1t
is my desire that your report deal par
am advised, it is necessary in order, to
make good and satisfactory job that
your contractor should relay the rooF,
it is your duty to take such action as
that about, if possible, in an amlcable
way. If that is not possible, shall re-
radical and summary action to provide
a suitable roof to protect the building
do not think that your Board has been
fairly treated by the contractor having
jected you to the criticism of allowing
the building to be endangered py
diminished, and it is constantly incrsas-
ing as the interior of the bulldlng
approaches completion. 1t IS an 1,dt lmpo+- m or
tention, especially as it will be neceS-
sary it, as I stated, I am correctly az
yaea ae gf to fay Se tde done fb beoTe the Winter
this matter before and do SO again in
BY you without any further delay. The
cfty's interests must be protected In
the building, at least by the proper sars- n,s.
In good condition the interior. work now
done therein. In the event of your ran,
ure to produce better resultS oS 20" 70 hr,n wlte =
them about The whole matter troubles
me greatly, and | am anxious 70 Know
of any other defects in the same con,
ditien in order to force their proper ana
speSSf Will BE DONE NEXT SPRING:
The letter was filed and a reselutfon
Immediately adopted directing Architecc
Broome and Inspector Tallman 10 pro-
the II is neSt meetins ne ME-
at is time the Mayor took hand IN
this natter said Architect Broome, az
ter the meeting. II mas SSS
eHS8in; .sWfen will the monstrosity be fin
ished?' I asked Mr.. Broome.
mot before April or May, was rns
reply 1T is a practicable tmposs1ointy
to finish the building in the speclheo
Whose fault will the delay be attrib-
sTo the carpenters
This looks rather gloomy for Carpe1-
ter Kiernan The contract signed by
him guaranteeing to finish the Du4dlng
by January 2, 1896, contains a clause
that subjects him to a fine of S25 for
every day over the specified time. on
the basis of finishing it by the hrst OF
Nav l1S days will have elapsed over
the specified time This will make kIsr-
nan liable to the tune of s., $50. The
fine will do much toward furnishing lne
new building Architect Broome SUN
insists that the roof will have to pc
taken off before he will accept tne
building. He declares that the tiles are
nat fhe same as called for in the Specl-
fcatioras and says further that they
are improperly laid and will always Leak
unless repaired. Mr.. Broome wants the
roof contractor to remove the present.
ines. two or three hundred at a time,
and replace them with the proper ar
ficle. In this way he says the worE
can be done without any damage belngl
dane to the building. There are liYe!Y
times ahead relative to the new nan,
snd there will no doubt be numerous
iswsuits on the city's hands.