The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25
The Commissioners Have a
String to the Contract,
However.
CoLUsA STONE OVERLOOKED.
It Will Be Heard From Later, Prob
ably, and Be Substituted for
the Oregon Gray.

The question of material for the union
depot and ferry house was finally de-
cided by the Harbor Commissioners yes
terday. After weeks of discussion, during
which daily sessions were held, the board
finally came to an understanding. Oregon
gray stone was designated, but there is an
eff" attached to it, and the chances are
that the Colusa stone will be substituted
at the last moment.
Architect A. Page Brown is decidedly in
favor of the Oregon gray stone, and in
communication to the board expatiated
upon its many good qualities. In conclu-
sion, however, he stated that the Colusa
stone was good and might be substituted
with advantage for the Oregon gray. Con-
sulting Architect Percy is decidedly OPP
posed to the Oregon stone and says that
in the buildings in San Francisco in which
it has been used it shows signs of disinte-
grafton. Both reports We're discussed pro
and con by the members of the commits
sion before the meeting was called to or
der, and after long conference with Con-
tractor Mccarthy it was decided to accept
all the lowest tenders for the work at once.
At the hour of meeting there were pres
ent in the boardroom President Colnon,
Commissioners Cole and Chadbourne,
TREY L. Ford, the boards attorney, and
F. S. Stratton, ex-attorney for the COM
mission; Chief Engineer Howard G.
Holmes. Joe Rowell representative of A.
Page Brown, Ex-Governor Adams of Ne
vada, R. w. Gorrill, president of the Pa
cific Bridge Company, and dozen other
contractors who were bidders on the depot
There was also delegation from the
Granite cutters National Union in at
tendance. 1t had been stated that they
would not cut any rock that might come
from Folsom Prison, but this they denied.
In a communication they told the board
that they would cut rock for the commits
sion, no matter where it came from.
When President Colnon called the meet
ing to order it did not take the board long
to get to work. "You ell know my feel
ings in this matter" said Commissioner
Cole. I am in favor OF brick and terra
Gotta, but, as the majority is for stone,
will bow to their will, and now beg to offer
the following resolution:
RESOLVED, That the bid of C. F. Mccarthy,
dated December TO- 1895, and as filed with
this Board on said date for all masonry work
according to the plans and specification for
union depot and ferry house, San Francisco,
subdivision four thereof embodyng all work
and ma terals described in the plans and ma
sonry specifications on the basis or using Ore
gon gray stone facing for outside OF walls and
towers in place OF Roman buff brick and terra
Gotta trimmings, and white enameled brick up
10 spring of arches, and hollow terra-cotta
arches, brick and Oregon gray stone to be per
samples then submitted, for the sum OF $780,
900, be and the same is hereby accepted.
And the said c. F. Mccarthy be and he hereby
is required, and his bid is so accepted on this
condition, that he shall, within six days from
date, enter into written contract to do said
work according to the plans and specifications
prepared therefor, and will agree to the condi-
tons and terms as embodied in and annexed
to said specifications and Will also execute and
file with this board good and sufficient bond
with two or more sureties to be approved by
the said board, in the sum of $115 900, condi-
toned for the faithful performance of said
work. Price included in above figures for hol-
low terra-cotta rite partitions, II cents per
square foot.
Mr.. Cole then said: "After having care
fully considered all the bids for the con-
struction of the union depot and ferry
house, the proposals of the following bid
ders being deemed the lowest and best
should be accepted. / move that that
course be followed, and that each success
fui bidder be required to furnish good
and sufficient bond for the carrying out of
the contract such bond to be approved by
the board"
Chadbournc seconded the motion and it
was carried. The lowest bidders are as
follows:
C. F. Mccarthy, masonry, brick, terra Gotta
and fire proofing, $4,000; bond, $115, ZOO.
Risdon Iron Works. construction of steel and
other iron work, $1ss, 900; bond, $94 1000.
Bateman Brothers, carpenter work, plaster
ing and glazing, $4S 400; bond, $4,000.
James Duffy, plumbing and gasftting,
$11 ,123; bond, $500
William cronan, roofing, skylight and gal
vanized ironwork, $40, $780, bond, $21, 500.
George j. Smith & Sons, painting, $4,000;
bond, $4,000.
At this point Ex-Governor Adams of
Nevada arose and asked il he might say
a few words in favor of the tufa stone. He
produced the analysis made by Professor
Price, which gave the article submitted a
very high character, and argued in favor
of using the material in the new ferry
depot.
1--WE have no objection to your stone,
Governor" said President Colnon, ION the
contrary we think very highly of it. In
fact, the only objection is that it has not
stood the test of time. There is no means
of telling what the effect of our Califo rnia
climate would be on it. Another thing,
we have selected stone which we will use
in the erection of the depot
"That being the case, gentlemen" said
Governor Adams, 'there is nothing more
to be said. In few years from now we
hope to be able to point with pride to the
durability OF Nevada tufa stone"
The commission will meet again to-mor-
row, when all of the contractors will be
present and their bonds will be discussed.
Some minor changes in the contracts may
then be made, but the commencement of
the building will date from the 26th inst.