The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-23
Specifications Which Were
Paid for Were Drawn by
Engineer Holmes.
A NEW INVESTIGATION AGENT.
The Designer of the Ferry Depot
Did Not Fill His Contract With
the State.

ferry foundation and the character of G. J.
Stilwell, the detective, is being overhauled
by the contractors, and Engineer Holmes
is building up defense of his work on the
water front, the Harbor Commissioners,
in the person OF President E. L. Colnon,
are seeking for light on an important sub
iect. The onus of the so-called investiga-
ton up 10 date has been unloaded on
Howard c. Holmes, engineer of the board.
Mr.. Holmes has defended the work done
on the depot foundation as if he were en-
tirelv responsible for it all, but when nailed
down to an explanation of the drawings he
has admitted that A. Page Brown was the
father of the design. Every contractor
who figured on the foundation and the
superstructure knew this, as did every
body who is familiar with the workings of
the water front; but in the light of the in
vestigation which has been going on, the
fact, if not lost sight of entirely, was dimly
obscured.
The Harbor Commissioners have been
quietly working in. the matter for the past
few DAYS, and they have realized that a.
Page Brown, architect, has drawn nearly
$4,000 and the board wants TO know for
what. In an attempt to enighten the
board Mr. Colnon addressed the following
letter to the Commissioners attorney on
Saturday:
SAN Francisco, April 20. 1895.
Hon. T. l. Ford. attorney for the Board OF State
FdrbOr Commits toner's DEAR SIR: You viii
please examine the incloSed contract between
The Board OF State Harbor Commissioners and
A. Page Brown, architect for the designing and
construction OF the Union Depot and Ferry
house at the foot of Market street, and report
TO this board in writing on the following
Whether fair construction of the language
of the contract, such as would be put upon il
by court OF justice, makes 1t the duty OF the
Ssid architect 10 Superlntend the construction
OF the foundations for said Union Depot and
FerTy-house, and to report TO this board the
manner in which the work is being done
Second If such be the plain duty of the
architect under the contract, and this board
can show that he never performed the same,
what legal steps are necessary to be taken to
protect the interests OF the State against his
further negligence, or to recover damages for
that which has already occurred
Your earliest attention is solicited 10 this
matter, as it is OF much importance. Very
truly yours. t. l.. COLNoN,
President OF Board of State Harbor Commits
sioners.
In the contract OF Brown with the Board
of Harbor Commissioners it is set forth
that Brown was 10 examine and supervise
the work upon said depot at all times dur
ing its progress. 1t is now claimed that
MI. Brown mas never OOUe UQlS. ACCOTQ-
ing to the terms of the contract he was to
report to the board as to the condition and
progress of the work, but, so far as the
records of the board show, he has never
made a single statement. He was also to
draft the specifications for the work on the
foundation and for the superstructure, but
the specifications are the work of Howard
Holmes. Mr.. Brown was to pay for any
engineering work which it would be neces-
+o hau IN no
contract. Ali the engineering work was
done by Mr.. Holmes, but there is no item
Of this class of labor in any of Mr.. Browns
estimates of the value of his own work.
All the bills of Architect Brown for work
done on the ferry foundation have been
passed upon by the State Board of Ex-
aminers. One item was $l2, 800 for work
done on the superstructure, and another
was for $6668 IL for work done on the ferry
foundation. A strange thing in connec-
ton with both Of these items is that the
work on the foundation is not yet finished,
and work on the depot itself has not yet
been commenced. These allowances 10
Brown were made by the old Board of Elk
aminers, and the architect has now claims
aggregating nearly $4,000 before the board
composed of Governor Budd, Attorney
General Fitzgerald and Secretary of State
Brown. 1t is stated on good authority
that the claims of Mr.. Brown will not be
allowed by the board on the ground that
he has violated his contract.
Much has been said about that contract
but the contract itself, for some re ason, ha:
never been made public. 1t was made
when Alexander, Bassett and Brown were
the Harbor Commissioners, and was con
tinued until the present board came into
power. The contract reads as follows:
This agreement made and entered into at the
city and county OF San Francisco, state of Cali
fornia this sixth day of October, 1892, between
Charles F. Bsssett, Charles o. Alexander anC
William H. Brown, in their official capacity al
members OF and constituting the Board o
Harbor Commissioners, the first parties, anc
a. Page Brown, the second party, all of th'
said city, county and State.
Witnesseth, That whereas the first partie
are about to commence the erection of pas
senger and ferry depot at the foot OF Marke
street, in the said city and county, and to tina
end are anxious to employ the second party a
architect for the purpose of preparing draw
ings, plans and specifications for said depot
and supervising the work upon the same as i
progresses; and whereas, the second party i
ready and willing to be so employed as archi
tect for said depot by the first parties upon tht
terms and conditions herein appearing.
Now, therefore. it is agreed and understood
by and between the parties as follows:
The first parties agree to employ and do b.
these present hereby employ the second party
and the second party hereby accept such EN-
ployment, as the architect of the Board of Stat
Harbor Commissioners for the purpose of pre-
said depot, submitting the same to said boarC
for its approval, and examining and supervis
ing the work upon said depot at all times dur
ing its progress.
The second party shall forthwith, or as sooI
Us requested by the first parties, proceed to pre-
pare drawings, plans and specifications, ant
within reasonable time thereafter submit tn,
same to the first parties for their approval
Said drawings, plans and specifications shall
embody and cover the architectural and con
structional details in full for depot for ferry
freight and passenger service, as heretofore re
ferred to. The said depot building shall be de
signed generally after such suggestions as ma,
be made by the first parties, or as may NEE
their approval, and all drawings shall be SUI
fciently complete in every respect to enabl,
contractors to bid for the same and construc
the building or any portion thereof pursuan
to the working plans as so prepared
The second party agrees to prepare sucf
plans, designs, drawings and specification
relating to said depot as may be requested By
the said board, and to vary, modify or prepare
new plans as may for any cause be required o
him said plans to include both the super
structure OF said building and the piers, wall
and foundations for the same. Said building
is to be- if possible, designed SO that in thu
opinion of the second party the contract pric,
for constructing the same shall not in tn,
aggregate exceed the sum of $4,000 for sucl
parts of the work as may be above the founda
ton or grade level.
When, however, advertisements are dull,
published as required by law for the letting 0
contract for the whole or any part of safe
depot, in the event that the aggregate contrac
miro aYPeadc for tho whole work fhp sim n