The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-16
CORRUPTION CHARGES
In Connection With the New High
School Building
PROTEST OF A GENTLEMAN
He Is Of the Opinion That Every
thing Regarding the Way Con-
struction Work Is Being Done
Is Not Just Right.


has been 10th to notice the open charges
OF corruption made in connection with
howork on the new High school building,
which, according to the original plans,
was to cost about $50, 00), but which will
cost, IL the present rate of overcharges is
maintained. at least . quarter of a mil
lion dollars. But rumors have become so
frequent aud charges arc so well defined
that it is necessary to refcr to the subject.
In conversation with a representative of
the STANDARD to-day a heavy taxpayer of
this school district, who has children in
the schools, said:
''I have long believed that the founda-
ton Of the high school building lie rotten
throughout, and recent events have forced
me to conclude that the entire deal has
been rotten, and believe that the school
board, the contractors acts, and the deeds
of Architect White have been in the same
condition. I want it distinctly under
stood that cast no reflection upon the
new trustees, Cooper, Brown and Luckett.
Ihave made thorough investigation and
find that William White has received
S2,792.25 from the district. Mckay Bros.
have received $21, 4lS53, all of which has
been assigned to the Northwestern Ma
tionsl bank. Smith and Duncan have re-
Geld Sl25 for water pipe. an extra which
Architect White recommended, and the
Northwestern National bank has received
S40.9o. interest on SIS, 412.6 sc, which it adj
vanced. This makes total of S24, 756. 6S.
and il was stated at the last meeting of
the school board that the foundation Is
not yet completed. / have maintained
silence too long on this subject, and tho
straw that broke the camels back was the
S792.25 claim by White for plans which his
own mistake-which believe was inten-
tional-made necessary, and the allow
ance of that amount, less 800. 1t is on
this extra foundation that the jobbery has
been done, andsI have investigated the
circumstances.
"Sept. IA, 1891, White recommended
that the extra work be done. He stated
that there would be LIS cubic yards of
excavation and 1875 perches of rubble
stone work, and recommended that
the work be given to Mckay Bros. at
GO cents per yard for excavation and 50 so
per perch for stone work. Gockstetter
moved that Mckay Bros. be given the
contract at those figures and Earll Sec
onded the motion. This motion was lost.
A motion was made to advertise for bids
for the work until Sept. 10. Gockstetter
was again on hand with an amendment
to advertise for 30 days. but the amend
ment was lost. The original motion was
carried. The board met Sept. 10. On
motion of Gockstetter, the contract was
awarded to Mckay Bros, the lowest
bidders. But Mckay, for some reason,
had raised his figures, and his bid for ex-
cavation was 81 per yard and for stone
work S4.15 per perch. This was $5,036. 20
for the job. The work proceeded until
the supreme court declared the bonds in
valid. Later the following report was
made:
GREAT FALLS. Dec. Il. 1891.
To the 0fcers and Members Of the Trades and
Labor Council Of Cascade County:
Brothers-At the meeting OF the council on
Friday night, Nov. 16 the chairman of the
school board committee was instructed to call
TO his aid such members OF the council or any
member OF labor organization who would be
competent TO inspect the work on the Central
High school building. The following gentlemen
were selected: A belong. Brcklayers' union;
w. +. Gay. Carpenters union; w. ID. McFar
land, Plasterers union, and Charles Carlson
the Stonemasons' union.
After reading the specifications and
inspecting the plans of the building, the
work on the school house was investi-
gated. The following facts were dis
covered: In the beginning the architect
did not test the ground or drill TO see how
rock or a suitable foundation, which is
customary before giving an estimate on
the cost of a building. thereby creating an
extra expense to tho school district for
excavating and the construction of a
foundation for the supcrstructure.
The specifications state that the foot
ings shall be through stone, squared and
hammer dressed. This has not been
done. On the contrary, it is found that
the footings are composed of two rocks
side by side in place of through stone.
This is inferior workmanship and is a
saving to the contractor of several hun
dred dollars and loss to the taxpayers of
this district. The cement mortar used
was not, in a great many instances, &C.
cording to that called for in the speclfica-
tions. The specifications call for head
ers' every four feet in length and two feet
in height, headers to be through stone.
The specifications have not been lived up
to in this particular. The tower footings
have not been laid according to the lines
on the plans, thereby causing portion of
the wall to set on one side or on the edge
of the footings. In the tower circle the
footing should be six feet eight inches in
width, the second course of footing five
feet two inches and the third course four
feet. Instead of the main wall resting
upon the center of the third footing it
rests upon the inside edge of the lower
footing. In other words the footings are
of no service to the wall on one side. In
some places the partition walls were
found TO be out of plumb and out of line,
in some instances three inches.
"Some OF the cut stone used in the
is certainly unfit for a build
ing of the proportions such as the High
school building Is to be. In the laying of
the cut rock the specifications call for n |
one-quarter of inch joint. On the con-
trary the joints in places are from a half |
to seven-eighths of an inch. The east
wall Is out of line one and one-half inches:
this defect being plainly perceptible to |
the naked eye.
in some instances the cut stone and |
the backing up are separating for the /.
want of headers and anchors Esfinatna