Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1896-11-13
SCHOOL LETTING
Closing Upl the Bills on High Schoo Con-
.tu.i 81 + structlOn Work,

.,.ill III structlOn Work.
The school board met Saturday in
regular session, Il full board being pres
emit. The time Of the board was al
together devoted to the discussion of
final billie on the construction and fur
nishing OF the new High school building.
These bills were largely for extras and
the building and auditing committees
have consumed large quantities Of mid
night oil in an effort to sift the over
charges and reach an equitable SETTLE
ment. AS a result numerous deductions
have been made from the original bills
and a balance struck which cut down
the amounts materially. The board &C.
copied the report Of the committees and
ordered the amounts recommended paid.
The exact cost OF the High school
building has not yet been exactly fig
ured up, but it will amount to
over 100000. When the present
board took hold of affairs it
found everything in a nice mess. Ac-
cording to their figures Dan Mckay had
been overpaid some S5,G88.9l on his con-
tract, and a host Of subcontractors had
claims against the board, which the
board had become responsible for. They
were compelled to aek the taxpayers for
$4,000 with which TO complete the
building. They estimated that this sum-,
together with $500, which they ex-
pected to receive out Of the money de-
posted in Chicago, to cover the Elk
change National bank claims against the
old bond issue, would be sufficient to
finish and furnish the building. 1t is
very much to their credit to state the
fact that they have kept within their
original estimate and when the last bill
is paid they will not have spent a dollar
more than the amount figured on. In
fact, they will get through for one or two
hundred dollars less than the estimated
amount, S22,50O. "
A considerable amount of the boards
time last night was taken up with a dis
cussion of a bill from Architect White
for e532.75 balance alleged to be due for
superintendence of construction. Archi-
tect White claimed that he was entitled
to 5 per cent on the total cost of con.
struction, for furnishing plans and spe-
citicationB. Chairman Boorman of the
auditing committee claimed that the
minutes showed he was to receive 80
per cent of the estimated cost (3G0,0OO)
Of the building for his plans, and that in
August, 1893, a warrant WAS given him
for balance due on this basis for plans. |
In addition to this, he was to receive ~
per cent OF the cost Of construction for
superintendent. On this basis he was
already overpaid.
Trustee Holmes said his recollection
was distinct that he was to receive s per
cent of the cost Of the building for the
whole work and that the minutes con- |
veyed a wrong impression on the matter.
Trustee Poole also backed up this opin-
ion. Trustee Warden said he had care
fully gone through everything on the
subject in the minutes and it was clear
to him that the original intention of the
board was to pay only 81 per cent on
$50, 900 and ~ per cent on cost for
clear that the board had gone
on paying Mr.. White money on
account on the basis claimed by
him. 1t was d question whether they
were legally held for this amount or not.
Mr.. Whites original proposition called
for 5 per cent for plans and superintend-
ence Withou specifying the sum or SUD- |
900. Trustees Repath and Cooper
to think Mr.. White was entitled
to the amount claimed. MI. Boorman
wanted further time to investigate. Mr..
White appealed to the board to at least
allow him apart of the money without
delay, as he needed it at once, and on
motion of Trustee Holmes the clerk was
ordered to draw a warrant of $500 in his
favor.
Bills amounting to 1851 and ap-
proved by the auditing committee were
allowed and ordered paid by warrants on
the special fund.
The chairman was authorized to have
transferred from the sinking fund to the
general fund the sum of $1,000 and the
board then adjourned.