The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-28
THE wHATcoM NORMAL SCHOOL



whatcom. Feb. 27.-Speciai.-A short
time ago the statement was made IN the
Nhatcom correspondence Of the Post-In-
tesiigencer that the trustees or the nor
NAL school here were considering a prop
osltion from the contractor 10 Substitute
stone for pressed brick in the construction
OF the building. IL appears that al the
time the contractor made the proposition
he believed. from the representations made
20 him by the sub-contTaetors for the
foundation. that. on account OF the excep-
tsonally favorable conditions existing hs
could make the proposed change without
additisnai cost and give the state q much
finer building than could be built OF the
quality OF brick specified The identity OF
ths architects competing with plans was
unknown 10 any member Of the board IN
IL All the designs had been carefully ex-
aInined and ali except three or Ioar re-
Jscted. A decided preferences was SHOWN
for the classic design submitted oy AR.
Black, OF FalrhAven. and more time was
spent by the experts employed oy the
board ia a frultiess effort 70 bring the
cost Of its construction within the neces-
sary limit fixed than was spent by them
upon ell the other plans. The design
finally adopted. that or shilin5s
* Corner, OF Seattle, was not ac-
cepted until the board had been
assured by the best authority II could
obtain in the state that the building could
be built within the fixed limit Of cost. viz.
$4,000. The bids, OF which seven were ten
dered. were publicly opened and read No
vsmber i and a day or two later the con-
tract was awarded TO the lowest bidder.
William II. Davey, OF Fairhaven. for s34.-
12s or only about $50 less than the bid OF
OF Mr Erickson, of Seattle, who has the
reputation OF being a most reliable and
successful contractor. The board then
took the precaution to employ as superin-
tendent Architect Lee. OF this city. who
designed and supervised the construction
OF tho city hall and has had many years
experience as an architect and builder.
He Is regarded as a man Of strict integrity
and the utmost satisfaction was expressed
Mt his appointment. The contractors bond
was fixed al $1,000 and the sureties were
required 10 qualify for double that amount
In the aggregate.
Then work was begun. The contract
provides that the foundatisr. up 10 the
level OF the basement floor. shall be built
OF sandstone taken from the vicinity OF
tho building site. In obtaining this
quarry OF light gray building stone was
opened pronounced by experts superior
to that used in the construction OF the
county courthouse Then came the sug-
gestion 10 build the outer walls OF stone
instead OF brick. The architect was au-
contractor. supplementary drawings OF
the elevations TO show the appearance OF
the building IL built OF stone. and serve as
a basis for comparative estimate OF cost.
This was done. and was so thoroughly sat
isfactory that the board conditionally de-
cided 90 make the change. the conditions
being that the cost should not exceed the
cost OF brick; that the written contract Of
all the sureties on the contractors bond
should be- obtained: thar the time OF con-
struction should not be extended. and that
the attorney general. or his assistant.
should. in a written opinion. give the board
fun authority 20 authorize the change OF
material. Such an opinion. giving the
board the fullest authority 20 proceed ae-
eordng 10 It's own best judgment was
obtained from Assistant Attorney General
fEaight. and Is now m file IN the
clerks once. The board then took the
further precausion to have samples OF the
sand cement. mortar and stone used taken
20 George n. Evans. OF Tacoma. superin-
fendent Of construction OF the state cap
itol. and undoubtedly one OF the very best
Judges Of building material and conStruc-
ton IN the state. for his opinion as 70 their
quality. Two samples o. stone were taken
one dry and dressed and tho other rough
and green. Just as IL came from the quarry.
lie unhesltatingly pronounced the stone Of
good quality, equal 10 that OK the Tenino
quarry. used In tho foundation OF the state
capitol. bnt he expressed decided prefer
ence himself for pressed brick in such n
building as the one to be erected here. He
found no fault with the cement. concerning
which there has been much local criticism,
but he did condemn the sand as containing
too much loan, and none % Il has since
been used, II - extremely difficult, by the
way, 20 ohtain good sand here. As TO the
cement. Superintendent Lee has made
water and dry tests OF every lot used. ard
the brands were approved ~ the supervls-
ing architect. Mr.. SkiiinEs. before they
were purchased. one quality IS che same
as that now in use In the concrets work in
the streets Of Seattle.
Last week the contractor asked fnr =
few DAYS usore time 70 reach a final deter
risiuation a. 20 tho use OF stone or brick.
and Yesterday he withdrew his stone prop
usitIon. having found is Impossible 90 hsgif4
os stone at the same prise. on Account 81
TIE large amount ~ rsolea wcrS shown w
o. tha supplementary plans o. the eleva-
lions This loayeS the matter fust as e
stood "a the heEiauiug. TIE brick - -.
,szei VIII Re furnished ~ the penny Cay
Company. ana viii - % the same quality
and appearance as those IN the Coll5ns
building Ia Seattle. The common brick
have bean purchased Ia Everett AZ a Coz
Saeraa}y bower fEure than could bs CD
tslrscd here. ard the coatrsct for tNe A-fck
~sD~k has heen lee % fo1r b~ickiavefs.
Campbell e Wilson. q whatcorr. and
Coray 6 RHs1y. 81 katrhavcn.
As 20 tire foundation already in Mr.
shilling SAYS - wii stake hiss profes-
sfOnai reputation anon stS absolute soil lf-y
and durability. lie attaches very ut.le
Importance 20 the facs fhat ere cennen,
used ia having the Ereea stoEa during ne
Wet February weather has been siosv in
hartentng. Nor cces Mr. Evans. TIE
Wall - massive. securely Noads4 WITH fr1-
/ nscuce stones, ana would vls,ain an snar-
usoas weight y there Vas rot a r,1rf q
/ cement fa r. me Utmost care has hs.er
/ exercised ~ the heart ever sIu-e te,sv
1 Undertook thStr tHsakless task Thrv a.
/ the only board 81 ghe state Who are ~
I uGrga - perform fhrtr eIttax vrfthas,.
& compensation. aEf tHey coclH not have
T been mere paiustakinE aNlEart or can
. tlr0s y they were rasd So q Cav each ~
( eTv step In the rcoEruss as ghetr eork :
I rscorset tn dstAil. ana tse record : euea
/ 10 pEblic tnSpectioa az any time