The herald., 1896-01-18
FOURTEEN SCHOOL HOUSES
Are They Being Built According
to Specifications?
STRANGE SAYS THEY ARE
He Courts Investigation by Any Disinter.
ested Committee of Citizens
VIII Accompany Them and Compare the Work
With the Building Ia
spector Knows of No Lapses

| For sometime past there have been nu-
merous rumors to the effect that the four
teen new schoolhouses that are being
erected in the city are not being construct
ed according to specifications drawn up by
Building Inspector Charles l.. Strange, and
under which the contract was let. There
have been stories of all kinds told in re-
gard to the matter, but there has also been
an astonishing lack of specific allegations
giving particulars as to how and in what
way the work on the structures failed to
comply With the specifications.
1t has been alleged that the roofs are not
being painted as specifications require, for
it is said by painter that they are being
sprayed. Painters claim that paint of
proper composition cannot be put on by q
sprayer.
Building Superintendent Strange was
seen yesterday. He emphatically denied
that the school buildings were not being
built according to contract.
1.-The whole story originated in the
minds of some people who are unfriendly
toward the contractors" said Mr.. Strange.
1.-The school houses are being built abso-
lutely according to specifications. The
sole particular in which the specifications
have been departed from is in the matter
tions call for machine made bricks. A few
thousand hand made bricks were put in be-
cause the machine made bricks could not
be obtained. Time was saved by using the
hand made bricks and / therefore permit
ted a few thousand of them to go in. Out
side of this the. specifications have been
strictly observed.
II tell you what will do. If commit
tee of unprejudiced mechanics is appointed
| will take the specifications, secure a car
riage and drive them to every school build
ing. If they can find any building going
up that is not being erected according to
the specifications, will forfeit $500 to any
charity in the city,
Mr.. Strange spoke with great vigor and
evidently meant what he said. He added:
II will say that if anybody can give any in
formation that will go to show that the city
is not getting full value out of the work on
the new schoolhouses, will reward them
liberally for pointing out just where any
thing crooked is being done."
Building Inspector Rummel was seen and
he said: ~ have closely watched the work
on all the scloolhouses, and [ say that it is
the best job of public work that | have Yet
inspected for the city. | know that it is
being done stiic ly according to specifica-
tions. I know of no instance, save in the
matter of few thousand bricks, where
specifications have been departed from. If
any Douy mas ANY specific dileRdtlouS going
TO show where specifications have been de-
parted from, l will go with them and in
spect whatever they point out as wrong,
and if it is wrong will admit that have
been deceived. But tell you everything
will be found all right"
The only trouble about the new school
buildings is the fact that they are not COM
pleted at the time set forth in the contract.
The matter has been placed in the hands
nf Mr. hu tha for
as to whether or not the contractors are
entitled to an extension. They allege that
they have, by an unforeseen combination of
circumstances. been unable to secure ma
terials at times when they ordinarily could
have had them. Mr.. Strange is closely in
terviewing every material man who sup
piled the contracts, to ascertain what the
facts are as to the delay. He will prob
ably report that the contractors be given
until February 10th to complete their job.
This was the time the school houses were
expected to be ready for occupancy.