Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-02-11
Gully 8sant,se ganrnat,
City and County.
A Communication

augusta, Me Feb. 10, 1896.
To the Editors Of the kenncbcc journal:
There has been no settling of the foun-
dation OF our new city building-not a
particle. The rear entrance to the hall on
the cast side Of the building is an arched
doorway. AS ali we'll know, in building
such an arch a wooden form is placed,
over which to build the arch--such
wooden form to remain till the brick
work is dry, when it is taken out About
a foot above an arch thus built an iron
beam is always placed in the brick work.
several feet longer than the width of the
arch, SO that the upper part of the struct-
ure Will not rest on the arch, but upon
the iron beam. This arch door was built
in that way. Through The arch doorway
all the materials for building the upper
part of the structure had to be carried
The workmen. in getting through some
OF the heavy materials, struck the wooden
form over which the arch was made and
knocked 1t out. AS the cement mortar
had not set, the result was the settling of
this arch about three-q quarters of an inch
You will readily see that this settling was
the arch only, up to the iron beam. Ii
neither affects the structure above nor the
foundation below. When warm weather
comes, about 100 brick viii have to be re
moved and the arch built over. This is
al there is about the settling Of the build
ing. f anyone will put on an expert. and
he finds that there has been a particle OF
settling of the foundation, I will finish
the building and make the city present
of it.
I am not in sympathy with the New
\ NIL itipQ1lU h1lt il edited h,,E
W. Plaisted, a gentleman. He looked into
this matter and here is what he says:
The defect in the brick work over the
side door in the new City building is one
that an hours work will make right
Our city offices, at the present time, are
scattered all over the city and we have no
hall large enough for any considerable
gathering, thus politically and otherwise
handicapping US. Under these circum-
stances, our citizens decided that the time
had come when we should have Il city
building. Our citizens, through their
representatives (the city governmcnt) au-
thorized the forming of company to
raise the money at per cent. and build
city building to cost not over $55, eco, the
city to furnish plans and specifications
The company was formed. the money
raised, the city furnished the plans and
specifications. and the building is now in
process of conStruction-the roof nearly
completed at the present time. The build
ing committee on the part Of the company
is composed of the directors and are a.
follows: Hon. Tendal Titcomb. Hon
! II. Mauley, Hon. john + HILL Fred g
Kinsmau, ". H. Williams, Will II. San
nett aad myself. The city has commit
Tee of six aldermen and councilmen, who
have full power 10 officially inspect tbs
werk a5 all times
I am chairman Of the committee-no
work can be ordered done, except through
me, aud not "a cent can he paid out with
ont my signature. All contracts have
been Let to the lowest responsible bidder,
after thoroughly advertising for proposals.
No member of the committee receives q
cent for salary or expenses
The main contract was given to NJ G.
Foster X Son, as they were $4,000 lower
than any other bidder, and we had bidders
from Boston, Portland, Lewiston and
Watervillc, besides those from this city.
The amount was S35, no, exclusive of
iron, heating and plumbing The iron
contract was let to Megguier & Jones.
Portland, for S7gSS, they being very much
lower than any other bidder Since then
I have contracted with Will g. Miller OF
this city, to pat in heating apparatus
for S2t90. The plumbing will cost less
han $1,000. The sum of $3362. so was
maid for land AS will be seen by fore
going figures $4,000 is left to pay archi-
tect's fees, superintendent fees, interest
On all assessments on stock till building
is completed aud turned over to the city,
end all extras ! know OF no extras, ex
cent a hundred or so on foundation.
There is our scheme, in detail, OF build
ing our new city building. am chair
man of the building committee, and If
there is any stealing commissions, or
ANYTHING else crooked in connection with
building our city building l am the man
to look to, as no other person is in posi-
lion to do it lam rather of the opinion
that nv fellow citizens realize that l can
oct along very comfortably without steal
ing from them.
am building this building on the same
nlan that | built my granite business
block, the past year. The same architect
is employed, and the same superintendent,
Mr.. James f. Howard is retained. There
is no better Judge of brick and stone work
in Maine, and he is honest and faithful.
Now. Mr. Editor, | will close by asking
Won to send over a reporter TO the dedica-
tiop OF our city building, which we expect
IN occur about July /, next, and L will
show him better building than was ever
bnilt in Maine, either public or private,
for $50, 900 or sos, 000