The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-29

was fiaally reluctantly abandoned,
though IL is still hoped that II may be
used for interior finish. Georgia marble
was finally adopted.
BREAKING GROUND.
On the 10th OF September, 1895, the
board met at their rooms for the purpose
OF going to the site for the State House
and breaking the nrst ground. In addi-
tion to the hoard there were present His
Excellency Charles Warren Lippitt. Gov
ernor; His Honor Frank X. Olney, Mayor
of The city OF Providence; Hon. S. w. X.
Allen, speaker of the House OF Represen-
tatives Rev. Edward q. Moore, ID. d.,
Ph. d.. pastor I the Central Congrega-
tionai Church of Providence, and Col.
Robert w. Taft OF the personal staff Of the
Governor.
The board having without success taken
all action within its power TO protect the
interest OF the State In the matter OF the
awards of land taken for the State House
site, except the procuring OF legislation
to enable the State 10 take an
latter action is not deemed by the
board to be advisable, 1t Is therefore,
voted, that the executive committee OF
the Board of State House commissioners
be and they are hereby authorized to
audit and order paid the awards con-
firmed by the common pleas division OF
the Supreme Court to the claimants for
damages for land taken for a new State
House, with interest at per cent from
July 8, 1894.
The awards, as paid under this resolu-
tion, amounted to 1899. 4Si.49.
bids.
On May 13, 1895 advertisements for bids
for the construction of the State House
were published in the newspapers.
There was response from, eight bidders
for the entire building.
The bid of Messrs. Norcross Brothers
for 81, ,576, 600 was accepted by decided
vote. and the contract was signed August
26, 1855.
This amount Is in excess of the money
in the hands of tho board. Clause Is of
the contract, however, provides for the
situation, and reads as follows: "It is
mutually agreed and understood between
the parties hereto that at the date OF the
execution OF this contract the owner has
not subject to his disposal sufficient
money to meet all the payments provided
10 be made herein, and that notwith-
standing any of the previous provisions
q this agreement, IL at any time before
the completion OF the work provided
herein TO be done the money at the dis
posal of the owner shall be exhausted,
all work under this contract shall be sus-
pended until such time as the General
Assembly OF the State OF Rhode Island
shall provide additional money for the
use OF the owner for the purpose, of this
contract, at which time the work shall be
resumed; and so on to its completion.
Provided that IL at the expiration of the
period of two years from the date of the
suspension OF the work herein provided
TO be done the owner Is not in possession
of money for the completion OF said work
it shall be at the option of the contractor
sfR.aNl 90 H.s Late t..a
said work for the unpaid balance of tho
sum named herein as consideration
PRESENT STATE OF WORK.
Soon after the signing OF the con-
tract and breaking of ground the work
OF excayating and laying the founda-
tion was commenced. The soil is
coarse, flinty sand. hard and firm
Upon this is placed a wide bed of con-
crete, and upon the concrete the brick
foundation is laid.
Work was continued until the cold
weather set in, when further building
was stopped, it being considered impru-
dent to lay the concrete for the founda-
tion of the dome with any chance of its
freezing The work so far done com
prises the excavation, backfilling, con-
crete and brick work east of the main
dome, and OF the projection at the south
entrance. The brick work east of
tne uome mas Deen carried up uniformly
to grade 67.t0 that of the projection to
grade 65. At the date of this report work
has been resumed, and Ii is expected that
rapid progress will be made.
CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING.
The contracts at present outstanding
for the State House are IA follows: One
with the architects, McKim, Mead 4
White OF per cent. on. the coat of the
building, being the amount fixed by the
American Institute of Architects for SIM
liar work, on which S26, ,6i5 So has been
paid; one with Prof. s. II. Wood bridge,
expert on heating and ventilation, for
per cent. on the cost OF the heating and
ventilating plant, on which 81, 320.60 has
been paid; one with Norcross Brothers OF.
81, 576, 600 for the building ot the State
House, on which $50, 65S.50 has been paid;
and one with Norcross Brothers for the
southeast corner of the terrace founds-
tion on which nothing has been paid.
xPENDIrUREs TO DATE.
There has been expended TO the date OF
this report, exclusive of the amount paid
for the site, the sum OF i77, ,545.62.