New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-30
THE CUPOLA THAT rs NOT
UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO BRING THE
CONTRACTORS AND THE ARCHI-
TECTs TO AN AGREEMENT.

CITY HALL PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS THAT THE
WORK SHOULD BE COMPLETED. AND THE
CITY WORKS COMMISSIONER HAS
FULL POWER TO ACT.
Things are exceedingly slow In coming to head
as respects the cupola of the City Hail. As Is now
we'll known. there Is a serious difference Of opinion
between the architects and the contractors. ana
thus far City Works Commissioner Theodore b.
Willis has been unable to compose It, He mas oeeh
trying to do for the last two or three weeks
There is doubt that he has full power IN inc
premises. and can compel the contractors to 60
ahead according to the plans OF the arch'tects VI
take the consequences. The matter was prough. 10
the attention OF Corporation Counsel Burr rev
days ago. He found on examination that there was
nothing for the Law Department to do at the pres
ent stage but that II was matter TO be setteo oy
the exercise Of business tact and diplomacy
The architect In charge Of the repairs on 'he Oi!
Hall and the head OF the firm OF contractors nave
heen brought together more than once to talk the
matter over but they have not been able 10 get OH
common ground as yet. The architects are otoue"-
ton & Griffith and the contractors PoulsoA q Eber'
The former are a New-York firm, ana the ia..e'
carry on an extensive business In the Eastern us
trict The contractors have the structural WORK OF
the cupola all completed. and those VINO nave see"
the parts living In the yards say that II Is going
70 he an uncommonly good piece Of work. II IL IL
ever put In place. The firm Of Poulson d Eyer mas
the highest standing and has done much eXce"eh'
work In iron.
The disagreement is on the question OF the pes'
way of putting up the cupola and attaching IL 10
the building. There Is a strong desire on 'he par
Of neople having offices In the City Hail. especially
chose In the upper part OF the buiding' that inc
work should be completed as quickly as possipie'
The cupola is needed TO assist In the free circui
ton Of air in the upper stories OF the hail. ana IL
lAtu
ventilation will be regarded as serious aepr'va-
ton man who is on the inside had this 10 sa!
on Friday with reference TO the thus far nonexist-
ent cupoa ,
III this matter is not settled soon and the cupoa
erected It will be disgrace to the municpai au-
ministration The contract for the cupoa was
made last fall and the contractors were ordered 10
begin work on It on November 30. It was to be
completed and erected within four months. and q
penalty of $50 day was TO be paio lot each oa'
the work was delayed beyond that time Inc coii'
tractor who got the job did not want II. lie Is an
old friend Of the Mayor and 1t was at the mayor 3
solicitation that he consented to put In bio. Inc
MAYORS motive was entirely creditable. and nc had
no selfish interest In the matter He knew that
Pouson G. Eyer did some Of the best iron WORK III
the country. and he was anxious that the cupoa
should be first-class Joo
Having been urged TO compete and having sot
the contract Mr. Poulson seems to have thougn'
that his wishes would be needed on the points where
in he did not agree with the architect or course
his time to enter objections was when ne received
the detailed rawlings, IL he was not satlsned. Dut
ne let the matter 60 until after the tlme "hen ,ne
work should have been completed Then, as nnoer-
stand H. the Mayor tried 10 compose the dinlcuity
nv getting the advice of two experts IN Duoie anu
ironWork If he had arranged for the contractor
and architect to submit the matters IN dispute ~
experts ne would probably have been able 70 40.
lust the thing despite all that has been done te
two nearer an agreement thah they "e'9
before. so far can learn.
The Commissioner or City WORKS mas iuii po"eI
in the matter and It would seem to be his duty 70
cut the knot without any further delay II II goes
on the cupola will not be completed before inc
York comes in: and that say. Will be disgrace 20
the administrator and to Brooklyn Oi course, 9he
contractor is trying 10 save the penaily OF ~
day which he is mourning What he claims IS Una!
By adopting his method the cupola can De erec!ed
more economically than according to the plan OF tne
architect and with less Inconvenience TO the occu.
pants Of offices In the City Hall. If he had gone 70
last December and explained his Ideas no Wouio
probably have been able 10 carry his point WITHOUT
difficulty , ax..
There may be prospect OF an early agree
ment and hope that will be the result Tne Gu
pols ought by all means to be erected without TUT
Their delay. am very doubtful. though apou1 tne
city ever receiving cent OF that penalty DID you
ever hear of a penalty being collected when con-
tractor was behindhand with his work. IN tnis
case at any rate there will be a GOOD delence 10
an action for recovering H. for the delay can certain
ly be attributed In part 10 the Mayors taxing
ha nd in and trying TO straghten things out u
were in position to act would settle the question:
the why. And'l should do all IN my power u
tbop malt