Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-30

all of it's departments was not hrst-class.
but that certain portions were sadly in
need of repair. The hearing opened with
a little more spirit than has been evident
during some of the sessions, owing to rath-
er sharp skirmishes between the witnesses
and the attorneys
w. A. Wilson, a contractor. who went
over the buildings of the stock yards with
Architect Rose and Contractor Wood. was
recalled and put on the rack pretty strong
" about making estimates Of the cost of
big buildings when no plans and specifica-
tions were at his disposal. He said his es-
Inmates were for buildings just as good,
not necessarily exact duplicates.
Can you or any other man make an in
t~eIligent estimate of a 100000 office build
ing in a few days without specifications
FOh, it's a plain building. and any con-
tractor can see what II rs ana estimate the
did you figure any profit for the con-
tractor in your estimate?-,
Yes, sir. l estimated 5 per cent profit
for the contractor and allowed 5000 for
'How did YOU know it would take 5000
"Oh. 1 estimated it was enough. L feel
sure it would be quite ample. .
What condition did you find the yard
fences in?"
Some of them were in bad shape
Did you ever know of any large build
ings being put up without specifications
Il think there have been some -,
what builder does his work that Way!'
Major Drought does"
Architect Rose was recalled and eX-
planned the apparent difference between his
measurement of fences and that of Major
Drought. He said he included the fences
connected with the sheds, while Major
Drought did not After a few questions,
Mr.. Hite asked:
MIR. Rose, you are an applicant for state
architect of Kansas, are you not?'
Il am. sir"
reference TO any political considerations"
asked Attorney General Boyle.
1T is an estimate of actual condition"
Mr.. Boyle called Major Drought to the
Major. when you built the Tough barn
and the other barns did you have plans
and specifications for the structures?"
mo, sir. The company doesn't do con-
tract work and had no need to prepare in
that way
That answer made Mr.. Boyle smile
broadly.
w have no competition in our build
ings. We know exactly what we want be-
fore we begin said Major Drought.
Still Mr.. Boyle smiled. He had proved
that buildings were put up without plans
and specifications and hat put a stout
prop under the Of his con-
w. H. Wood, a contractor who was with
Mr.. Wilson in estimating the value of the
buildings, was then called and for an hour
was questioned along the same line Mr..
Wilson had been taken over.
He was questioned just as freely and
with as much attention to detail as the
attorneys could invent. His testimony was
practically the same as Mr.. Wilson's had
been.
Mr.. Rose was recalled to identify a blue
print of the yards showing the brick paw
Immediately after lunch Major Drought
was called again and taken in hand by
General Boyle.
What is the actual present condition of
the viaduct connecting che main yards with
the north yard?"
1T is perfectly safe for the purposes
for which it was used
Did you hear Colonel Morse say the via
duct was patched so it would have to be
torn down and entirely replaced?'
No. sir. l did not"
The new viaduct is being put in be-
cause the present one is worn Out?"
The viaduct is used each day with
heavy cattle just as it always was"
You got out early a morning recently
and hurried some repairs on the viaduct,
did you nOt?'
Il put on some repairs. That is true"
Because the viaduct was unsafe?'
As a wise precaution. sir
DO you know how much paving will be
put down this season.
No, sir. ] do not"
Assistant General Manager H. p. Child
was called and asked:
How much brick paving will be put
down this season.
"Seventy-fve thousand yards" he said.
Theodore H. Lescher. an architect from
Topeka, who has been in the business
for forty-five years. who designed the
original Coates House and the Coates op-
era house, was called. and said his exam
inatiOn of the viaduct to the north yards
showed ii badly worn and in need of re-
pair, the floor showing daylight in several
places. The general condition of the VIA
duct was bad.
Architect Rose when recalled said the
brick paving decreased 4 per cent annually.
The hog sheds in the quarantine division.
used for Swift's hogs, had the flooring
worn out, and the same conditions pre-
vailed in the Mons used for Armour and
Fowler. Mr.. Rose gave the per cent of
depreciation in the various parts of the
yard. and said the average per cent of the
whole yard was 5A per cent. He said that
owing to the depreciation of the various
parts of the buildings and yards the plant