The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-17
THE AsHENFELTER CLAIM.
Sentiment at Olympia Favorable to
Reimbursed

OLYMPIA, Feb. l6.-Special-Senate
bill So for the relief of the widow OF the
late II. c. Ashenfelter. of Spokane, is in
the hands OF the judiciary committee Of
the senate and viii be reported back with
in day or two. The bill is to appropri-
ate S75l454 for the relief OF Mrs. Ashen-
felter Her husband. II. c. Ashenfelter,
was the contractor who erected the state
univei sfty.
In order TO complete the contract in time
and 10 the end that better structure
might be erected than was called for in
the specifications he lost S. 600 on the con-
tract. In the second and third stories of
the building he substituted Pirtsburg
stone for terra Gotta, which the specifica-
ticns called for Expert builders say that
If the change was paid for by the state IL
would have cost s., 900 In addition TO this
he changed many things for the improve
ment OF the building. He was anxious TO
make the university building monument
TO his skill as a builder no matter what
the cost was to him personally.
Architect Flagg. of the state capitol.
when he had finished an examination Of
the university turned 10 Gov. McGraw and
said:
wei, governor. you may be sure that
the people OF Washington have got fun
value for every dollar that has gone into
the structure"
a.
engineer and inspector OF government
buildings, said OF the university building:
The people of Washington got more
than the value of their money in that
building. the same structure could not be
constructed in Boston for the same
money"
Similar and even stronger remarks have
been made by numerous other experts who
have examined the building.
vi =,E 81
are justly proud OF the fact that they have
obtained so fine a structure for the state
FOR so small sum OF money.
II IL claimed that the regents are favor
sbls to allowing Mr.. Ashenfelter's widow
and seven orphaned children 10 recover
the balance OF just what he expended on
the structure II is unusual for con
tractor TO put better material I'm a build
ing than the specidca tons call for. but
Mr.. Ashenfelter was one OF those few men
who always put his honor into his work
and as a result he lost money by 50 doing
In order 20 complete the work he mort
gagged his Spokane property and this was
f0reclosed after his death. and was lost 70
his widow and children. The state received
al the benefit Of this. Besides this his
widow after his death. took the larger
portion Of the money derived from his Life
insurance and used Il 20 pay Tor work
done on the university building. Every
claim against the building has been paid
II VIII be remembered that Mr. Ashen-
selter was burned 10 death just at the
time the work OF building the university
was completed. The only Inheritance he
left was the claim for S7.574.54 against the
state. Il represents the sum which he &C
tuai,y lost IN THE construction % the build
luE.
Those who fully understand al the cir
c4rnst anCes think that as the state re-
ca.ved full value e - nothing more than
just that Mr.. AsbenfeiteTs widow and
children should be given the money, which
e eqLtab.y due them
Nj Asaeufeiter was one OF the most pop
Jar men IN the state. and his honesty
and integrity we're unquesfioued He was
q thirry- second degree Mason and a mem
Der % several other orders
Public sentiment here. where Ashen-
te.teT Is wel-known, seems to bs very
strongly IN favor OF the payment OF this
calm.