The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16

gave him the privilege of emitting arched tiling and steel rods, of leaving out f1re-proofing and of using more ce- ment, the cement being paid for by the State; that for this great gain to him there was no reduction in favor of the public. These are circumstances to which MT. Colnon could have drawn at tention, but they happen to be circum- stances from which he wished to draw attention. Thus, he fashioned straw man and amused himself by beating the straw out of his creation. He failed to answer any one of the accusations. In using up column of space MT. Col non found it necessary to repeatedly express his indignation that the floor should have been attacked. He DOT trays at considerable length the test to which 1t was subjected; all of which is like the flowers that bloom in the spring, in having nothing to do with the case.
 In the first article setting forth the unworth of the depot as completed at tention was paid to the floor Colnon champions so warmly. Stress was laid on the fact that the floor cost the con- tractor about $40000 less than the floor he had agreed to put in would cost. The natural supposition was that the diff ference in price would argue a differ ence in actual value. Whether or not 1t does is a question for experts. The Call stated in the next issue that the substitute flooring had been subjected to severe tests and had stood them well: that 1t was being put into build ings of importance; that many archi- tects regarded 1t as first class. But it did all this realizing that the quality of the floor had no place in the debate. The manner in which the floor had been acquired was the only thing to be weighed.
 In his effort to make himself appear Justified MT. Colnon overlooked sev- eraI important phases of the situation. He has mot made clear why in the change from arched tile to expanded metal there was no reduction In price; why in the change from oak to pine there was not only no reduction, but an actual increase; why wooden doors cost more than corrugated steel; why common bricks that are used in chim- neys, is more expensive than Roman pressed brick such as is quoted at $75 per thousand; why when six floors were eliminated from the tower there was an allowance of $119, and when one floor of the six was ordered in again, for this single floor there was given to the contractor s225; why the mezzanine story was eliminated after contracts including 1t had been let; why in this elimination the various contractors were not subjected to a cut for the work they were excused from doing, after they had contracted to do it; why extra pay was allowed for galvanized iron which had been clearly specified in the contract. It is upon such ques- tions as these that Colnon could throw a ray of light And these are only part of the questions which are likely to reach his ears. Yet he calmly ignores them, and sticks his head, ostrich-like. in the sand of his beloved nave floor, and seems to think he is safe.
 To term The Call ridiculous paper may be extremely able, but MT. Colnon will perhaps pardon the belief that 1t falls short of being satisfactory. It is not with the purpose Of worrying Col non that the charges have been made