Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-29

dence ............ ...... .. :. 94,oOO
MCGUIRE & Penniman, Provi-
uence :'..... -. -. -. S99,OO0
Webb Granite & Construction
Co., Worcester ....... go. ...... 400, 900
j. e. Fuller, Jr, Worcester ....... 401, 900
That the bids were not within the
100000 limit was a disappointment to
the board. Mr.. Rantoul, of the firm of
Andrews, Jacques & Rantoul, the ar
chitects of the new building, who has
had the most to do with the work pre-
liminary to the building, and who has
felt confident that the work could be
accomplished within the 100000 limit,
was present at the opening Of the bids,
but did not care to discuss the situation.
1t seemed to be the impression that the
contractors felt confident that If the
bids were far in excess. of the $780, 600,
which had been fixed as the maximum
of expenditure the board Of commission
ers would go to the state legislature for
another grant, 80 that the contractors
themselves would not be obliged to cut
their figures in any way. Such a
course the commissioners have never
had In mind.
A prominent contractor interested said
to Spy man, Monday afternoon, that
the competition was one of the closest
in which he had ever entered, and he
was surprised at the remarkably close
figuring which was made. The differ
ence between the extremes was matter
of but $4,000, and he thought 1t would
have been 100000
It will be remembered that after the
design of Andrews, Jacques & Rantoul
had been awarded, George D. Webb who
entered a bid for 100000 under the
name of the Webb Granite and Con-
struction Company, was originally en-
ployed by the commissioners to give an
estimate Of the cost Of the building, and
his signed statement was that the build
ing could be constructed for $500, 1000
When interviewed upon the discrepan-
cies between his bid and his estimate
to the commissioners. Mr. Webb said
that since he examined the plans, fully
500, 900 cost had been added to the origt-
nal plans, this extra being in better con-
struction and more elaborate finish. 1t
| is said the architects confident that
| with the specifications calling for the
best material, the best workmanship
and the best finishes, the cost would not
exceed $500 600, have constantly made
additions to the original plans. For in
stance, the Specifications cah for be-
| tween 5000 and $25, 900 worth Of bronze
| work, and for the use Of Sienna marbles
costing anywhere from $3.50 to 81 foot,
amounting to several Thousand dollars
County Commissioner Henry G. Taft
has said all along that the plans Of An
drews, Jacques & Rantoul could not be
carried out within the $500, 900 limit,
and now feels his predictions come true.
| The commissioners are authorized by
| the state to expend S950,000, but they
have felt that for furnishing the build
| ing and for necessary incidentals there
| should be $40, 900 or $4,000 leeway
| Gen. lockwood Hoar was in consul
tation with the commissioners Monday
afternoon, and It is probable that a
| supplemental pamphlet of specifications
will be prepared by Andrews, Jacques &
| Rantoul at once, and these sent out to
the fourteen bidders, 80 that they can
modify their bids accordingly. These
| specifications will omit the provision for
and will reduce the amount OF Sienna
marble called for. Other specifications
| for costly work and finishes viii be
modified, so that the bidders will be
enabled to bring their bids within the
| $780, 600 limit
Mr.. Rantoul told the commissioners
Monday afternoon that within 4S hours
| he could make the change In the speci-
| hcations necessary to bring the BIDS
within the $500, 900 limits, and would be-
gin work at once The contractors will
| be allowed weeks time to make the
alterations in their estimates, and the
bids, as thus modified, will be received,
and II the lowest bid Is within the limit
the contract will be awarded. The com
missioners will make formal announce
ment of their plans within a few days.
| A point raised Monday afternoon by
one of the court house officials who is
interested in the new court house, was
| that the architects could not claim their
| percentage and prize money, unless
they did so change their plans that they
| could be carried out for 5000, 900 as the
| invitation for the original competition
| stipulated this amount, and several
plans were thrown out, because they
| called for a building to cost more than
5000, 600 Several local architects who
well remember that their plans were
thrown out on this account, now query
whether the plans of Andrews, Jacques
| & Rantoul should not be thrown out
because they cannot be executed for
$500, 900 and a new competition opened