The times., 1898-10-28
ERRORS IN CONSTRUCTION
New PostOffico Heating Ap-
paratu5 Is Defective.
W. NJ. DONALD RESIGNS
Treasury Department officials May
Ask That the Foreman for 5. ID.
Hess d Co. he RemOved-Time Ex-
tended for Completion of the
Opinion.

W NJ. Donald, a heating inspector of
the supervising architects office, and wh9
was lately superintendent OF the construc-
tion of the heating plant in the new city
postoffice has rendered his resignation
to the Secretary of the Treasury and the
same has been accepted. Donald's friends
claim he was forced out OF office, but
this is denied by the supervising archi-
tect
II is also intimated that Donald felt
very keenly that the recent report on the
condition of the heating plant in the big
building was direct and undeserved reiiec-
ton on his integrity and competency.
Capt. Collins captain and chief OF en-
gineers of the revenue cutter service,
made a very thorough inspection of the
apparatus and his report. which was ac-
cepted by the department, called atter-
tion to a number OF defects in the CON
struction of the heating mechanism.
The Philadelphia Steam Heating Com
pany. which has the contract, contended
the alleged defects were merely incom-
plete work. Nevertheless they were or
dered to go ahead and make the changes
necessary to put the plant in perfect con-
dition and were given six days, October
20 to IS inclusive, TO do the work. An
extension OF time was asked for and was
granted by the department.
1t is now thought these changes Will
be finished by November l, and the entire
plant may then be tested.
Bv the terms of the contract the entire
plant must have working test OF one
wear before it's final acceptance by the
Government Ten per cent OF the con-
tract price is retained by the department
until such final acceptance.
The Philadelphia Steam Heating Com
many had considerable difficulty IN secur-
ing the contract at the outset When the
proposals were opened by the supervising
architect their bid was so much lower
than their competitors that the depart
rnent hesItated for long time, but final
ly awarded them the contract.
reporter for The Times saw Mr.. Four
chey. the new superintendent OF The post
office, and questioned him concerning the
condition OF the heating apparatus. The
only information advanced by that official
was that the newspapers wanted TO know
too much about that building.
The Treasury Department will ask 5.
D. Hess g. Co., of New York, who have
the contract for the interior finish of the
Steward. Young Steward is a son of the
late superintendent of the building,
against whom charges Of incompetency
were made by Mr.. Taylor. the supervising
architect, and which, on investigation. re-
suited in Mr.. Stewards resignation being
asked for, rendered and accepted. 1t will
be recalled that during the investigation
some very ugly charges were made under
oath against Ernest Steward by Joseph
Hurdle, who is a sub-contractor on the
building under S. d. Hess & Co. Since
that time the young mans presence at
the building has not been entirely agree
able to the supervising architect. and
when that gentleman was asked yester-
day II Hess g. Co. had been asked TO re-
move Steward he replied, Not yet
II is said a Mr.. Wexler. who represents
Hess Sc Co., has stated Steward has a
contract that will prevent his removal.
Notwithstanding all this, the department
can rid itself of Steward if such action is
considered altogether desirable.