The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-15
CONTRACTOR CENSURED..
Board of Education Don't
Like the Way Jacob Du
Bots Does Work.
TWO SCHOOLS WILL BE DELAYED
Corporation Counsel Asked
to Look Into the
Matter.
TWO SCHOOLS WILL BE DELAYED

The Board of Education met last nlsht.
Contractor Jacob Dubois comnandeo
most of the time and attention OF me
members. Director tMersheimer starred
the bah rolling by announcing thai the
new building of School No. 26 is not hkely
to be in readiness to be opened IN sep
+emher next. The contract for the erec-
tion of the building was awarded to JACOB
3 At the time bids We're received
Mr.. Mersheimer declared that DuBols
would be unable to do the work at the
price named by him. He was the lowest
bidder. however. and the contract mao 10
be awardedsto him. AS a result the work
has been delayed from the start ana
On Bots has caused no end of trouble by
endeavoring to use materials greatly IN
ferior to those specified. A great deal OF
the work done by Du Bois has been re-
1ected and at various times he has been
compelled to substitute proper materials
for the inferior stuff he was using
Tu Bois delayed the mason work by ms
efforts to slip in poor materials.
Yesterday a large number of iron rods
intended for use in the building were re-
5ected because they were too slight. By
reason of their inferior quality they were
practically falling apart from their own
weight.
The directors were dumbfounded when
all these matters were called to their ar
tention. Director Mersheimer, who mas
charge of the school, offered the follow
ing preamble and resolution
whereas, The contract entered into
between Jacob Dubois and the city, on
December 80; 1897, for the eree Ct Paf g.
sade and Reservoir venus requlfsa
the completion of the building on the
Soth day of June, 1893; ana has not
{ only failed to complete the work at me
time specified, but refused to advance
the work more rapidly ana mas snoMn
no disposition to do so ana mas III
consequence through his W negli-
genoe, lost much valuable time; and
Whereas, Owing to the contractor
delay there is danger that the build
sng will not be ready at the opening
of school in September; therefore De
Resolved. That the Corporation
Counsel be advised of the delay OF
the contractor and that ne pc re-
uuested to give information as to It's
stances, in order that every effort
NAV be made to secure the rapid COM
pletien of the building.
The resolution was adopted by a unani-
nous vote.
THE completion of the building may be
taken out of Du Bots hands and done at
the expense of his bcndsmen. Director
F;nn has also been having some trouble
with Du Bots about School No. 20 Du Bots,
while erecting the building, put in plumb
ne which was subsequently condemned
nv the Board of Health. The plumbing
was not according to specifications, and
Architect Detwiller refused to accept It.
On Bois has refused to remove the con-
demned materials unless given some extra
compensation. Yesterday DR.. Finn re-
ceived. the following Letter on the subject
from Architect Detwiller:-
saw Du Bots again yesterday after
noon, and he absolutely refused 10
make the changes required OF nm
without extra compensat ton, or unless
served with a three days notice from
your honorable Board. The bulid1ng
will be long delayed unless this ques-
ton in dispute is settled in some way.
I would suggest that the Board serve
a three days notice upon him to com
plete the plumbing work ACCORDING 10
the health and sanitary regulations
following speciieations) as ordered py
the Board of Health.
This you nave the right to do ac-
cording to the specifications and con-
employ men and purchase such
materials as may be necessary, and de-
duct the amount PAID or 10 ne palu
from the amount of contract, provid-
ing the work is not pro-
crossing satisfactorily. Then the
dispute can be settled after the
building is finished, as well as now,
and not delay the completion of the
work. My specifications, as your legal
adviser will na- doubt inform you, in
my opinion very fully cover the case
and thoroughly provide for your Board
and the city's protection in the follow
ing clause: Everything requisite and
essential to make the plumbing com
plete is to be done by the contractor,
even though everything is not par
~ticularly specified, also the contractor
is to perform all work in strict accord
ance to the local building. health and
sanitary regulations, and will be held
responsible for all violations of the
same
These clauses cover the case in dis
pute. should you decide not to give the
contractor the extra pay he demands
to cover the changes which the sani-
tary inspectors have required.
The communication was referred to Cor
p~oration Counsel McDermott for advice as
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