Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-01-26
GH SCHOOL COST REDUCED
me Changes to be Made in
II the Specifications.
|HOOL BOARDS LIVELY MEETING
me Members Want Entirely
u New Plans.
fractors to- rs ADVISED of the Alterations
Ed asked to submit New eids-The Price
|ot Down About $4,000.


The matter of revising the specibca-
ops for the proposed new high school,
Aich the Board of Education contem-
|Jktes having erected on Delaware
5@enue near Adams street, was the
I1ief topic at the meeting of the board
~ Monday and much time was con-
1med in discussion. 1t was finally de-
&ded that each of the seven con-
Actors who had submitted bids should
~ informed of proposed changes in the
Notifications and asked to submit new |
ids by the next meeting, which will
held on Monday night, February |
2th.
chairman Turner of the building |
binmittee broached the subject by inl
rming his colleagues that he had
ceived from the architect, George
kenry Pierce of New York, a letter
fitting forth certain items which, il
piitted, would reduce the cost about
900. He read the letter, which re-
bmmended changes as follows: Omit
Ing part of the terra Gotta and sub
kituting brick; also emitting stone
bove the basement and in the rear,
eat ducts under ground, iron grills in
be basement windows, the front stairs
the basement, Bolles' fixtures and
verhead pulleys, Yale hardware, Kerr's
ement from the cornices. asphalting
nd plastering of stone walls, the large
Zone heads in the foundation, loaded
lass, except in the front hall, yellow
ine in the roof frames and substitute
emlock; omitting copper cutters and
hstenings and use the best tin; re-
alue of each reduction was given and
he total aggregated about $4,000.
n After the letter had been read Mr..
rurner moved thats the. committee be
authorized to send to each of the seven
Contractors who had submitted bids q
bopy of the letter, SO far as it related
70 the proposed changes in the specifica-
lions and that they be asked to sub
bit new bids by the next meeting
hight.
This brought Mr.. Fraim to his feet
He wanted to know what the result
fould be. Architect Pierce, he said,
lad stated on the floor of the board
bonn that the building could be erected,
ccording to the plans, at cost of
BIZ 900 and that the plumbing and
eating would cost $22, 600 additional
II. Fraim, whose remarks were forcible,
2ptended that the building would cost
10, 600, which at per cent interest,
fbuld stand the board SIS, 600 year,
1>arly as much as the annual appro-
5dation for new schools. lie held that
IA plans could not be altered SO as to
fbvide. for building such as he
)6pught was desired. He thought en-
&Hely new plans should be asked for. F-
9||ldr. Turner said the plans would not
6E altered in the slightest, according
& his motion.
1iMr. Ross was not satisfied to have
ll1e board act with no other informa-
MON concerning the proposed changes
fian the letter which had been read.
ID was in favor of building which
Mould not cost over 800, 600 or S110, 900,
f sl50, 900 or sl70, 600 for the building
&nrl lot complete. He saw no assurance
kthat the changes would mean a re-
duction of S40,0 He held that there
8!po need for such a large building
SA' Mr. Turner said ne could state posi-
HfFely that the proposed changes in tn,
X6ecifications would not interfere witt
MXte plans and the board would no
Ehmit itself If his motion should b.
fried.-
ySSbr. Frantz said he thought it woul,
tXwise to have Architect Pierce furnisl
E61Aew set of specifications, plans, &c
B considered that the architect ha,
en amply and well paid and coul'
ford to make new plans If the boar
|1I|pught they did not carry out the ide
hich had been given by the architec
ncerning them. He favored tn
action of new high school and cor
Elered it necessary. In 10 or 20 year
lha n
large US the one called for in tn
kns, and he considered that th
lard contemplated erecting one nc
Together for present needs, but fc
e needs for SO years, and contende
|at while such action might seem
tle extravagant at present IN 20 yeal
b board would be commended. ii
bught if new high school shoul
be built until the next generatio
present board would be condemne
not doing its duty. He was not
<fpr Of spending the amount of mone
W1Iich the bidders had estimated thi
thU building would cost under I'll
pta&ent specifications and thought
W9tld be wise to wait few weeks .
th8t the specifications could be put
3euch shape as to call for good, sui
5kantial building at less cost. L
8}nted out that the matter of erectir
W&nilding was a business transactic
&d the members of the board shou
\ about il as they would about the
, l3n business affairs He wanted ever
, &{ng in black and white so that the
= f1&ild be thorough understandii
/|'to just what the proposed chang
|punted to. He had heard people s.
, 20 it was an outrage to spend SlOl
l.0 on a school building, but he d
consider ii an outrage.
<Ur. Fraim called attention to .
& that the interest would cost t
Ird about $40, 900 or $15, 600 q ye
that the money must be paid Q
. The taxes; and, further, that it "
necessary to have additional prima
ools.
a lr. McCausland thought the chang
/ The plans would bring the cost
: building down to about 1924, o
: with the plumbing and heath
!. ut S135, 900, SO that the total G
I bid be less than $3.50, 900, and Il
hout detracting from its beauty
fulness. He contended that it wo'
gross injustice to the archit
to allow him to modify his spe
2 tions SO as to bring the cost witt
limit he had mentioned. The b
B, too, ought to have an opportun
/. ee what they can do with the mo
specifications. If, after the b
:, in, the board realizes that If
! lding is too expensive it can thr
!, whole matter to one side.
ir. Rommell said it Was a quest