Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-24
BIDS ON PUBLIC LIBRARY
REPORT MADE TO COMMISSION BY
MIR. BERNARD r. GREEN.
But Two Proposals Received, Each in
Excess of the Funds
Available.

sion. consisting OF the COMMISSIONERS VI
the District, Col. T. A. Bingham, the off,
Ger In charge of public buildings and
grounds, and Mr.. Theodore w. Moves. pres
ident of the board of trustees of the library.
met at the District building today for the
purpose of receiving a report from Mr.. Ber-
nard r. Green. who is to superintend the
construction of the new library building.
upon the proposals received Saturday last
for erecting the structure. The building, as
is generally known, is to be erected upon
Mount Vernon Square, Mr.. Andrew Carne-
gle having donated the sum of 50000 for
its construction and equipment. Mr.. Green
reported to the commission that but two
| bids for the entire building were received
that Of Charles McCaul Of Philadelphia,
whose minimum price was $.'S2.319. and
that of Eorcross Bros. Of Worcester. Mass.
whose bid was s4O9 7S4.
The lower of tho bids. much to the regret
of the members of the library commission.
is some $50, 600 or $4,000 more than can be
afforded from the funds available and
leave a sufficient balance to meet the ex-
penses of furniture, book stacks. elevators.
fees and Incidental expenses. In his report
Mr.. Green pointed out that this rather
large excess Is undoubtedly more apparent
than real due, he says, to the fact de-
veloped In the bidding that bidders were
aware that the funds available for the work
called for were less than $500, 600, and who.
finding that no bid was likely to come with
| In that limit, refrained from bidding. while
Mr.. McCaul and Norcross Bros. made their
figures high enough to avoid showing their
hands. and thus being at some disadvantage
should a new competition be invited.
The Result Anticipated.
This result, as intimated by him last
month, says Mr.. Green. was somewhat an
| ticipated. for notwithstanding specific d.
| rections given to the architects in March
| to reduce the cost of the stone work of the
20 H.
| items and details of the interior, they had
| not, after several weeks time, accomplish
ed SO much of this as they should, and as
| to the stone work, practically made no
! change whatever. The architects were per
| sistent, adds Mr. Green, in their hope that
| the full beauty of the original design could
| be retained. This was, he says. partially
| supported in their minds, and, to some ex-
! tent. in his, by estimates indicating pos
sibility that the stone work would cost ma
| terially less than the previous estimates.
Another cause for high bids, in the opin-
ion Of Mr.. Green. is doubtless due to the
| rather rich appearance of the drawings,
| notwithstanding the modification shown in
| the specification. He thinks it has been
| very unfortunate that the original draw
| ings indicated a very expensive building.
\ and that as a consequence the architects
have worked rather with an effort to make
| the money go as far possible than to
keep safely within Its limits.
Statement by MIR. Ross.
Commissioner Ross, who is the president
of the library commission. stated to re-
porter of The Star that the commission was
much disappointed to find that no bid came
within the amount available. as the failure
| to receive a satisfactory one meant in all
probability further delay. 1t appeared to
the commission that the architects did not,
| in carrying out instructions given them by
the commission last March, make such al
terations and changes in the plans OF the
building to make 1t possible to secure
bids which could have been accepted. or
course, said Mr.. Ross, the commission de-
cided neither of the bids mentioned in Mr..
Green's report could be accepted, but it also
decided that proposals for making the ex-
cavations should be at once invited, with
| the probability that such satisfactory ones
will be secured as to cause, after all. but
slight delay in beginning the preliminary
work of construction. Meantime. said Mr..
Ross the architects will be directed to fur
Their revise the plans of the building so
| as to make 1t possible to construct it with
the fund available, and yet preserve the
general beautiful outlines of the structure.
The Bids Received.
The bids received were as follows. a num-
Der Of bidders, as will be observed. submit
| ting proposals covering but a single itemi
CHAS McCAUL-
inclusive, with Somes Sound pink
granite and Pennsylvania marble ex- .,o- o.o a.,
For se' Work complete classes 4 to H,
Inclusive, with Vermont ''B" mar
For e work complete. classes to II. ~
inclusive. with Vermont az for m
stone for exterior marble -. s54.s4s 90
add to each bid for Maine and New
Hampshire Granite Co. g pink granite,
instead Of SOmes Sound, S., COO.
Deduct Deduct No. No. 1850
Deduct alternative No. 3............ 80 w