The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-18
PUBLIC BUILDING
INQUIRY STARTED.
Estimates on Work Done Given by
Experts Before the Joint Commit
tee on Accounts Last Evening

4 made a memorandum OF what he eonsid-
cred To be fair price for the work. at
| the time when he examined the building.
This memorandum showed that his os-
innate was So Witness said that he
only knew what he had been told by the
committee
John McGinn. janItor of the Federal
street school house. testified that the
workmen had painted two chimneys, put
on capstone and fixed up the Jet. Two
men were at WORK, a mason and "A helper.
In cross-examination, witness said that
ii took carpenters five days 10 put up n
staging, and the two men worked for
five weeks on the chimneys and the Jet
While the staging was being built the
mason and his helper were not there.
MASONRY AROUND FURNACE.
City Auditor Chase was called and was
asked about the heating apparatus at
Chester avenue school house, and he
said that the amount OF the bill was
S--32 and the bin had been paid, be-
cause regularly approved.
John A Cole testified that the Job con
sisted or tearing down masonry work
around the irOnwork or the furnace and
after new ironwork was put IN putting
back the masonry. He thought the Job
was worth $40, and figured on a basis OF
a mason for six days and q helper FOR
six days.
In cross-examination. witness said that
probably l0VV bricks would have had to
be removed from both furnaces and then
put back.
George NJ. Hunt testified that IN his
opinion sl2 was fair price for the work
Done, and ne thought that a mason and a
helper could do the work in i've or six
days.
Perry Sawyer, janitor Chester Avenue
school estified that he saw work
men taking out brick. etc, bat
could not say how many days they were
there. There were only two men, n ma
son and a helper. They did no work ex-
cept on the two furnaces.
MORE EXPERT TESTIMONY.
City Auditor Chase was next asked
about "a bill for work done for the poor
department on Eddy street, amounting TO
1913, which has been paid
This job, Mr. Cole thought. should have
been done for about s23 1t was a doer
and the wall was IL inches thick. He said
there would be no trouble in estimating
what work had to be done.
Mr.. Hunt estimated the cost Of the
work at $50.
The Beacon avenue school work was
next considered. Auditor Chase gave the
hEGTes for the work as being ss9.5. This
was for jointing, the time being from
January 10 January ~. inclusive.
Mr.. Lewis had examined the work. lie
thought a fair price for the work would
on cross-examination the witness said
that the joint ting was done only around
ought 10 do the work i'm day and a
half. he said.
Mr.. Hunt was recalled and thought s.
would be fair price for the work.
AT THE CENTRAL STATION.
The Central police station work was
next considered There were two bills,
one for s63S and the other for s2i.@.
The first was for cutting through and
putting I'm doors. and the second had TO
do with the first. apparently.
Mr.. Hunt thought that $37 would he
"A fair estimate for doing the mason work
and furnishing the doors
On DISCRIMINATION witness said he
thought that the work could be done in
-four or five days.
MIR. Cole was called and said he esti-
mated SIS being a fair price for the
work. He figured that the work could
be. done in four days by man and a
helper.
Aaron W. Clark engineer at the Cen
iral station. saw tho work done, and but
one man was there to do IT, The man
worked there six or eight days.
ON cross-examination witness said the
workman had to work very careiNlly.
because In removing the brick he en-
countered the stone work supporting the
cove of the chimney The workman
did his work neatly and well.
AT 10 o'clock the meeting adjourned to
next Tuesday evening at 7:30 o'clock.