The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-29
BAD MATERIAL
WAS REJECTED
Trouble at Norman Has Been
Fully investigated.
COMMITTEE REP OR T S
Is Satisfied That the Bricks
Used Are Good.

Guthrie, Q. T., Oct. 2S.-The trouble
over the reports that bad material was
being used in the construction of the
new Science hall at the territorial uni
yersity at Norman viii not down. Gov
ernor Ferguson has several times notified
the contractors that the contract in re-
gard to material was being violated and
work has been suspended pending inves-
tigation. a large amount of brick and
material has been rejected, che governor
being determined that the territory
should get value received for the money
expended, and gooa results have fol-
lowed.
Finally the report became current that
the east and south walls, that had been
completed. were not according to con-
tract. as regards workmanship and ma
terial, and at recent meeting of the
territorial board of education for normal
schools a committee composed of we'll
known builders and architects was Sc
lected to make a thorough investigation
The committee was composed of Scott
Cooper of Guthrie, S. A. Layton of FL
These gentlemen made a thorough eX-
animation of the work az far as COM
pleted, and while the report has not
yet reached the governor in an official
way, it is as follows:
.'Dr G. w Sutton, President Board of
Regents of the University of Okla
hOma.
Dear Sir-Your committee, appointed
under authority Of a certain resolution
of The board OF regents of the University
OF Oklahoma, and acting pursuant TO
such appointment, respectfully submit
the following report:
The said resolution, which We return
herewith as a part of this report, is in
the following language: Resolved, That
the president of The board Of regents be
directed to secure the services of d board
of three persons, consisting of one archi-
tect and two contractors and builders
of experience and stanoIng. to examine
the east and south walls of foundation
of the new Science building of The uni
versity now in course of erection at
Norman. and report to the president of
the board Of regents, whether the brick
used In said walls are os the kind and
quality required by The specifications
under which contract for said building
was let. and whether the brick named in
said specifications are of a kind and quail
fly suitable to be used in the construc-
tion OF a building of this character as
shown by the plans and drawings
We met at Norman, Oklahoma. on the
goth day of October 1903 pursuant to
your instructions, and proceeded to the
building mentioned in said resolution and
saused the east wall thereof to be expoe
sd to the bottom of the foundation in five
different places. We also removed parts
of said wall. and Of the south wall, in
several places. at such points as seem |
ed most likely to show bad work and /
poor brick, If any. and also had portions
OF cement plastering removed from the |
outside wall, and a thorough examination !
OF the kind and quality Of brick used in |
the construction of said east and south |
walls. The specifications, which we care /
fully read. set forth that the brick to
be used in these walls shall be one of /
several knds-Oklahoma City Pressed |
Brick and Tile company, American |
Pressed Brick and Tile company. Chan |
dler or Purcell. That the brick shall be !
of the kiln run and of approved quail |
ity.' our examination of the walls dis
closed that the brick used therein were |
of the kind called for in the specifca-
tions, to-wit: Purcell pressed brick. but |
Of better grade or quality than the aver
age OF the kiln run, and as to the re-
quirement that they should be of 'ap-
proved qualify, understanding such spec
ihcauon TO mean that the. brick must be
approved by the superintendent archi-
tect. we find that the brick used In the
walls were approved by such architect.
Upon inquiry we found that eight car
loads Of brick had been condemned as a
whole by said architect, but that he sub
sequently modified this order so that the
hard brick might be selected and used
from said eight car loads. and our exam
ination OF the walls disclosed that so
much or eight car loads of brick as were
used in these walls were of a better
grade than the kiln run And We and
that these brick and all other brick used /
In the construction of the east and south
walls are of the kind and quality re-
ouired by said specifications and will not
disin'egrate by action of the elements.
As to whether the brick called for in
the specifications are of she kind and
quality suitable to be used in the con-
struction Of n building OF such character
as is shown by the plans and drawings.
we carefully studied the plans and draw
ings Of this building and determined the
quality OF brick suitable to be used in
The foundation walls thereof ayirr~ raf