The Monticellonian., 1903-08-20
Contract for New State House Let.


 The state capitol commission has let the contract for the completion of the new state house to Caldwell & Drake, of Columbus, Ind. The con. tract price is S947.S46 and the struc- ture is to be completed by December 70, 1905. Caldwell & Drake had sub- mitted two bids, one for S89S. 65S for Bedford stone and one for $947846 for Batesville stone. George w. Donaghey, who was the only Arkansas bidder, of tered to do the work for $937.450 us- ing Bedford stone and Arkansas gran ite Tor the basement. The act of 1903 provides that as far as practicable the commissioners shall contract for Ar kansas materials in the construction of the buildings The commission spent some time in considering be- tween the bid of Caldwell X Drake and that of NIT. Donaghey. Members of the commission give it as their opin- ion that the Batesyille marble is supe- rior to any building stone in the United States. It is obtained in Inde- pendence county, seven miles from BatesVille. in unlimited quantities.
 The act of 1903, under which the present capitol commission is proceed ing, contains the following provisions covering the letting of the contract:
 The contract for the completion of said building above the basement floor line. shall be let to the lowest and best bidder by the state board of capitol commissioners upon notice by advertisement for thirty (30) days in such newspapers as the board may deem proper advertising for sealed bids for the completion of said build inS, resergins to the board the right to reject any and all bids And no bid shall be accepted for a greater amount than one million dollars ($1000, ,000), all bids to be on the same basis and for the same work As far as may be shall said board of state capitol com missioners shall contract for Arkansas materials in the construction of the building
 The successful bidder shall be re- quired to enter into a bond to the state of Arkansas, to be approved by said board of capitol commissioners. in the sum of S500,000, conditioned for the faithful performance of his con tract within the time herein named. and conditioned further that he will pay off and discharge all debts con tracted for, labor and materials used in and about said building In no event shall said board of staet capitol com missioners ever pay to said contractor more than 90 per eentum of the amount earned until the building is fully completed and accepted. when the 10 per cent retained shall be paid with final estimate to the contractor under estimate made from time t0 time; TOT shall they ever undertake 10 bind the state for anything what ever on account of said contract, it being the intention of this act that the state shall never be liable in any man ner except for the amount stipulated in the contract herein provided for In no event snail the board undertake or agree in the contract herein prOvid- ed for to pay in any one year great CT sum than can be realized in such year under the provisions of this act
 There is now in the state treasury to the credit of the capitol fund close To Si00000, and next years revenue from the halfmill tax and the proceeds of land sales, except school lands, will swell the fund to over $550000. Pro vision is made in tho act of 1903 for the sale of surplus ground embraced in the sixty-three acres owned by the state, including and adjacent to penl- tentiarY hill