The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-02-26

inner columns from the front sortico
the contractors made q profit of s3,40O,
and the estimated loss to The State is
81, 500. Z
That the public may fully understand.
this matter. ] wish to call attention to
the fact, that when called to this work
found partially completed building
much valuable stone and marble on
nand, and an appropriation wholly and
admittedly insufficient to complete the
building as originally designed. When
made the plans, 1t was to utilize all
the very expensive columns then lying
on the ground. anu considered fit for
use. that largely induced ME to pro-
vide Tor two inner columns on the front
portlco. 1t turned out with this work,
as is generally the case in remodeling
old, or partially completed buildings.
that many notifications and changes
became necessary, and We're made with
the consent and approval Of the COM
mission, as n rule Col. Marshall being
the only one dissenting. In hoisting
tnese massive columns into position,
one of them broke by it's own weight
when being removed from its position
on the ground. An examination set
tied beyond question that there was a
defect In the stone, which then showed
an old crack about two thirds of the
way through. 1t was generally be-
upon the State. The matter was
promptly reported. 1 was of the opin-
ion. and am still. that it was then hest
10 10 omit the two inner columns, because
e .neIe would be more floor space, be-
cause the architectural features would
De just as good. because with slicIit
cnahges (omittiiig 4 wood truss and
substituting steel trussed perlins) M.
strength or the structure would not
be impaired in the least: because II
would save much time in completing
the work. and because It would ssv,.
rmther i,, than cost the State anything.
me contractors offered to furnish a
severeI sew e1iu,,m ior 5000 necessitating
broken column for $780, causing n de-
lay of one month, or change the plons
ana omit the two columns, causing no
delay, and deduct from the contract
itemized statement would be saved to
the contractors by the change win
all this information before the com
mission. after full consideration. it de-
tlueu, .i, ny q vote of to 5, to change
the original plan and omit the two
coiufnns, thus saving to the State 5000.
without detriment to the work. and
giving these columns to the State for
monumental purposes.
MI Hunt talks about the stone lin
lei aiiu nrick work on top of these col
uinhs. The specifications never called
Tor any such thing. And yet this Will
ING witness. unable to condemn the
Suiiiclehcy sun. oil he 'bracing and anchor
carelcssness in "a great portion OF the
construction throughout this building"
Again. this government" witness
says the two massive sG"a:c pillars.
under the portico, now perform no
duty at all" Any sane person can see
for himself that these piers, originally
constructed principally to support the
TWO inner columns, since the change
support much OF the portico. And il
was TO get such Il witness that the in
NestiSating committee passed over SO
many southern architects and con-
rity. "a
Fifth. That the new leaf worI, On
the capitals is not as fine as the old
1t being impracticable to get tI,
stone Tor this new work from the Ula
quarry, stone was selected whi-h
matched 1t exactly, and the same ae
cepted with the bid Of the contractors
the only slight difference, ana which
is not apprecable, in the work on the
capitals. is due to the fact that the
therefore not u.If .l os-,t.
high Il finish
Sixth. That .iniul sturl ,.-,frts