The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-05
School Board Is Facing a Com
plicated Problem.
How to Build $4,000 Building
With $4,000.
BIDS ARE NOT OPENED.
Hay Be Modified to Provide for
Partial Completion.
Will Be Again Discussed on
Next " ednesday.

How to build a $4,000 school house in
North Topeka with $4,000 was the puz-
zle before the board of education last
night.
When bonds were voted for the new
school buildings the proposition carried
with it $4,000 for new school building
in North Topeka. The bonds were vo-
ted before the flood. After the flood,
when it was found that the Quincy
building had been weakened and when
it was also discovered that a better
foundation than was anticipated should
be built to withstand any future
floods. the board found that a building
to cost much more than the original
price talked of would be needed. It
was then decided that while the board
was erecting a new school house in
North Topeka that a building of suffi-
Gent size should be built to meet the
needs of that part of town during the
next ten years or so. Then the boar
decided that North Topeka should have
modern well equipped 12-room build
Ing which would cost, when completed,
about $4,000. The bonds voted, SIC, 600,
will build commonplace school house
of six or eight rooms, which in few
years would have to be reinforced by
another $4,000 building. The represen-
tatives on the board from North To-
L. L.. n,
have urged and still advocate their
plan of giving North Topeka n large
and thoroughly modern school building
even if it does cost $4,000.
The board decided that as the law
had to be complied with . as the
bond issue provided that the 500 900
should be used in finishing as many
rooms in the building as were needed,
and the remainder of the rooms to be fin
ished as needed. Under this arrange
he n~I rr-74
would erect the walls and complete the
roof and one room and that in the
future the board could complete the
building.
A mistake was made in calling for
bids and a dozen bidders were on hand
at the board meeting last night. Each
had submitted a bid, under the call for
bids, for the completion of the building
and not for the partial erection OF the
building.
The question of the price of the build
ing came up when the bill of the archi-
tect, L. NJ. Wood, for $500 as partial
payment of his fees was read.
ION what amount do you estimate
your commission of two and a half per
cent Of which this $500 is to be a partial
payment % asked Judge Carver.
4'On the cost of a $4,000 building for
which you have my plans said the
architect, L. NJ. Wood.
How are we going to erect a $4,000
building with $2O,000?" asked Judge
Carver.
THAT question is for the board to
decide" said Wood
1.-The flood and the conditions follow
ing caused the board to decide that a
$40, 900 building was needed in North
Topeka said T. E. Mallory
81 was instructed to plan larger
building than was at first contemplated
and to provide for a better founda-
ton" said Mr.. Wood.
WHO said to prepare plans for a
$4,000 building?'' asked E. E. Roude-
bush.
1.-The building committee of this
board" replied Wood.
This board never voted for the
change" said Roudebush.
This board inspected the plans 1
submitted for a 10000 building and
adopted those plans" said Wood.
The contractors objected to their bids
being opened and read unless the board
intended to let the contract. Then the
members of the board advanced several
plans for getting out of the difficulty.
AIR. Miller suggested that all the con-
tractors agree, before their bids were
opened, that they would enclose and
roof the building and finish one room
for the $40 600, provided they would be
given the contract for the entire build
ing to be completed when the board
had the funds.
Il live in North Topeka and want to
see this building erected" said J. S.
Morse. Every contractor knows that