The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-18
ARCHITECT MILBURN REPLIES
A Letter of Explanation to the People
of South Carolina.

To the People OF South Carolina:
On my return home from a business
trip an Tennessee and North Carolina.
find the newspapers filed with very
sensational report from the investigat
ing committee, criticising the capftoi
commission, the architect and the con-
traI Tor. for the work done on the State
houAe. want to enter denial OF the
charges and to denounce the report as
being unjust. and as misrepresenting
the facts.
have no objection to any committee
investigating or critcising my work:
but what | do object to is being &C
cused Of being party to anything tnat
is not honorable. honest. upright, open
and above board.
labored hard for two years trying
to get the best possible results for the
State with the small appropriation
which realized was insufficient; and
expect to show to the people that they
received the value of every dollar ex-
pended, and that not one cent was
wasted.
I had heavy expense in my Office. but
I think out of the fees paid me real
ICED $4,000, which amount I Will donate
to any charitable institution In the
State II this or any other COMMITTEES
will prove that have been a party TO
any fraudulent proceedings whatever
expect to give the committee q full
opportunity to prove their Infamous
charges.
have been engaged in public work
sor Is years and have erected credit
able buildings in all Of the Southeast
ern States. varying In number from 80
to 55 buildings each year. and this is
the first time that my name has ever
been mentioned In connection with any
irregular proceedings. was supported
throughout by the entire commission.
with the single exception Of Col. j. q
Marshall. who told me the first time
ever met him and before he saw my
plans and specifications, that he felt
under obligations to support another
architect. which he did with all his
power and influence.
When at first COL Marshall found OBJ
jections to the work. he did not come
to me and discuss the matter as 1t ID
customary for commissioners to do In
such cases and say, why cannot We
do this or that?" or "Is this practica-
ble?" or 81 do not believe you are do
ing the work right" No. The hrst
thing I knew he appeared before the
capitol commission with a long type
written document, with copies ready
for the newspapers. Does not this look
to be somewhat on the order Of grand
stand play?
The capitol commission was COM
posed Of the best men the State could
produce, and my experience with them
warrants me in saying that these men
are not lacking in either intelligence or
integrity; but. II the report OF the in
vestigating committe Is accepted 1t
puts them, as well as myself. In very
unfavorable light.
1t is q pity that honest. honoraols
men like these could have such in
famous charges brought against them.
and I for one propose to fight 1t out.
and prove to the people that there is
such thing left as honor.
have just received a copy OF the
report of the committee which Ncrifi-.
cises the work, and as the charges arc
rather broad, I want to consider then
carefully and will answer 1t in detail
as soon as possible.
FRANK p. MrLBURN.
Colraa bia, Feb. Il, 1904.