The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-17
The High School Building.

The Editor of The Freeman has sub
mitted the following letter to the
Board OF School Commissioners:
Gentlemen: desire to call your
attention to certain facts which are IN
nv possession, relative to the new
high School building.
On November 9th communication
appeared in The Freeman pointing
out that the said building was not be-
ing constructed according to the plans
and specifications, and charging
1st. That the brick joints IN the
building we're :sfrom IS to inch In
thickness whereas the specifications
saw sno Joints are to exceed IS of an
inch in thickness" The writer claim
ed that this would make difference
in cost of the brick work Of from $50O
to $500 in favor of the contractor.
End. That the lumber used was ~
ferior, most of 1t being loblolly pine,
whereas the specifications required
.sali timber used in the builing is to be
nercnantable yellow pine" &c. The
difference in cost being also In 1aVor
of the contractor at from 81 to $3 per
thousand ,teet.
These charges, so far as We know.
have never been investigated, ano as
far as the lumber is concerned, II is
now too late to ascertain the truth, ex-
cent that Mr.. j. F. Leitner admitted
to me, in reply to a question, that mucn
of the lumber was lobiolly.
The brick work is coarse, but SHOWS
for itself, and I ask the Board TO e1-
anime it. =,
In going over the building it will
be noticed that there is leak IN the
northwest corner of the assembly naii
and that the wall along the north SIDE
is discolored, as if by leakage also.
A portion of the basement floor is Is
inches lower than the other portions,
caused, i am told, by somebody blum.
dering In the plans or construction OF
the building, making 1t necessary TO
Jack UP the big smeke-stacks and ex-
cayats deeper in order TO get In the
heating apparatus.
Your attention is also called TO
dangerous crack in the front wall OF
the building, on the porth side OF the
stems. and extending from the top OF
the basement window TO the window
above. and from that to the bottom OF
the third window.
The portico floor is of lumber, where
as. to be in keeping with the balance
of the structure, it has been suggested,
that it should be LAID with cement or
stone.
An expert contractor also tells me
thar tbe outs;lle brick Joints in the
building should have been dressed
with cement mortar, in order to pre-
vent heavy rains washing out the lime
and streaking the walls.
Tn calling these matters to the atten-
tion. OF your honorable body, | desire
to say that, not being sn expert In
such matters, have relied in meas
ure, on the opinions of others who are
familiar with such work.
AND in conclusion want to say
that upon calling YOUR contractors
attention to the bad looking crack in
the building, he objected to my enter
ing the building to point out further
defects.
Ip view of these charges affecting
both the architect and contractor, l
nave no ooUOt puI tu1V tbSJ wa I"'
me in asking that your body procure
the services Of disinterested archl-
tect to pass upon the buildings. before
you accept it. Very respectfully.
E.. F. MILLER.
P. S. Attached please find request
OF citizens.
Sumter. S. G., Feb. 10, 1904.
awe, the udersigned, citizens and
taxpayers of the city of Sumter, JOIN
with E. F. Miller in his request that
the alleged defects in the High School
building be thoroughly investigated
by your honorable body.
Signed by 81 taxpayers.
In addition to the facts set forth
iahoyo xva desire ta throw a little more