The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-02-24

ii would be necessary for the State 10
furnish column To replace the one
broken. The column was portion Of
inc material to be furnished by the
state under the contract and there
was no doubt in the minds OF ma
1ority OF the commission, after q care
ful examination OF the contract, plans
and specifications, that tho commission
could have been compelled by the con-
tractor to furnish new column
TO quarry and carve n new column
would have cost the State at least
$4,000; 1t would have delayed the work
of completion of the State house about
six months.
The contractor reported that the
colum1 could be patched hy putting i'm
n section OF new stone ut Il cost Of
about $500, and Il delay in the work Of
80 days.
According to the plans there were 10
be two columns placed within what is
now the open floor space on the front
Dortico. These columns supported none
of the weight of the walls OF the struc-
ture, and were located by the architect
within thiH area because under the
approved plans the State had on hand
two columns that could be used for
purely ornamental purposes. The con-
tractor proposed to the commission
that he would deduct the cost OF rails
ing these two inner columns into posi-
ton ana the cost OF the unfinished
carving of caps for same IL they could
De ieft out. and the work proceed.
Upon the report of the architect that
the strength of the structure of the
completed building would be in no
wise impaired. this solution OF the
problem was deemed the best md most
eXpedient. inasmuch as the funds in
the hands of the commission were
limited. the work would not he de-
inyed ana no damage would be done
the structure. At n subsequent meet
| Ing Of the legislature the broken COL
umns were appropriated and given by
the state to Greenwood and Spartan
/ burg.
The question OF utility having been
settled to the satisfaction Of n ma
oority or the commission it then be-
came one purely OF taste and ornament,
and upon this issue we considered that
the best interests Of the State were
suoserved by carrying to completion
| the front portico rs it now stands
| 1t may be added that In the final vote
rs to leaving out these two centre COL
| umnS that Messrs. CAN'T and Johnson
voted with Mr.. Marshall in the mega
| tive, the other members present con
stituting Il majority, voting In the
In addition to the 5000 above men
toned as part cf the consideration
for relieving the contractor OF the work
OF placing the columns the commits
sion reserved for the benefit OF the
/ ;:;s::.S. ;.
THE CEILING IN THE MAIN
LOBBY.
One of the most serious charges
brought by the investigating commit
ing in the main lobby and this is q.
typical illustration OF their methods
and of the value. Of their conclusions.
Captain" Hurt In his testimony
!p. ~ swore that the State had lost
of this ceiling. which was represented
ns steel ceiling and that ''had cost
In the neighborhood Of $100 000" (p. ~
| NOW, what are the facts?, The o!fi-
cial records of the old State house
contract for this ceiling us follows:
! COLUMBIA. s. c., May 2nd 1889. The
commission met this day. Present:
Hon. J. Q. Marshall, secretary Of
state: Hon. j: 8. Werner. comptroller
general. The bids were presented, he
ing six in number. for putting in iron
! (galvanized) ceiling. beams, skylights,
etc. IN the main corridor on the second
| floor, together with the ceiling over
1888 waH accepted"
This record vas accessible to the in
Vestigating committee and could have
/ clearly shown them that this ceiling
@ did not not cost I'm the neighborhood Of
senate lobby, which had not been re-
moved. end the ccrn!ce OF the main
lobby, which was still there, consti-
tuted three -fourths OF the work for
which less than $4,000 had been paid,
removed cost. Is years ago. less than
S2.000 It Is very plain piece Of work
with little ornamentations and GER
tainiy not beautiful. Architect Wilson
| In his report stated that It could now
be put back for about $1,000.
Ihis ceiling. as the records show, was
not only bought as galvanized Iron, but
an actual inspection os it viii show
that the ceiling taken out was nothing
but galvanized iron. The COMMITTEES
found that "the contractors bodily took
and carried away and converted to
their own use this valuable and bsauti-
ful part Of the old building" %. y
when one Of the Ave witnesses whom
certified and could have told them that
IT was galvanized iron. and when re-
| moved worthless even as Junk" (See
affidavit Of J. B. Garfunkel, Exhibit
~. DR.. Babcock. superintendent of
| the Hospital for the insane, certifles
that the ceiling is now In his possess
sion as an officer of the State. (See
certificate of j. w. Babcock, Exhibit
y.
The commission put back exactly the
'AhS iutcTldI tney look out, simply
recurring the contractor to replace
Worthless and damaged material with
new material OF the same kind
The wanton Misrepresentation which
It was necessary for this so-called
architect" to make to show that the
removal of dozen squares OF gai-
vanized iron which was In bad shape
bent and rusted. and replacing 1t with
other galvanized iron Of a pattern
which better suited the round opening
of the dome entailed loss Of $16.O
upon the State, certainly entitled him
to zhe compensation OF SIS day which
ne was paid and which he was evi-
| IDENTIFY industriously endeavorine to
earn.