The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-02-24

$4,000.
That the public may fully understand
this matter, 1 wish to call attention to
the fact. that when called to this work
L found a partially completed building,
much aluable stone and marble on
hand, ana an appropriation wholly and
admittedly insufficient to complete the
building as originally designed. kEnen
l made the plans. it was to utilize all
the very expensive columns then lying
on the ground, and considered fit for
use, that largely induced me to pro-
vide for two inner columns on the front
portico. 1t turned out with this work,
as is generally the case in relnodeling
old, or partially completed buildings.
that many notifications and changes
became necessary, n were made with
the consent and approval of the COM
mission, as a rule Col. Marshall being
the only one dissenting. In hosting
these massive columns into position,
one of them broke by its own weight
when being removed from it's 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
lieved and conceded hat the loss fell
upo the State. The matter was
promptly reported. l was of the opin-
ion, and am still. that it was then best
to omit the two inner columns. because
there would be more floor space, be-
cause the architectural features would
be just as good, because with slight
changes (omitting a wood truss and
substituting steel trussed perlins) the
strength of the structure would not
be impaired in the least; because it
would save much time in completing
the work, and because it would save
rather than cost the State anything.
Ihe contractors offered to furnish u
new column for 1000, necessitating
several months delay; or, piece the
broken column for $500, causing a de-
| law of ono month IN, ,l,npp M Tho ,ln, 49,
and omit the two columns, causing no
delay, II deduct from the contract
price 5000, which it was shown by an
tented statement would be saved to
the contractors by the change. With
all this before the COM
mission, after full consideration. it de-
clded, by n vote of 5 to 3, to change
the original plan and omit the two
columns thus saving to the State 5000.
Withou dctriment to the work, n
giving these columns to the State for
monumental purposes.
MIR. Hunt talks about 1.-THE stone lin
tel ana brick work on top of these col
umns. The Specifications never called
FOR any such thing. And yet this will
ing witness. unable to condemn the
sufhciency of the "bracing and anchor
ing goes out of his way to suggest
carelessness in "a great portion of the
construction throughout this building"
Again, this government" witness
says the two massive squar pillars.
N'' NV Dol NiNo, HoN 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 it
was to get such a witness tina the in
NeStiSatinS committee passed over so
many southern architects and con-
fractions OF known ability and integ-
rity.
Fifth. That the new leaf work ON
the capitals is not as fine as the old.
1t being impracticable to get the
stone for this new work from the old
matched 1t exactly, and the same ac-
cepted with the bid of the contractors
inc only slight difference, and which
Is nor appreciable in the work on the
Pacolet granite is n trihe softer and
therefore not SUSCEPTIBLE to quite so
high n finish.
Sixth. That Intel stones should ex-
tend from columns at the rear of the
portico to corresponding front columns,
where there are sheet iron boxes paint
ed 10 resemble granite.
That is just according to the plans
and specifications. first-class gaivan-
i%ed iron being used. which was as
good as could be afforded with the APP
M'opriation. and nswer every pur-
pose.
leaks i'm rainy weather, / beg to say it
does leak, and | regret it,. In nv ef-
fort to give all the light possible to
the offices and p~assageways below, I
selected this style of floor light, which
Is suitable for the place. Unfortunately
there is but little fan, and yet 1 gave
IT all | possibly could to connect with
the granite work and the height of the
by. This is no faul of mine;
1t is one of the troubles en-
countered in remodeling or adding to
Il bnilding. The chief trouble. how
ever, with the portiCo floor is that
10 accommodate the legislature, it was
iaid Just before the meeting of that
body and was walked on and abused
bctore n concrete and cement mate
rlnl set s~ufhciently: The natural con-
sequence was that il was damaged and
still presents a bad appearance. An
inspection of the rear portico floor.
which was not so used and abused, will
Substantiate this contention.
AS to the ceiling of the portico. 7 do
not know of any material more suit
able for such ceilings. 1t is made from
the same class of material tina was
removed by the contractors from the
main lobby, although not the same de-
sign. | wonder if the gentlemen of tho
investigating committee know that the
portico ceiling in the main entrance
to the United States capitol at Wash
ington was common plasterinC, and
mat oaks from the roof caused some
of ii to fail.
Seventh. Tina the roof is n tar and
gravel roof. unsuitable, and leaks
badly.
1t is not a tar and gravel roof. but
is or the very finest quality OF asphalt
ana crushed quartz. and there is no
doubt about its answering the purpose
FOR at least ten years. as the roof CON
tractors gave n guarantee for ten years
against leaks and material wear and
tear. This same class OF roofing Is on
the Following buildings i'm the city of
Washington, ID. c.:
Atlantic Coast Line Office building,
Southern Railway office building, Iowa
department house, Raleigh hotel. Bliss
department. house, United states Cen
sus building, government printing
house. and many others too numerous
to mention.
1t is a matter of profound regret to
me that the roof eaks. / have done