The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-02-25


$4,000.
That the public may fully understand
this matter, | wish TO call attention to
the fact. that when called to this work
l found a partially completed building,
much valuable stone and marble on
hand. and an appropriation wholly and
admittedly insufficient to complete the
building as originally designed. When
/ 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 rernodeling
old. or partially completed buildings,
that many notifications and changes
! became necessary, and were made with
the consent and approval of the COM
! mission. as 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
defect in the stone, which then showed
an old crack about two thirds of the
! way through. It was generally be-
| iieved and conceded that the\loss fell
upon the State. The matter was
promptly reported. I 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 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.
! The contractors offered to furnish a
new column for $1,000, necessitating
several months delay; OF, piece the
broken column for $500, causing de-
lay Of one month, or change the plans
and omit the two columns, causing no
delay, and deduct from the contract
price $500, which it was shown by an
itemiZed statement would be saved to
the contractors by the change. With
all this information before the COM
| mission. after full consideration, it de-
| cided, by vote Of to 3, to change
the original plan and omit the two
columns, thus saving to the State $500,
without detriment to the work, and
giving these columns to the State for
monumental purposes.
Mr.. Hunt talks about the stone lin
tel and brick work on top of these coll
umns." The specifications never called
for any such thing. And yet this will
ing witness, unable to condemn the
sutfciency of the "bracing and anchor
ing" goes out of his way to suggest
care!essness in "a great portion Of the
construction throughout this building"
Again, this government witness
says the two massive square pillars,
under the portico, now 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 that the in
vestigating 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
quarry, a stone was selected which
matched it. exactly, and the same ac-
cepted with the bid Of the contractors,
! the only slight difference, and which
| is not appreciab BILE, in the work on the
capitals, is due to the fact that the
| Pacolet granite is a trif1e softer ant.
! therefore not suceptible to quite so
! high 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 to resemble granite.
That is just according to the plans
and specifications, f1rst-class galvan-
| lied iron being used. which was as
| good as could be afforded with the ap-
! propriation, and answers every pur-
| pose.
| In reference to the glass floor which
| leaks in rainy weather, I beg to say it
does leak, and regret It.. In my eff
fort to give all the light possible to
| the offices and passageways below, I
selected this style Of floor light, which
is suitable for the place. Unfortunately
there is but little fall, and yet gave
it all l possibly could to connect with
the granite work and the height Of the
second floor doorway entering the lob-
| by. This is no fault Of mine;
it is one of the troubles en-
countered in remodeling or adding to
building. The chief trouble, how
| ever, with the portico floor Is that
to accommodate the legislature, it was
| laid just before the meeting of that
body and was walked on and abused
before the concrete and cement mate
| II6l set 4lC udSuld1 So1.
sequence was that it 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 70 the ceiling of the portico. do
! not know Of any material more suit
able for such ceilings. It is made from
the same class of material that was
removed by the contractors from the
main lobby, although not the same de-
I sign. T wonder if the gentlemen Of the
investigating committee know that the
portico ceiling in the main entrance
I to the United States capitol at Wash
ington was common plastering, and.
| that leaks, from the roof caused some
of it to fall.
| Seventh. That the roof is "tar and
gravel" roof, unsuitable, and leaks
badly.
| 1t is not a tar and gravel roof, but
| is of the very finest quality Of asphalt
and crushed quartz, and there is no
doubt about its answering the purpose
| for at least ten years, as the roof con-
| tractors gave a guarantee for ten years
| against leaks and material wear and
! tear. This same class Of roofing Is on
the following buildings in the city OF
Washington, D. 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.
! 80 f<A