New-York tribune., 1904-08-06
LIBRARY SHOULD BE UP.
CONTR4CT LIMIT, AUG. a1.
Contractors May Asb Court to Al
lozo Year Because of Litigation.

Notwithstanding the superstructure of the
New York Public Library in Bryant Park has
barely reached a point where il can he seen
above the fence advertisement of Commissioner
PaUas. the time limit set by the city in it's con-
tract with Norcross Brothers. it learned
Yesterday. expires on August q. Application
win doubtless be made 10 the courts for an ex-
tension Of time.
According to owen E. Brainard, of Carrere &
Hastings the architects for the building how
ever. although technically the contract expires
"a fortnight from tomorrow actually it should
not be until August 2l 1905. the work was
delayed for twelve months by litigation The
records snow that the Board Of Estimate and
Apportionment accepted the bid of Norcross
Brothers for the superstructure on June 20. 1901.
the contract calling for the completion of the
work within three years The bid was s2,s65.-
706 This although the third lowest, was ulti-
mately accepted.
We will not admit there is any negligence OF
delay" Mr. Branard told a Tribune reporter.
as the litigation of a taxpayer held the work
back for a year.
TINE QUESTION WILL BE RAISED
although the contract nominauy expires on
August n It Is a technical cuestior whether
the time should not be extended TO Angus, next
year ana the question Will undoubtedly be
talk Of any delays and We do not intend to cross
the bridge until come to 1t.
II will say. however. that. judged by the Iaps>
Of time al least two thirds of the construction
has been accomplished, and. Judged by work, at
least one-half IS finished
Mr. Brairard rcsoIutely declined even TO haz-
ard a guess as 10 the date OF the cOmpletior Of
the work
Asked whether it was not fact that the labo-
difficulties at the quarries in Vermont rather
than the recent strikes in this city had affected
the work. and thar lost time could always h.
made up here by employing extra men Mr.
RroIuard said
DELAY FROM STRIKERS
1T is true, perhaps that We can dispose Of
four weeks work iu the quarries in a single week
here but YOU must remember that the raw ma r.
teral comes only from. the quarry. If because
of strikes when the marble reaches here there
are no draymea to draw il. no cutters TO pare il
ard no bricklayets 10 pack it up. of what use Is
it2 viii not admit that there has been delay.
however. although the work is now more salts
factory than it was III the beginning and is
Progressing fast, More than one-half the iron
work is up Although the general public may
think the apparent results are not commensurate
with the time that has elapsed. I'm reality the
best part of the work Is now done and every
thing hereafter viii show
An inspection of the building yesterday dis.
closed that the walls which face on Bryant
Park. as weu as those I'm Fortieth-st- are prac
ticaIy completed as far the second story.
while the walls tu Forty-secoud-st. are virtually
high three stories
.Evervthiug YOU see above the first Hour
courses said II. NJ LeydenburE, the assistant
of Director Billings OF the New-York Public
Library. has been done since the spring
Mr. T.eydenbure said that il not until De-
cemher 10 1901 that the work was actually re-
begun che cornerstone being aid Novem-
her 10.
At the Office Of NOrCrcSs Brothers the reporter
was told that the only member of the firm who
could speak on the subject was Thomas OReilly.
who was away.