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

dttion which must necessarily surround
these closets as long as they were so
located. Realizing the Importance of
such convenfences, and being con-
Yinced that some provision for them
must be made before the permanent
work on the state house was completed,
the commission sought to provide q
locality i'm the building for these
closets. These new closets were not
contemplated when the question of
completing the State house came be-
tore the general assembly, nor were
there amy plans, specifications or con-
tract relating thereto; but the commits
sion believing that out of the apDro-
priation enough had been saved to in
stan these necessaries, made. such con-
tract with reference to them as justi-
hes us in counting the most rigid in
Nestigation. AT the time the fixtures
were installed there was no sewerage
system in the city of Columbia, and no
municipal regulations covering details
which though adopted for the sake of
uniformity n governmental regu-
lation are but arbitrary. Since this in
Stallation there has been no complaint
OF the presence or suspicion of the ex-
lstence of gas, and the location
OF the closets is such that If the pres
ence did actually exist there could he
no dctriment to the health or lives OF
the occupants of the State house.
This determination on the part OF the
committee to make this arrangement
was most fortunate, as subsequent
events proved, for the discovery was
about that time made that the old
water closets had been silently and I'M
suspectingly venting their gases
through secret and unknown hues in
the brick walls of the building into
the offices upon the lower fioor and
spreading disease and death among the
states employees. The commission of
sanitary experts appointed by Gov.
Hayward. while criticizing some de-
ails of the new work, ordered the old
closets peremptorily and i~mmediately
removed from the building, and in this
demand MIR. Edens, the sanitary in
speCtor of Columbia, Joined. The crates
or fire places in several of the offices
were directly connected with these
closets and had to be Theoretically
sealed until the old work was removed
from the building.
The condemned closets had been in
stalled at great expense to the State
under the direction OF the commission
which erected the splendid ten thous-
and dollar steel ceiling in the main
lobby, nearly 10 years ago, largely UNI
der the supervision of Senate Mar
snail, who was then secretary of state.
We desire to impress upon you the
fact that you have not been put in pos
session of any evidence or statement as
to the apparent condition of the State
mousse upon the day when the accept
ance was made and the final INSTALL
ment paid to the contractor. We.
therefore. inform you that when the
work was accepted and the money paid
IL personal inspection by special COM
mittee of the commission was made
and the roof with all of it's accessories,
appeared in perfect condition, and
every stone laid under the contract
was Tree from cracks or apparent de-
fects. and this Notwithstanding a test
period of nearly or quite a month had
elapsed from the date when the build
ing was rendered. during which period
NJ WGla SnftCHn1 fhnt n 90, @.~-A 49,.
mad been made. During said period
there were several precipitations OF
rain, notably on the 18th day of May.
i9O2, when the rain began to fall about
Z O'Clock in the morning and continued
until about z of the same morning.
during which time nearly an inch of
water fell. Rain followed again on
ne i4th, falling during the night. and
on the 10Th. when in 81 minutes 3-4 Of
an inch OF rainfall was registered.
Under this severe test the roof APP
peared to be perfect as far as protec-
tion from water is concerned. This
statement is made on official informa-
ton given us by the United States au-
thorities.
We confess with the utmost candor
that IN some respects. particularly as
not been altogether pleased with the
result of the work. But these at the
worst are not as serious as would have
been blunder involving the construc-
tlon OF the stone work, and other more
permanent portions of the building,
which has come up to the full measure
OF the expectation of the commission.
1T is We'll to remember. however. that
we are 90 prone to dwell upon that
winch has not come fully UP to our
expectations. while ignoring the fact
mat this man probably succeeded in
more important matters where another
would have been subjected to Just
criticism.
We have scrupulously voided either
IN this communication or in any of the
steps leading up to the opportunity
which has been accorded us bv your
honorable body to set ourselves right,
IN making our cause common with that
OF either the architect or contractor.
ana have endeavored to divorce our
selves insofar as possible from them.
FIRST or all, though out of office, we
are In n measure servants of the people
n OF the general assembly. and If
that tribunal deems the State to have
suffered injury from either. our first
duty is to the State.
However, 1t is but Justice to say that
we nave found the contractors in all
their dealings with us honorable b,si-
ness men. whom we believe TO be above
suspicion of wrong doing, and who
sought to live up to the true intent and
meaning of their contract with the
We desire 1t understood that we do
not claim tina 1t is impossible that i'm
positions have been practiced upon
ms commission by the architect or
contractor, for If any vital defects ex-
list In the building or serious mistakes
can be shown to have been made, these
must have been the outcome OF the
commission having been misled, but we
20 assert in the most positive manner
that the findings and the conclusions
contained in the report of the Joint in
committee are not sus-
famed by the evidence therein CON
tanned, and If they are ever sustained
II nlust be by evidence produced before
another tribunal. Whether this com
mission or n of it's members were
ever designedly or unintentionally i'm
posed upon or deceived BY either arch
ltect or contractor, 1T can only be
proved out of the mouth or mouths of
such member or members, unless 1t be
conceded that the members would cor,~