The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-18

opinion Of the expert. should not have
been put in. The architect had thu
choice of the other old and reliable
styles and passed them over to make
an experiment with this untried kind
Of flooring. and as in all other depart.
nients of the work with disastrous re.
suits.
The water closets installed under.
meath this portico leaked 50 badly that
they had to be removed to another
part of the building. At first his was
required u be done at the expense OF
the architec,> Afterwards the COM
mission allowed him $500 out Of the
State funds as contribution towards
1t. And the lower passway from the
| grounds to the entrance to the lower
story OF the State house is covered
with water after every rain. The fill
ing between the rows OF glass Is break
ing up already, and change Of this
flooring is matter of immediate
necessity.
The water closets, like everything
else. are defective. and will cost the
State more money to put them in
shape and suitable condition. We re-
fer to the testimony of Mr.. A. w.
Edens. civil engineer and inspector OF
sewers and plumbing for the city OF
| Columbia. which explains this.
The contract required the contrac-
tors to protect the interior Of the
building from rain. while removing the
old roof, by the use of tarpaulin or
canvas covering, This was not done.
and In consequence all OF the galleries
and many Of the rooms were flooded
during this period. and the painting
and frescoing on the walls Of the two
chambers were permanently ruined.
These contractors were required to
| furnish good and sufficient bond for
the faithful performance Of the con-
tract. and did give bond in the sum
Of $4,000 OF the City Trust. Safe De-
pcsit and Surety Company OF Philadel-
phia to Governor NJ. B. McSweeney,
chairman Of the commission on COM
pletion Of the State house. to secure
and guarantee the faithful perform
ance of the contract; said bond bears
date 21st August. 1900. The form and
execution Of the bond was approved by
the attorney general and accepted by
the commission. On the End of June.
1902. Governor McSweeney, chairman
Of the commission, acting under the oral
advice of the attorney general (as tes-
titled by D. H. Means. secretary. caused
satisfaction to be entered upon that
bond and surrendered it to the obligors,
declaring as follows:
The City Trust. Safe Deposit and
Surety Company Of Philadelphia, prin-
cipal under it's bond No. 22992C.. dated
August 81. 1900, given to NJ. B. Nc
Sweeny, Governor Of the State Of
South Carolina. in the sum Of $4,000,
conditioned to provide all material and
to perform all work mentioned in the
specifications under the head Of 'Ad-
dirions to the South Carolina Capitol
Building is hereby notified that the
said principal has justly performed
and complied with all the terms and
the said principal and the City Trust,
Safe Deposit and Surety Company OF
Philadelphia, surety, are hereby re-
leased from all liability hereunder.
NJ. B. McSWEENEY.
Governor and Chairman Of Commits
sion for Completion of State House.
South Carolina.
Witness: d. H. Means. Secretary
OF Commission.
Dated May 23, 1902. Columbia, S.
c."
This surrender and attempted dis
charge OF this bond. the States only
security for the vast losses sustained.
was not the act of the commission, as
the Governor alone. advised as 1t Is
said by the attorney general. under
took to perform this act. and it may
be that the State may yet be able to
realize upon said security.
Your committe do not consider that
it comes within the scope OF their
duties to determine questions OF law
involved in the matters embraced here
in but would regard 1t remarkable In
dad il there Is not some remedy, civil
or criminal or both, to bring these
malefactors TO justice and to some eX-.
lent to redress the wrongs to the State.
We feel that what we have reported,
and the testimony taken. reveals a
dark picture. it is true. but nothing
short of an actual inspection Of the
work can convey an adequate idea OF
the monstrous swindle of which the
State is the victim. appropriately por-
trayed in the closing words Of Capt.
Hunts testimony:
The introduction OF stamped metal
work in the ceilings Of these massive
porticos: the utter disregard for the
strength Of the structure by the re-
moval OF che two inner columns which
were to carry the bond lintels for Sc
curing the pediments Of the main
structure: the unfinished manner in
which the tin cutters were left without
the absolutely necessary brick backing.
leaving the vertical sides Of the gut
ters. which are 20 inches or more in
height. Of one thickness OF tin entirely
unprotected from the pressure OF water
in the time Of even an ordinary fall Of
rain-this. with natural deterioration
OF sheet tin. makes II inconceivahle
Why this work should have been left in
it's present condition.
Unless something Is done at once to
rectify this blunder. the interior OF the
building is liable to be flooded at any
time. either from corrosion or the ex-
pansion and contraction Of the metal.