Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-02-24

our pleasure, to prosecute either or
both to the extent of the law. Any
facts in the possession of this commits
sion, either matters of official record
or matters of personal knowledge i'm
connection with the work on the Stnte
house, will be fully and frankly given
under oath 10 any attorney or attorneys
that the legislature, governor or any
other properly constituted authority
may appoint to prosecute suits in the
interest of the State. This commis-
sion, under the provisions of the law
constituting 1t, elected an architect and
paid him the usual fees to design and
superintend the work of completion OF
the capitol The commission, under
the provision Of the law, let the work
| to the lowest bidder. If there has
been any collusion between the archi-
tect and the contractor 1t is a fact alb
solutely unknown and unsuspected by
the State house commission, and there
has not been published or produced
scintilla OF evidence to prove that any
such collusion existed.
CAN WE AFFORD TO PAY FOR
| MAGNIFICENCE?
When the commission was appointed
| to complete the State house the scope
of its duty was clearly marked out in
by the law to complete the State house
within the appropriation of $175,O0O.
When the fact Is considered that the
state house as 1t stood In it's incomplete
|
Carolina over $4,000, 900. it would have
been the height of folly for our COM
mission to attempt with the limited
amount given us to carry out the de-
sign of the original architect, who de-
signed and contemplated a $5,000.00
building. The act furtner stipulated
that not one dollar OF the money ap-
propriated should be expended until
contract for the completion of the
building within the amount stipulated
| made nf
directed to make and did make. 1t
has been the purpose of the commits
sion in the eXpending of the limited sum
at our disposal to make all permanent
work good and substantial, to conform
as near as possible to the original
building, and IL there has been, as al
ieged, cheap and shoddy work" put
upon the building, an investigation will
reveal that such work can be easily re-
moved at any time, without marring
In any way the substantial portions
OF the building, and that it can be re-
placed by as costly material as the
state cares to pay for. Only $1,000
was spent for the roof. This roof 1t
was believed, would be satisfactory;
If 1T has not proven so 1t can be easily
replaced by as expensive structure as
you wish and in the meantime it will
nave served the purpose. The, COM
F! mission in this matter, as In many
others involving questions of the re-
lative quality Of materials and meth
DDS of construction, relied to q large
extent upon the judgment Of the archi.
tect. AS business men they felt that
the wide and varied experience Of the
men whom they had entrusted with
the power and authority of an archi-
tect, which must Of necessity be extern
sive. justified them in deferrng to
his judgment and advice. This arch
itect was necessarily governed by the
amount appropriated for the work
and. OF course, could use only such ma
terial as the appropriation would pay
for
The limited funds placed at our dis
posal Is the only reason that any part
of this work is inferior in character
TO the best work on the old portions
of this building.
We do not wish, however, to be un-
derstood as apologiZing for the present
condition of the State house. 1t is to-
day an imposing and stately structure
and credit and an honor to South
Carolina, and the new work, as well
as the old, will stand for centuries
While the interior of the new work
! has not been embellshed with Italian
marble and with delicate carvings by
imported artists, 1t was not believed
by the commission that the people of
south Carolina either desired or pur-
posed to have them now When they
are willing and able to pay for these
things they can be placed there. But
| inns criticism can be made of the old
portions OF the building, as well as the
new, ana Notwithstanding the So-called
$4,000 galvanized ceiling liable, in the
! words of this architect, Hunt" to
! rust out in few years" which was
| placed there by the commission. OF
which Senator Marshall was mem
Der nItcen years ago, the main cor
ridor Of the building was unsiehtly
ana unndorncd by the beautiful marble
with which John II. Nernsee designed
! TO cover its walls.
AS TO THE SELECTION OF
THE ARCHITECT.
In selecting an architect for the work
1t was the sincere desire OF the com
| MISSION 10 put aside personal consjd-
erations and to secure for the State the
! services of the best and most experi-
ehced man whom we could find. Two
| plans were presented to the commits
Slon' While numerous architects were
! suggested as thoroughly competcnt 10
90 the work. Six of the ten members
Oh ihe commission voted for Frank =.
Milnurn' whose plans seemed best
adapted for the work contemplated
Mr.. Milburn had not only enjoyed wide
! experience In the erection Of public
buildings throughout the south, but
came with the prestige of employment
ny the southern railway for the ercc-
ton of all it's stations and buildings,
Besides, he had erected the Thompson
auditorium at Charleston, the court
house at Anderson, and other build
| inSS' "nich Wlthin the personal knowl-
! edge of members of the commission
had proven satisfactory and he was
as well highly recommended to us by
all with whom we knew he had had
dealings. 1t may be added that since
that time. Mr.. Milburn has been Sc
,ectea as the architect of both the
Florida and North Carolina State cap
| itols. Consequently. the commission
thought they were justified in the Sc
lection they had made.
If the report Of the joint invcstigat-
! ing committee, however,, is followed to
! its logical conclusion. 1t is evident that
| 1t was the opinion of that committee
! that the commission made mistake
| in electing an architect at all, but that
| we should have sent to Washington for
| hanger-on around the national capi-
/ tol. to instruct us not only how 20 erect
/ d building. but inCidontnllY to shoM