Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-03
WALL OUT OF PLUMB
DEFECTIVE WORK ON BUSINESS
HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
Condemned by Inspector Ashford and
Contractor Required to Make
Good-Reports Made.

From information obtained at the Dis
trict building today it appears that consid-
cradle difficulty has recently arisen in con-
nection with the construction of the Bust
ness High School at Rhode Island avenue
and 9th street northwest This informa-
ton is contained in a series of reports for
warded to the Engineer Commissioner to-
day by Building Inspector Ashford, and
according to these reports the firSt-story
brick wall on the Rhode Island avenue side
of the building was found to be seriously
out of plumb, which necessitated the tear
ing down and rebuilding of the front wall
for distance of about 12O feet to the
height of the first story.
The cause of the wall being out Of plumb,
according to Building Inspector Ashford 8
report, was that reasonable care was not
exercised by some of the subcontractors in
erecting work other than the brick work
From the character of some of the work.
Mr.. Ashford expresses the opinion that I'M
skilled labor was employed on some of the
carpenter work.
Award of Contract.
The appropriation for the construction
of the new Business High School is $175,-
900, and Isadore Pavarinf was awarded the
contract for constructing the building at
approximately $164, 900, which was almost
On account of the large disparity between
the bid of Mr.. Pavarini and those of the
five other bidders the Commissioners de-
layed for several days the awarding of the
contract for the work. but, after investiga-
ton, gave the contract to Mr.. Pavarini.
The subcontractor for the brick work Is
William G.. Freeman.
The reports forwarded by Mr.. Ashford
relative to the work on the building con-
tain some interesting information Dur
cfnr
Phillip F. Gormley, superintendent of the
construction, reported that the firSt-story
wall on the Rhode Island avenue side of
the building was from one to two inches
out of plumb. Building Inspector Ash
ford after inspecting the work, confirmed
the report of his inspector, and the con-
tractor was notified to tear down the
wall. Mr.. Freeman, the subcontractor
and Mr.. Pavarini the contractor for the
whole work, protested against this de-
cision, but, nevertheless, the wall was
torn down and the rebuilding was COM
menced. Later Mr.. Pavarini withdrew
his protest and assumed all responsibility
for the defect.
Inspector Ashford's Statement.
In his opinion as to the cause of the de-
feet, Mr.. Ashford says in part:
The superintendent in charge of the
work states that the walls in question
Were not constructed in accordance with
reasonable care was not used by some o.
the SubcontractOrs in erecting other work
besides the brickwork.
Unskilled Labor Was EMPLOYED.
1T is almost impossible at this time for
me to decide whether the contra ctor 9
bricklayers or his carpenters were respon-
sible for the defective condition of the
walls at the time they were condemned.
But from the character of some of the
carpenter work I do not regard it as the
most Workman-like, and from the evidence
OF the work L would say that unskilIed
labor had been employed.
1T is my opinion that the walls of fhe
building should have been designed at least
seventeen inches thick to the second story.
IN most OF our eight-room schools with
shorter lengths of walls the walls are
seventeen inches thick, while on the Bust
ness High School the walls are thirteen
lnches thick 1t would have been impos-
slDie, however, with the limited apDrOprja
tlon TO increase the thickness of the walls
ana the contractor and subcorifra ctor I'm
dertook the work without protest or refer
ence to the thickness of the walls
1T is, therefore, essential not anlv for
the appearance of the work. but for fine
safety of the building, that the external
walls be constructed and retained in n
plumb condition" q
The work on the building at nresen+ &c
reported to be progressing satisfa ctoriIv
the walls having been torn down and re-.
built "ii anu re-