The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-02-23

= dltl0n WHICH must necessary .SOrrounC
these closets as long as they were Sc
located. Realizing the Importance Of
such conveniences, and being con-
must be made before the permanent
work on the State house was completed,
the commission sought to provide a
different. more convenient and safer
locality in the building for these
closets. These new, closets We're not
contemplated, when the question OF
completing the State house came be-
fore the general assembly. nor were
there any plans, specifications or con-
tract relating thereto: but the commits
sion believing that out Of the appro-
priation enough had been saved to in
stall these necessarieS. made such con-
tract with reference to them as JuStl-
fieS US in counting the most rigid in
vestigation. 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 and governmental reSu-
lation are but arbitrary. Since this in
stallation there has been no complaint
of the presence or suspicion of the eN-
istence Of sewer gas, and the location
Of the closets is such that if the pres
ence did actually exist there could be
no detriment 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 flueS in
the brick walls of the building into
the offices upon the lower floor and
spreading disease and death among the
Suites 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 Immediately
removed from the building. and in this
demand Mr.. 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 hermetically
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 Is years ago, largely un-
der the supervision Of Senator Mar
shall. 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
house upon the day when the accept
ance was made and the final Install
nrent paid to the contractor. We.
therefore, inform you that when the
work was accepted and the money paid
narSrnal incDacfinn nv Snaps91 COM
r1ittee of the commission was made
and the roof with al; of its accessories,
appeared in perfect condition, and
every stone laid under the contract
was free from cracks or apparent de-
fects. and this notwithstanding a test
period of nearly or quite q month had
elapsed from the date when the build
ing was rendered, during which period
We were satisfied that q sufficient test
had been made. During said period
there were S;seEeral precipitasions OF
1902, when the rain. began to fall about
. o'clock in the morning and continued
until about Z of the same morning,
during which time nearly an inch of
water feH. Rain followed again on
the 14th, falling during the night. and
on the 18th. when in q minutes 3-4 Of
an inch of rainfall was registered.
Under this severe test the roof ap-
peared to be perfect as far as protec-
tfon 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
to the roof and the floor lights, we have
not been altogether pleased with the
result of the work. But these at the
worst are not as serious as would have
been blunderS involving the conStruc-
tion 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 too prone to dwell upon that
which has not come fully up to our
expectations. while ignoring the fact
that this man probably succeeded in
more important matters where another
would have been subjected to just
criticism.
We have ScrupulouSly avoided, either
in this communication or in any of the
steps leading up to the opportunity
which has been accorded US by Your
honorable body to set ourselves right,
in making our cause common with that
of either the architect or contractor.
and have endeavored to divorce our
selves insofar as possible from them.
First Of all, though out of office, we
are in measure servants Of the people
and 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. it is but justice to say that
we have found the contractors, in all
their dealings with us honorable busi-
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
State. ..-''
We desire it understood that. We do
not claim that it is impossible that i'm
positions have been practiced upon
this 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
do assert in the most positive manner
that the findings and the conclusions
contained in the report Of the joint in
restigating committee are not Sus-
tanned by the evidence therein con-
tanned. and if they are ever sustained
it must be by evidence produced before
another tribunal. Whether this COM
mission or any Of its rnerGcerS were
ever Gesignedly or unintentionaMy i'm