Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1905-07-12
AIRING STATE HOUSE MATTER

Suit of State of South Carolina Against
Architects For Faulty Construction
of Repairs on State Capitol Comes
Up For Trial at Columbia.
Columbia Special to Charlotte Observer.
The civil suit which will be begun
by the State in the Circuit Court here.
for 100000 damages against the con-.
tracing firm of McIlvane, Unkefer G.
Company and Architect Frank P. MIL
burn, for faulty construction in remod-
cling the State capitol, will attract
much attention throughout the State;
Governor Hayward and number OF
other prominent men have been sum-
moned as witnesses and it is expected
that some sensational evidence WILL pe
brought out.
In the opinion of experts twice as
much money as was necessary to COM
plete the building and put it in perfect
condition has already beeL expended,
although the work is not yet complete:
The scandals, following an exposure OF
the affair, involving certain prominent
politicians belonging to the State house
commission, which accepted the work
and released those responsible from
their bonds, caused the matter to be
the subject of number Of heated de-
bates in the last several Legislature. So
heated, in fact, did the debates be.
come, that, at times, it looked as II
personal violence would result. The new
State house commissions architest, Mr..
C. C.. Wilson, declared that the new
dome was faulty in construction and
liable to fall in with disastrous re-
suits, it's supports being insufficient.
Governor Hayward employed the gov
ernment's leading expert, Mr. kert
Berle, who came here and passed upon
the dome. For the most part he sided
with Mr. Milburn, though the commits
sion Loyalty adhered to the contentious
Of its own expert.
After the architect and contractors
were paid for their work to complete
the building, subsequent Legislature
found it necessary to appropriate Sl45,-
600 more to complete the repairs. A
large amount of this has already been
expended, in a new heating plant and
in permanent work.
The principal point of difference now,
and the one which will receive the most
attention in the trial, is as to whether
a new roof should be added to take the
place of the one the contractors put on
under Architect Milburn. The new
commission has the plans and speclhca-
tions for new roof all ready for
awarding the contracts, and will let
these contracts, as soon as the result Oh
the trial is known. The new roof WILL
be of terra Gotta.
The failure of the million-dollar IN
dependent Cotton Oil Company and the
resultant failure of the 100000 Darl.
ington Trust Company, will cause much
suffering in and near Darlington, where
large amount of the stock was held.
It is understood that controlling IN
terest in both concerns were held in
Darlington and neighboring counties.
In a number of cases the holdlng
amounted to as little as $50 to S3,OU0;,
but these represented the savings OF
years. 1t is stated that a number OF
the larger stock holders, are endorsers
on the company's notes to "a Large zex-c
tent. However, the statement is conf-'
IDENTIFY made that no other business en-
terprises of that section are involved,
and there are those who believe that
both concerns will get on their feet
again. About 100000 worth OF the
stock was hello in Charleston. At one
time the concerns headquarters were
in Charleston, with Morris Israel, OF
that city, as its president. The mead
quarters were moved to Darlington, out
again transferred to Charleston. put
finally went back to Darlington on IN
terests there acquiring control.
The affairs of the two concerns Will
be thoroughly investigated by the re.
ceivers, which Judge Watts appointed
Saturday. Messrs. l.. 2. Williamson. ana
E. C. Lide have been appointed re-
ceivers for the trust company, and MT.
Bright Williamson for the Oil COM
pany.
The complaint in the oil company
cases alleges Indebtedness aggregatlng
s52O. 900. The complaint urging the ap-
pointment of receiver says:
1.-The Independent Cotton OH COM
-pany owns eight oil mills, with ware
houses and other appurtenances, num-
erous ginneries, tank cars, live stock
and appliance has valuable contracts
outstanding, is employing a large num-
ber of hands, and has on hand large
valuable stocks of raw material ana
manufactured product, and it would De
disastrous to the business of the SAID
company and to lis stockholders anu
creditors for its operations TO De sus-
pended