New-York tribune., 1905-05-31
HALL OF RECORDS DELAY.
MORE COST By CHANGES.
Contract for alterations to Take zoo
Days Is AdUertised.

Another half million dollars for alterations
and equipment, and at least two hundred DAYS
delay. is the astonishing programme of Borough
President Ahearn for the new Hall OF Records
The money Is to be spent on plans submitted
by Horgan Sc slattery. the architects favored
by Tanmany Hall under the Van wyck admin
istration, and 1t is understood that the firm will
get the customary fee OF 10 per cent for work
done under its plans.
The contract is advertised in THE City Rec
ord" 1t affords another illustration Of the
singular things that are taking place in the
Tarnmany Board of Estimate and Apportioa-
rnent.
AT the beginning Of this year John Peirce. the
contractor for the Hall of Records told Trib-
une reporter that the building would be ready
for occupancy by July 1. He said his
work on IT would be entirely finished by the
first week in May and that it would take only
q Few weeks at the outside to get the rooms all
ready for occupancy by the various city de-
partments which are to move in as soon as
practicable. The Hall OF Records up to date
has cost the city about S6.OOO,OO0 and has been
about eight years in building. The contract
Just being advertised by Borough President
Ahearn gives the successful bidder two hundred
days in which TO complete his work. To con-
tractors that means about three hundred days,
as excuses for delay always can be found. The
bids for the alterations are to be opened on
Thursday, June 22 and are to cover the fol-
lowing features:
Alterations in rooms on basement first, sec
ond, third, fourth, fifth. fifth mezzanine, sixth,
seventh, eighth and attic floors; also for ex-
tension to the electric lighting equipment.
plumbing and heating carpenter and cabinet
work. hardware, metallic and other furniture.
painting, electric lighting fixtures, marble and
bronze works. plastering, freproofng and other
work, for the completion Of the Hall of Records
Building, Chambers, Centre Reade and a new
street, in the city of New-York. Borough OF
Manhattan
The time allowed for doing and completing
the work will be two hundred days
The security required will be S25OOOO
Bidders must state a lump sum for the above
contract, as IL is entire and for a complete Job.
Plans and drawings may be seen and blank
forms of the contract and specifications may be
obtained at the office of the architects, Horgan
& slattery. No. 1 Madison-ave.. Borough Of
Manhattan.
The plans for the Hall of Records were drawn
by the late John r. Thomas and architects
everywhere have been in the habit Of declaring
them to be most perfect. That thousands of
dollars should be spent on alterations before
the building is occupied is regarded as a scandal
The building was in a fair way to be completed
at an early date when the Mcclellan admin
istration came into power. Since then there
has been a succession of delays. The announce
ment by Borough President Ahearn is the first
intimation given to the public that there is at
least two hundred days work still to be done
The Law Department. the County Register
the Department Of Taxes and Assessments. and
perhaps the County Clerk are TO have head
quarters in the new building If it ever is done
The city is paying hundreds of thousands OF
dollars year in rent, because the prospective
where.