The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-11-01
Is Not Related to Him In
City Hall Construction.
THE MAYOR REPORTS THAT he
COULD NOT OBTAIN ADMIT.
LANCE TO WHERE WORK WAS
BEING DONE, BUT SAW MEN
POUNDING UP CEMENT AND
PUTTING 1T IN BARRELS.


interesting meetings of the Board Of
Public Works ever held In the CITY.
was that of yesterday afternoon. The
meeting was in connection with the
alleged damaged cement used in the
city hall. Architect Ausfeld was pres
emit, and added considerable interest
10 the session, especially when it
reached the point where the architect
told the board In a very few words
that he had no relations whatever
with the Board of Public Works and
declined to answer any questions
along certain lines. He did tell the
board, however, that he was not pres
ent when the foundation was COM
menced, and had no representative
upon the ground during the period
of construction Of that portion of the
work completed. The sum total of
the session was a strong resolution
requesting the city attorney to give
his opinion whether or not the Board
Of Public Works had any supervision
over Architect Ausfeld and Contract
or Turner-in other words what
powers the BOARD had in the erection
of the city hall
The Meeting convenes.
The special meeting of the board
convened at about 5;45 o'clock with
Mayor Bliss, Chairman Zellus and Mr..
Daniel present. Architect Ausfeld
was also present.
The mayor. acting as temporary
chairman, stated the purpose to be to
find out the status OF the city haH
building. He then read letter from
Chairman Green, Of the Bond Trus-
tees, who stated that Architect Aus
field had reported regarding the &C.
ment, saying that it was the very
best obtainable and that the con-
tractor was using great care in the
construction Of the building.
This finished, the mayor said to
Mr.. Ausfeld:
1.-THE board would like to know
what is your relation to the Board
of Public Works."
II have no relatiH whatever" said
the Architect, with the Board OF
Public Works. My relations are sole
ly with the Board of Bond Trustees"
Then" said the mayor, "how do
you reconcile this clause in your con-
tract with the city, which states
plainly that you shall superintend the
construction OF the building under
the supervision of the Board Of Public
Works."
ooh, you can go there" replied the
architect. "and superintend the con-
struction."
az don't know" replied the mayor.
al went there this afternoon and
found myself locked out"
Now, I do not feel that ! am on
the witness stand" said Mr.. Ausfeld.
y"and do not care to answer any
questions at the present time"
Beginning Of Work.
well then" asked the mayor.
when was the work on the city hall
begun
"That cannot state exactly said
rhe architect. "but / have a letter
from the contractor which gives the
date"
well, when was the concrete
work begun" asked the mayor.
II guess they commenced 1t last
week" replied Mr.. Ausfeld.
Then" asked the mayor, III you
have not been on the ground. how
do YOU know that damaged cement
has not been used?"
Mr.. Ausfeld then told the board
that damaged cement had not been
used as he had made tests OF the
work done, and these tests showed
II to be of the best quality OF work.
There is a quantity of damaged CO
ments on the site. said MIR. AusfeId'
but none of this is being used. He
then explained In detail to the board
the formation OF cement In barrels
where il was exposed to water, ana
stated that cement that had become
"set" could not be used for tEe
reason that 1t was as hard as mint
That portion, ne said, IN each barrel,
which was good was soft and conse-
ouentlv this only was being used.
How do you know that hard ce-
ment has not been used?" asked Mt
Daniel What we saw the other day
showed that some sharp instrument
had been used to pick out the &C.
ment, and it evidently could not have
beer very SOFT
1.-THE work is there to show for IL
seIf," replied the architect
1T is impossible for you to know
anything about this cement" said Mr..
Daniel. You are only assuming.
How do you know what condition the
cement was in?'
aTha cOncreta w0-.l, ." rnpIipd the