The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-19

IN lila experiencc lat was final and that
the contractor could not be held there
ufter except for fraud.
|E3t Snator Rison interjected:
'The board should not nave SUI uFrel'oe'-
| ed that bond" 3 $5 la
Witness said, In answer to n question
by Colonel Lawless. that DR.. Foster. pos
| sibly four or I'VE months ago had asker
his advice about changing coi1d,tlons - nov
existing at the Montague pullu i J.,
| Mfr. baskerville wag then REQUESTED -
| examine the Montague building ana 10
report verbally to the committee
Contractor Testifies.
AR. John n. Wilson. contractor for the
Montague building, then took the sta o,1.
| Witness sn,d tho building was tirst
1xnown as the 'Foster Building, but me
name was later changed to Mo ~
Building. b ,,,er ,yo.
Witness said that seasoned ti'nDei ,.s ~"
not used nor was It required TO pe useu'
Witness said that floors were la'd he-
rore tho roof was on. Two stori:a W., ware =
IN L when he received notice nut i!c
| must put in the iloors: ~, 80 !.
Witness said that nc discussed the mat
!. FER with Mr. Pebasco and Dr. fostei,
| and told them that the flooring was e 1,,..
| and that there would be shr'nKase. W.,
nrss said that he was told TO PVT Gown
| the foors ,o,d
! +ha@ doors II he had not been ordcreu 10
| do 30 .,1,,,+ r,,,th
i Dr. Foster that the flooring shouln ~
4 allowed to dry ont before put down. NY W
i for some reason DR.. Foster decllheu >, "
4 oiiow rim TO air dry tho timber. ~.
Tostnr did not explain the reason.
Witness said It was his custom 70 pll.
an tho roof before laying the floors, una
l thot he would have done SO IN thls case
Z had not Dr.. Foster Insisted upon MS
doing so. Mr.
Baskerville, who told him ne mao nov; nos'.-
| inp to do with constructing the bhiidol hs.
r. wilson said thnt his orders came
from Mr.. Pebasco and Or. Foster. NJ.
l Pehosco. witness said, impressed MN as
i hc,nu competent for the work.
4 Chni rmnn sndler then read g letter az
! dressed to Mr.. Wilson by Pr. ,, os.nr,
4 tellins him that he would not be allo"ea
!. to proceed higher than the seGona st !. y
/ g,infil he laid the flooring. WNncss sur
\ thot Dr, Foster had sent him the let'er,
.,,,,,oh ~ ono time he thought he would
+ not consider. ,,,yor
11,,tncss said that the excuse was gwen
mn tho building might fall IN unless
Z the floors were put down.
Il n Witness said that there was no oahser
Of such thing. That ne hnu ;pu ny. ~
tu,dInrs six and seven stories hien VIII
1 nut floors being put in until afterwards ;;
Witness said that Mr.. Prebasco toiu
htn, thai DR.. Foster had Wdered the
q flnors to be laid and that It had 10 DC
4 DONE ,,,,a of rho
floors saved him money as wen US US -. ~
brick contractors. ,,a. =, II,
The committee then took recess un'''
$780, ,
Saved One Thousand.
4 Continuing, after recess MT, wilson !, su ~
the saving Of scafiold,hs nl''o any, L., =
we nrefcrred, he said. not TO save th''
amount at the expense OF the bu'ldlng.
$ Witness said 1t was impossible 10 get .
( water proof floor'out OF wood.
Il Witness said that the floors should DC
i b,,ilt Of cement and metal with nara IN,
4 ish plaster ceiling. This. he SAD! Woulu
make the floor water proof, as wen as
yermin proof.
Vermin Proof
!, These improvements would cost % GEMS
per square foot for both.
(Note-The improvements for the Mon
tapuo building at this price per foot
, would cost about s10,6oO)
Witness said that he thought Dr. Fos
fer had the authority to make him pu'
, down the floor and for that reason nc
t did 1t. 49,,
Witness said the cracks In the 1901
would not have been Or lalf SO larss
r if the floor had been laid after the rool
was on.
, Witness said his liability ceased aftol
, the building was accepted and his bon:
: cancelled.
Witness said that he had never hefo OF
been required to lay tho floor before w
. roof was on, and In this instance NC
] gained about $1,000 by doing IT,
Q Mr., Wilson then stood aside.
Mr., II. Z. Baskerville was then recalled
$ and questioned regarding the inspection
l OF the Montague building. Witness sale
that he found the floors In better CON
Q ditlon than is usual IN such buildlsSA
! The ceilings were not in ms good con
d dition Witness thought 1t was cause!
J by intense steam heat, Witness sale
that DR. Foster took an earnest intercs
In tho building and was constantly arollnt
. tho work, He thought that DR., Foste
\ was we'll informed regarding construction
= far beyond tho ordinary. q
!. i,iist,t According to Plans.
y witness said he thought the Montague
| n Z. . +