The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1906-12-21
WEST WING WELL BUILT.
GOVERNOR MICKEY SAYS HE
MEANT NO INJUSTICE.
WHEN HE CRITICISED TUNNEL


Took Occasion to Say That Part Of
the Norfolk Insane Hospital Was
Badly Built-He Retracts.
Governor Mickey, in a letter to J. c..
Stitt of Norfolk, states that he intend
ed no injustice to either Mr. Slit as
architect or to Kellner & Woerth of
Scribner, contractors, when he took
occasion in a newspaper interview at
Lincoln the other day, to criticise the
tunnel work at the Norfolk hospital
for the insane. Mr.. Stitt and the CON
tractors did the work on the new west
wing at the institution, which the gov
ernor admits is a superior article of
construction in every detail, and says
that he referred only to the old tun-
mel, built two years ago, as faulty.
The correspondence which brought
about this statement from the govern
or, is as follows:
Mr.. Stitt's Letter.
Norfolk, Neb, Dec. IL, 1906.-Hon
John H. Mickey, Governor of Nebras.
ka-My Dear Governor: | desire to
call your attention to some recent
statements in the press, giving your
criticism of the new tunnel work at
the Norfolk hospital for insane, and
am enclosing herewith clippings from
the World-Herald and from the Omaha
News both of the issue of December
Z.
am prompted to address you in this
matter, because of the injury which
these articles will produce upon those
having no connection with the work in
question, and the injury will result
from what was not said in the articles
rather than from what was said.
The parties at interest in this mat
ter are Kellner & Woerth, contractors,
and myself as architect for the recon
struction of the old west wing, just
recently completed.
Neither Kellner & Woerth, nor my
self had anything to do whatsoever
with the tunnel work referred to in
your report, but the general public,
lacking this information, will infer that
this tunnel work was of our construc-
ton.
And as the west wing reconstruc-
ton was the last work at the hospital,
this inference is but natural.
Kellner & Woerth have already
been made to suffer in consequence,
having received from the surety bond
company with which they deal, a per
emptory letter, under date of Deem
Der 8, inclosing the Omaha News clip
ping and demanding an explanation.
The bond company, of course, as
sumed that the defective work men
toned in the clipping was part of
the Kellner & Woerth contract upon
the west wing, and until this point
could be cleared up to their satisfac-
ton, they would no doubt decline to
supply further bonds for these con-
tractors.
Kellner & Woerth, realizing that
their good name was in jeopardy have
asked me to present the facts to you,
believing that you would speedily take
such action as would relieve them of
undeserved censure.
For myself, | can only say that |
believe that this unfortunate situation
will appeal to your well known reputa-
ton for fairness, and that you will see
to it that the innocent are made to
suffer.
It would be appreciated by us, if
your action would be in the nature OF
a statement to the press, clearly sep
Grating the defective tunnel work from
the work of Kellner & Woerth, con-
tractors, and myself as architect, upon
the old west wing
Yours very truly,
]. c. Stitt.
Governor Meant no Harm.
State of Nebraska, Executive Office,
Lincoln, Dec IL, 1906.-James G. Stitt,
Norfolk, Nebraska-Dear Sir: Yours
01n n o.
clippings from the World-Herald of
December and 7, in relation to the
defective work done at the Norfolk
asylum. In the interview with the re-
porter who talked with me | said spe-
officially that the work in the recon
struction of the west wing of the old
hospital was very fine and that the
building was finished up in excellent
shape and that the work of the tunnel
was done soon after the cottages were
built. | had no thought of doing the
architect or contractors of the late
work there any injustice whatever but
was particular to say to the reporter
that the work of Kellner G. Woerth was
well done and that building was in
nice shape and ready for occupancy as
soon as the furniture came.
The tunnel work | referred to was
done nearly two years ago. | don't
think it was done by the same con-
tractor who built the cottages and |
did not aim to connect the construc-
ton of the tunnel work with either
of the building contracts and referring
to the erection of the cottages and
some defects there | did not in any
way connect you or Kellner & Woerth
with that.
You are at liberty to use this letter
if any injustice has been done you or
the contractors.
Very truly yours,
John H. Mickey,
Governor.