The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-08-15
The Municipal Building
Situation.

fact, there come times in the conduct
of an enterprise of this magnitude
when, if the building was being con-
structed by private citizen, many
facts concerning it would be regarded
as of personal nature and would be
withheld, such reticence being recog
nized as perfectly proper, in an an in
dividual, and usually resulting to his
advantage. While no essential fact
regarding Skowhegan's municipal
building has been withheld by the
committee in charge of same, the
REPORTER has felt that the interests
of the town might be injured by the
too early publication of the develop
ments of the past few weeks and has
omitted all reference to them. So
far as an excuse exists, the above
considerations must be accepted as a
reason for the silence thus far main
tanned, the REPORTER having only in
mind the real interests of the town in
this very important matter.
At the present moment the COM
mittee will not be hindered in their
work or the interests of the town
jeopardized by a publication of all
the facts. 1t will be recalled that the
town originally voted S40,0 900 for a
municipal building. At subsequent
town meeting, upon the report of the
committee, based upon the state
ments of architect John G. Stevens Of
Portland, an additional $4,000 was
voted. The architect was confident
that the town could not build a sat
isfactory building for $4,000 but did
advise the committee definitely that
for $4,000 building could be built,
upon plans which he had submitted
to them, and which they exhibited at
the meeting as part of their report,
at the time the $4,000 above referred
to was voted.
Immediately following this meeting
Mr. Stevens prepared complete plans
and specifications which were sub
mitted to all contractors who cared to
investigate them, and, upon these,
seven bids were received, and opened
on July 2s, the firms bidding being as
follows: H. 9. Purington & Co., Water
vile; j. Philbrick & Son, Brunswick;
F. E. Witham, Waverville; L. E. Brad
street, Hallowell; R. j. Noyes, Angus
ia; Eli Roy, Lewiston; Woodbury. &
Leighton, Boston. But one of the
above firms was within the appro-
priation named by the town, 1856, o00)
and, as he ound himself unable to fur
nish asuitable bond, the committee
could not accept his bid. The other
bids were SO much above the appro-
priations that their acceptance was
out of the question, and having re-
sered the right to reject any and all
bids, they felt obliged to do as they
have done.
The situation is such as to tax the
patience of all concerned but it is a
condition and not theory and should
be met with the best grace possible.
The chief burden and anxiety falls
upon the building committee and they
are entitled to the sympathy and en-
couragement of every citizen. No
one doubts but they have made their
best efforts and to offer unfriendly
criticism would be to discourage and
perplex them when it is highly for
the public interest that they be en-
couraged and aided. So far as the
architect is concerned, it would seem
that he should be willing to accept
the responsibility for the present di-
lemma. His services were worth little
or nothing unless he could give the
opinion as an expert regarding the
cost of the structure that the town
proposed to build. In this estimate,
which was the vital point of the
whole matter, he seems to have erred
in most extraordinary manner.
The general Judgment will be that he
should have been sufficiently familiar
with the cost of material and labor TO
tell, within very small margin, what
such building would cost. This err
ror promises to be the cause of vex
atious delay and some extra expense
in our Municipal Building en- .erprise
Relying upon the assurance OF Arch
itect Stevens that the building could
be erected for 500, 200 or less. the COM
mittee had every reason to look for
one or more bids, from reliable con-
tractors, within this sum, and the
outcome was very disappointing to
them. Moreover, as it was very i'm
portant to get the construction
underway to take advantage of the
best of the building season, they i'm
mediately commenced upon the
foundation and completed it, follow
ing the foundation outline of the
building which Mr.. Stevens had told
them could be placed thereon at or
below the sum voted by the town for
the purpose. Mr.. Stevens was their
engineer and they were
warranted in relying upon his
statements in regard to the cost of
the building. In soliciting business,
architects are always ready to repre-
qont "a ona nf tho nripoip al raaanno