Fergus County Democrat., 1907-06-11


market to purchase it. 1t is only
talr to the people OF Fergus county
that they should get the best skilled
contractors and mechanics possible
to build such a building, men who
have had experience in building
fire proof buildings 1t has been the
aim OF the commissioners and archi-
tect to not only have competent
man do this work but a man tinan-
cially able to carry out his agree
ment
Mr.. Gauntt undertook the task of
planning court house building to
cost 100000. He gave the commits
sioners nicer design than they
dared to hope for and $500 worth
OF marble that was not in the orig
NAL specifications, also copper doors
tor entrances and corridors and in
every way helped to make the plans
and specifications such that credit
able building would result and. as
everyone knows, it costs more to
build in Lewistown than on the main
lines of railways. Both Mr. Olsen
and Mr.. Oliver figured to use the
pressed brick in their bids. This
was done at the request of the COM
missoners and architect as it was
found on investigation that the
stone would not make as desirable
building as the brick Samples of the
brick to be used are on exhibition at
the commissioners office in the
court house whey they can be seen
by anyone. This brick is from fire
clay and IS considered the best pres
sed brick made in the west. Aside
from making more durable build
ing than the stone it will make a
much more handsome appearance
1T is not true that this change III ma
terial was made after the contract
was let. Both contractors figured
pressed brick III their bids While
Fergus county has some good build
ing stone it is Of too soft a formation
to enter extensively into the construc-
ton Of a fire proof building where
the loads and weights are such that
the sand stone would not stand the
strain and cracked building would
result. This feature has been avoid
~ Dy tllC uSc ~ llldleTldl dS COIL
tracted for
Contractors who have had ex-
perience i'll building this class of
structures say that the plans and
specifications are as complete as they
could be made. 1t is but fair to say
that unless a contractor had had ex-
perence in erecting this class OF
buildings he would not know how to
figure for even in the large cities
there are but a few contractors who
are familiar with this line Of work.
1t would be asking too much OF Fer
gus county to let someone experiment
with this building just because he
lived in the county and needed a
job.
Mr.. divers bid for the building
was 10000 and his bid for plumbing,
heating and wiring was $1,000 and
this was SO understood by the COM
mlssioners and architect. Mr.. Oliver
made a very reasonably bid and it
was but fair and just to him, i'll we,
Of the fact that he would put up the
building, to let him have the smaller
contract and besides Fergus county
was the gamer to the extent OF
$500
1t would be entirely unrea sonable
to ask the commissioners and the ar
chltect to put man on the work
who had never had any experience
with ire proof structure. Such
man might see the mortar mixed and
the work piled up without knowing
whether it was right or wrong. 1t
is the business Of the architect and
commissioners to give the contractor
all the assistance possible by putting
a competent man on the work who
is familiar with the different branch
es OF building that will enter into its
composition so that he may be able
to devise and direct the Wrk SO
that when the work is completed it
will have the appearance OF having
been done by mechanics and com
petent workmen.
Now as to the kind of building
Fergus county will get, the specitl-
cations give the same power to the
commissioners as the architect pos
sesses and they will have as much
authority as the architect; in fact, the
commissioners must approve every
thing. The contractor has no tenancy
whatever on the grounds and is en-
tirely under the control OF the COM
missioners and the architect, being
bound by the strongest specifications
and contract that could possibly be
devised, besides having given bonds
as required by the contract and the
laws of Montana for the proper CON
struction of this building
The commissioners Of Fergus
county have done their work in a
highly creditable manner and have
put forth every effort to give Fergus
county grand court house and it
may be said they have succeeded in
getting competent and skilled men to
cons truct tho b,,ild;pu for n raacop-