The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-24
HIGH SCHOOL
PLANS CAUSE
BIG ROW

-
chair. the committeemen and the archi-
tects were arguing. shouting and
threatening. Early in the session. be-
fort things became warm, Commits
sioner ]. Edward Smith offered the mo-
ton to reject the bids, and 1t was
passed unanimously without comment
by the commissioners. There was no
room For controversy as the total of the
bids was nearly double h amount APP
proprjated for the building, and City
Counsel James r. Nugent had advised
against consideration of the bids. Last
nights action means that the erection
of the High School Is indefinitely post
poned.
While all the debates were warm,
that between Commissioner John
Eisele and Architect Myers was hottest
The commissioner had prepared data
on the matter. and he fired 1t at the
architect like hot shot. He accused the
architect with thinking he was talking
to the primary class and not grown
mon when he stated that If the masonry
had cost the same as tina in the Bur
net Street School, less than IS cents a
cubic foot, the building could have been
erected with the sum at hand. He said
Il also mat IIG dTCuittCt q w ~
previous meeting of thec committee that
the work could be done for 100000.
This Mr.. Myers denied and informed
The commissioners that he never made
that wild statement" The architect
informed him that he was not paid to
estimate on the building. but to draw
the plans. and called the committees
attention to the fact that he suggested
81 Nrn0 mn 10 n aIyad urhQn the question
Of the appropriation came up first, pre-
vious to the budget being sent TO the
board of examiners.
Mr. MYERS had report ON the bios for
presentation last night, and he said that II
new plans were to be prepared he wouio
expect new compensation on the basis OF
the cost OF the proposed new building. he
denied all blame for the lowest bids ex-
ceedina In total the amount of the appro-
priation and dlsclaimed all formal knowl-
edge of the fact that the committee desired
to build n school ut a cost not to exceed
100000.
what do you suppose we hired you
gor?'' asked Mr.. Eisele. What do You
suppose we are paying you the taxpayers
money for2 I think it is all rot, aoornin-
able, detestable rot. and l don't care 10
hear any more of it," .
,'Hold M. there, said MIR. Myers. 81
never said that this school could be built
for $4O0,OOo. / did say that l thought II
might be built for that sum. however,
comparing 1T with the cost Of the South
Eighth Street School. Now, | want TO
say that I have always acted honorably
ana instlv to your committee; ] have al
wavs served them to the best OF my abil-
ity, ana with an ability that is unques-
toned. / am now one man against ten,
and maybe thirty or 10000, but l still
maintain that l never made q statement &c
the effect that this building could be erect
ed for 100000"
'If we wanted a picture of a house. Mr.,
MYERS" continued Commissioned Eisele,
1--WE could have gotten 1t out Of a maya
zine fifty years old for far less money
The architect was about to reply, Wher
he was checked by a further remark IRON
the commissions to the effect that such Q
picture would answer the purpose just as
well as the plans furnished. no matter how
old the picture might I've.
All this time other commissioners were
attempting to question the architect. Al
length Commissioner J. Edward Smith wa:
heard to inquire:
Didn't you know, Mr.. Myers, when yot
first started those plans that that building
would. cost in the neighborhood of 500,
00?"
mo. sir was the prompt esponse
1--WE are not estimating contractors. Yot
have ON your committee a very able sanC
honorable member who has followed thu
work almost as closely as / lave ant
who il familiar With estimating. Every
idea, every drawing. was called to nj
attention, and | dare say the gentleman
has never had such an idea"
Regarding the cost Of the excavation
Mr.. Myers stated hat 1t was larger thar
he thought II would be on account of thu
solid rock through which It would b
necessary to ~excavate. Nobody knew
the rock was there however" he added
Il didu't put It there"
Assistant Secretary OF the Board Samua