The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-06-11
New Court House.
Committee on Court House
Improvements Agrees on
Work to be Done-PIans
Changed From Those Origi-
nally Contemplated = Bids
Submitted All Above Limit.

In the matter Of the proposed
court house improvements none Of
the bidssubmitted, five i'm all, We're
accepted. None came within the
limit, $4,000, which the Commits
sioners were authorized to expend.
The lowest bid for building the new
part or front as per plans and speci-
fications and making the necessary
alterations and additions to the rear
or old part, was SIG, 100, for the new
part and 81, Us for the rear, $17,S75.
Removing tie old part, $5,472, or a
total of $24, 347.
The next lowest bid was $15, $50
for the new part, $2,17O for the old,
$1S, 1855. Removing the old part,
$4,000. Total, $24, 155.
Another was ST. 149 for the new
part complete; work on old part,
81, 1872; total, $19,641.
Still another was $19,967 for the
new part alone, work not to include
the old part
One bid was $5,S47 for removing
the old part, no bid for doing any
part of the work of building or re-
modelling
1t was decided in view of the cir,
cumstances not to accept any of the
bids. Mr.. Milburn, the architect, was
present and said if $15, 700 was all
that it was proposed to spend iT the
improvements contemplated he could
modify the plans and requirements
as to material used and bring the
work down within the sum without
materially altering the general plans,
appearance and utility of the build
ing. The committee did not favor
this idea, however, the concensus of
opinion being that if anything like
ST., 700 was to be spent it would be
better to appropriate a few thousand
dollars more and tear down and
build anew from the foundation,
utilizing as much of the old material
as possible. But there was not
disposition on the part of the Com
missioners to do this at this time.
After consideration and discussion
OF the matter at length the commit
tee decided to abandon the idea of
building the new part in front as con-
templated in the plans and build at
the back instead. This addition
would give two office rooms down
stairs for the clerk and register of
deeds and new fire proof record rooms
with basement, closets, etc. Above
in the rear of the Judges stand
would be two rooms, one for the
grand jury and the other for petit
jury or lawyers consultation room.
The present offices of the clerk and
register of deeds would be enlarged
by having the vaults, taken out and
other changes made. There is need
of more office room in the court
house, a place to hold magistrates
court being especially needed.
In addition to the work already
mentioned it is proposed to do some
needed repairs to the building inside
and out, paint and pencil it, change
the front and modernize and make
it adequate to unnecessary demands
for years to come.
Mr.. Milburn is to draw the plans
and specifications to meet the ideas
OF the committee as above outlined
and says he thinks he can do this
| quitting the front as originally drawn
for the new part)in the rear and get
all the work done at an expense not
exceeding $4,000. This new part
would be in the nature of a perma-
nent improvement or investment as it
can be added to and built out to the
front at any time in the future when
Vance county shall have outgrown
| the remOdeled court house and it no
longer serves the purpose for which
it was designed as in the case of the
old one now.
Mr.. Milburn's plans having been
accepted by a previous committee,
he will of course be paid for them al
though they are not adopted, but he
will make no further charge for the
work as now contemplated. And
after all the money paid for those
plans will prove money we'll spent-a
saving to the county in fact, OF sew
eral times the amount. Having
them to 60 by and threshing the
matter over as it has been plan
has been evolved which we believe will
be more satisfactory in the end at
considerably less cost to the tax
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