New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-21
HALT ON BUILDING
SchiefeIn's Injunction Checks
Work on Municipal Structure.

~ Oh Oft Ai HHfbt lfuN D' =
Bridge commissioner James W Steven
son. soon after opening bids for the con
struction Of the new s.. 00o. 600 municipal
building opposite the terminal Of the Brook
ivn Bridge. yesterday. was served with an
injunction obtained by William J. Schief-
selin. president Of the Citizens Union, re
strsining him from awarding 4 contract
for the erection Of the building. J. Hamp-
den Dougherty. former Commissioner or
Water supply Gas and Electricity, ap-
pears in tho papers counsel for MI
schienelin Tho writ was issued by Jus
fice MscLean.
incidentally. the old fight between hol-
low tile and cinder concrete freproofng
crops out in the Injunction obtained by
NJ Schieffelin.
COMMISSIONS Stevenson saws that de-
isv al this time means a loss 10 tho city
Of about 81 600 day rental. because the
city has no large Office building Of its own
II Commissioner Stevenson had not been
restrained he would have awarded the con
tract 10 the Thompson-StsrrettC Company.
whose hid was S5.9s5.00o.
There were TWO provisions in the con
tract with reference 10 freproofing. Pro-
vision "A" called for hollow tile filling
between the arches in the floors. while
bids were as follows:
Thompson Starrett Company, OF this city.
ss.eS5.eoo with either hollow tile or STAG
filing
Thomas DIVER. New York. hollow tile
fllinE $4,000. concrete filling. $4,000
= J Carlin Construction Company, of
New York. hollow tile filling. Ss2s5.SS5' con
crete filling 81. 366.0p0
The George A Fuller COMPANY Of New
York. hollow tile filing. S.9Ssco; concrete
lanes Stevart & Co. New York hollow
tie filling. $4,000: concrete filling. Ss-
Iohn Gill & Son. Cleveland. hollow tile
6Iling Ss.7s1. $50: concrete filling. S66e1.5o.
Richard 2. Nottingham. Brooklyn. hollow
file filling, Ss.24fsso; concrete hlling- S'-
BUILDING CODE FIGHT.
Mr. schiefenn asserts that the provisions
for alternative bidding on freproofing are
indefinite and uncertain and tend TO pre-
vent free and open competition and make
& possible 70 show favoritsm toward Ger
tain bidders. permitting the commissioners
20 do acts not provided for in the statute
II wiz he remembered that the fight in
the Building CODE Commission this year
vas over the insertion in the code OF
clauses requiring hollow tile construction In
certain types % fireproof buildings. The
National TNrcproofng Company. which fur
. nishes hollow tile for freproofing. is backed
j., the Tammauy administration. ON the
other hand the Roebling Construction Com
vauv favurs the concrete Cinder method OF
5ireproofng. and in that company is son
of Richard Croker, the old Tammany boss.
The code favoring the hollow tile interests
was not adopted.
Exception is also taken 20 the process Of
making payments upon the architects Ger
tihcate. instead Of upon the estimate of the
oF "a nd 1a In
charge. also 10 the fact that plans and
specifications We're not filed with the ap-
provai OF the Superintendent Of Buildings:
also 10 the provision in the contract that
wood used shall he so treated, chemically,
- 10 render il fireproof"
I'm sorry TO see the work held up. said
commissioner Stevenson. 'for IL means
that as soon as the city gets into its new
building il viii save about S3000 a day in
rentals. The rent roll at the present time
Is 81 0go.0oo year. Alternative bidding was
not called for in the specifications Bidders
were permitted 10 choose the material they
desired 20 use. and bid accordingly. The
architects and engineers inform me that
either method OF fireproofng would be sat
isfactory.
APPROVES PARTIAL PAYMENTS.
with reference 10 partial payments. as
contemplated in the specifications. that
means that the city stood ready to finance
the contract. rather than 10 have the
fractor 90 il, and the saving, 1 believe.
will be about $4,000 on account Of this
method. In was this method that has made
possible the speedy completion OF the
new Manhattan Bridge. II Is worth noting
THAT the architects estimated that the
building would cost 100000, while the
Thompson-Starrett Company bid was for
E5,es5Ooo That indicates that the compet-
lion was a healthy one. and that there was
no favoritism.
There IS no special reason for wanting
~ lay the cornerstone of the building
while Mayor Mcclellan is in office. The
sooner the work is begun the better for
the city, We ought 10 get out of the way
or the subway construction. ! have turned
the entire matter over 10 the Corporation
Counsel"
Inc Commissioner is ordered 10 make his
return in Special Term. Part /. next Thurs
nay. when the argument will be made 70
make the injunction permanent
Meanwhile there is suspended in the big
hole where the foundation work is going
On the cornerstone. which Mayor McClel-
gsn still hopes 20 lay before he retires from
Uf1ce, GA January ].