The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-11-04
BOARD Of AFFAIRS ORDERS
COMPLETE INVESTIGATION

Guthrie, Okla, Oct 2S.-The state
board of public affairs has ordered
an investigation of the charges filed
with the board of w. L. Bishop. who
was foreman of the steel gang at the
state penitentiary that the state has
been defrauded out of several thou
sand dollars by faulty construction
and other alleged Irregularities in con-
nection with the construction of the
state penitentiary buildings at Nc
Alester. Bishop filed the charges over
his affidavit, and involves the Texas
Building company which constructed
the buildings, in charges of alleged
graft.
Chairman Allen of the board an
nounced that the board will begin a
full investigation of the charges No
vember at the Busby hotel at Nc
Alester. The board has notified the
attorney for Bishop of the hearing.
and also has notified the president of
the Texas Building company at Fort
Worth and has issued summons for
him to appear as a witness.
A number of other witnesses also
have been summoned.
The state board of public affairs let
the contract for construction of the
buildings, for which over 5000 900 was
appropriated by the legislature, and
has supervised the work of construc-
ton through an architect. The board
has announced that it has arranged
to employ another architect to check
up the work of the boards architect in
addition to ordering the investigation.
Members of the board state that they
Will sift the charges to the bottom. |
The Texas Building Company has con-
tracts for the erection of the buildings |
Of several other state institutions. !
The charges made by Bishop are |
as follows:
First-That he was paid for alleged
work on time job, while in reality he
vas working on contract job at the
'enitentiary, which was being done by
he Texas Building company.
Second-That the foundations of the
administration building, a contract Job
ire faulty, but that the faults are COW
red up by the walls which were built
bove them.
Third-That the walls of the admin
stration building are twelve inches
larower than the foundations upon
Which they stand.
Fourth-That the construction of the
administration building and the west
ing of the cell house is faulty and ,
OF up to specifications.
Fffth-That the concrete beams in
ertain parts of the administration ,
uilding are not solid, as called for. .
ut hollow, built around wooden shells ;
Sixth-That certain parts of the ad- =
Illustration building already are
racking.
Seyenth-That the steel reinforce :,
tents called for in the plans were H.
omitted to such an ex- .
mt that the strength of the concrete
ork is greatly diminished and the :
Hiding weakened" ;,
Eighth-That foundations of the
est cell house are not up to specifi- b
atoms, permitting that building to
title and the walls to crack. :,
Ninth-That the steel reinforce o
rcement, at widened intervals, put q
ents of the west wing of the cell 7,
'use also were systematically omit =,
|, to the detriment of the strength of
at building. :,
Tenth-That the rivets required in Vi
e specifications were left off in most :,
aces, and that to the extent of IS =,
r cent they were substituted by
Its.
EleVenth-That certain windows in u,
e cell house already show signs of !,