Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-12
Nebraska
MILLER REPORTS ON BUILDING
State Inspector Examines Structures
at Kesrney and Norfolk.
FINDS LATTER POORLY BUILT
Frona Lack of suPervisiOn or Neglect
of specifications vital Defects
Exist, but Hospital May
Re Habitable.
CFror a staff Correspondent

LINCOLN, Neb. May u.-(Speciai.)-
Land Commissioner Cowles today gave out
substantially the purport Of Investigations
made by Burd F. Miller of Omaha recently
appointed inspector Of public buildings at
different state institutions. The statement
given out by the Board Of Public Lands
and Buildings, of which e. B. Cowles Isl
chairman. follows;
Burd F. Miller, supervisor of construc-
ton Of state buildings, has reported to the
governor and oBsrd OF Public Lands and
scboo Is IN bsd sani,aEy cnpS,t,o rno thst
is infested with rates and that repairs
must be made. He has reported the Norfolk
asylum in good sanitary condition, but he
finds much fault with the planning of the
hospital building which remains unfinished
ana complains that the contractor was
either grossly Incompetent or wilfully negli-
| OF the Kearney institution he says: u
find the premises are infested with rats
IL such an extent that I would consider
Il dangerous for the health of the inmates.
However, this ] think, can be easily and
speedily remedied II the board will allow
me to secure the services of some person
who has some ferrets to go with me to
this institution and rid II of these pests.
] think this can be done at very small ez-
pense."
\ Plumbing II Unsanitary.
The reports further state that the base.
| ments Of nearly all OF the buildings are
not properly ventilated and the majority of
the plumbing it unfit for use, and II not
Il Immediately remedied may be a source oil
disease. New concrete floors in some
basement rooms are recommended. These
include the dairy room, Kitchen and that
portion used by the cooling room. The
cooling room is unfit for use and will have
to be replaced
condition. and the boys kitchen, which is
In the building, Is in the same bad condi-
tion: Mr.. Miller believes that most of tho
work he recommends to be done can be
done by the inmates IL the hoard will
secure some one who Is competent to show
buildings be painted by inmates. under th.
direction of Mr.. Ashenfelter who is an ex-
Pert painter by trade A small hospital is
converted to that use He recommends
that the board buy plumbing material and
secure a first.class master plumber and
one helper to do the work. tHe inmates to
furnish the common labor.
Mr.. Miller finds the entire Norfolk asy-
lum In good sanitary condition. He also
clean, including kitchens and all other
portions Of the premises used by inmates
In fact he belieyes the entire institution is
well managed. Minor repairs needed about
r the old buildings can be done by the car
, penter there and by others
Regarding the new hospital building at
Norfolk, Mr.. Miller finds that the unfin-
ished building Is poorly planned that the
! contractor was either grossly incompetent
? and that the most practical thing to do is
Immediately to set to work to remedy these
oefocCS as best the state can under the
conditions In proof OF what he says he
, alleges that the marble work is not COM
plete. The cap moulding of marble in the
halls runs uneven, not having been laid to
8 line This to a certain extent is due to
3 the unevenness Of the floor. In some OF
: the bath rooms the marble Joints are not
properly cemented. The floors are very
uneven, apparently through weak con-
/. struction of the reinforcements, necessi-
tstins great s%oaTt Of sstss on the
: to make the ceilings straiRht.g This ds -due
. finish of marble about the stairs is not
: complete, but Mr.. Milleft sayslh Is unable
: to place the blame because he has not
= been able to secure the plans and specified
n says, may have been the fault of the gen.
s eral contractor, or architect.
Too Many Windows.
MIR. Miller says the interior doors are toe
large and the windows too large and toe
: numerous and he fears even with storm
windows II will be difficult to keep the
: hospital building warm He found bath
! rooms on the north side with windows
= covering over half the interior wall and
v Notwithstanding all OF this glass surface
o no provision for heat bad been made II
g these rooms. A defect in the building IL
Q its location with reference TO grade lines
e The concrete work In the basement is In
bad condition, being checked and heaving
Mr.. Miller says: ut would seem to m'
= as II this work had lacked proper super
o vision during construction, there ar,
d many other parts Of the building that show
It poor workmanship, with apparently an at
n tempt TO evade specifications and details
Il am not familiar enough with the circum
d stances surrounding the construction o
d this building to give any further opinion.
Is He recommends methods by which tn,
II building can be completed and says will