The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-04-21

the contract and claim of the Bount Construction Com
pany against the county.
HISTORY OF COUNTY JAIL.
After considerable discussion extending period
of nearly two years the Board of County Commissioners
decided to build new County jail.
September 7, 1sO0-Board decided build Jail to
cost $750O0O0 complete, and advertisement for plans
ordered.
October 15 19O9Severa architects presented plans in
response to advertisements.
October 16, 19O9-The plans of Rudolph Benz Sons of
Mobile, Ala, for Jail building to cost 100000, were
adopted
November 16, 19O9-Pans and specifications were &C
cepted in which the County agreed to pay per cent
for the plans and this included the services of
pert architect to superintend the erection and
struction of the building. Louis R. Benz was, under
the agreement to furnish the expert knowledge for
the County in the construction of the work.
February g. 191O-Contract which had been advertised
was awarded to the Keynton Construction Company
for the of $120,992.00.
February 49, 191O-Contract executed between the
County and the Keynton Construction Company (af-
forwards, June 10, 1870 changing its name to the
Blount Construction Company.
Public sentiment was so much opposed to the building
of so expensive Jail that only member of the
Board of County Commissioners which had made the
for the jail offering, who reelected. This
George H. Davis, who had fought and voted
against the proposition.
January g. 1911-The Board of County Commission
ers went into office finding the Jail about one-half
tvvo-thirds completed The orders by Architect Benz
for extras the Blount Construction Company soon
became source Of great annoyance 20 the board
April and May 1911-Contractor F. M Blount, of the
Blount Constitution Company, being absent, the
work practically stopped for about two months.
September s. 1911-Archtect Benz and the Contractor
were both notified that more orders by Benz for
extras would be allowed.
November a. 1911-The B1ount Construction Company
notified the Board by letter that the building
plete and requested inspection by the Board and
ceptance Architect Benz reported the building as
complete, except in few mino- details and rec
commended the Boards acceptance of and payment for
the building and that the Board hold back enough
cover these insignificant details until finished and
then pay over the small balance held back to the
Contractor.
November g. 1911-Architect Benz called upon by
the Board for complete retaiIed report on the Jail
showing whether the Blount Construction Companys
claim that the building complete was correct
Mr. Benz stated that he would not make detailed
report that he heard of such action before that
it not expected that an architect should make
such report and that in all his experience this was
the first time he had ever heard of such thing.
December 5, 1911-The Board called upon Mr.. Geo. M
Hopkinson, of New York. Supervising Architect for
Stoddart &, Company, Architect for the San Carlos
Hotel, to come 10 Pensacola and make report as to
whether the Jail was complete.
December g. 1911-Geo M. Hopknson made report to
the Board showing in detail great amount of unfin-
ished work to be done the building by both the
Blount Constitution Compay and also by the plumb
! ing and heatg contractors.
l Architect Benz then also made a report showing
practically the same state of incompetion of the build
i ing as Hopknson had shown.
On receipt of these reports the Commissioners
:: inspected the building. Then the Blount Construc
ton Company vas written letter by the Board and
furnished with iterrized statement of unfinished
eI,o b1,I ID