The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-04-24
SCHOOL CONTRACT
STILL HANGS FIRE
NEW BIDS WILL BE ASKED ON
HEATING PLANT - RIDPATH
AND LEE CLOSE TOGETHER.

still failed TO settle upon VINO should
build the high school Part OF the
Sc ,sion was executive and the board
members We're not putting out very
much information. However it is
generally conceded that the tie mp
is on the heating plant installation.
All bids so far upon that part of the
construction are, in the opinion oI
the board, excessive.
The bids for the erection of the
building proper have been shaved
down to the lowest possible figure
by both Ridpath and Lee, the two
contractors who are still in the run
ning. While exact figures We're not
to be gotten, it was whispered by
those who know, that each of these
gentlemen were right in the neigh
borhood of s7O,0O0. This is for the
/ erection of the building proper and
does not include the heating and
/ plumbing
President lletner of the school
board stated to an Ardmoreite report
er this morning that there was no
doubt but that the heating and plumb
ing proposition would have to be fully
revised and plans for different syS,
TEN of heating made and new bids
asked for However. he sair this
would not interfere with the letting
Of the general contract. The board
will probably be called some time this
afternoon-jus+ as soon, in fact, as
Architect White can revise the plans
and make certain changes in the spe-
ciiications that were agreed upon al
the meeting last night. If it is pos
sibIe to get these ready in time the
board will he called before night and
the contract awarded to one of the
low bidders. As soon as this is done
steps will be taken toward advertis-
ing for new bids upon a different syS-
TEN of heating.
t 1t seems that the "fan-glass" heat.
ing system. called for in the plans
as they are at present will prove 100
/ expensive for installing now and II is
thought that the hot water method
Will be adopted. This is not nearly
so good, nor so modern as the fan
glass but il is thought that it can
be installed for less than half the
money, and. that it can be put in
with such an arrangement that will
admit OF changing to the more elabo-
rate plan at some time in the future
when the board has more money al
their command and the people can
better afford the luxury
In an interview with certain mem
bers of the school board this morn
ing, it was learned upon inquiry, that
the reason for not letting the con
tract all to one general contractor,
calling for the completed building
cheating, plumbing. wiring, light fiX
lures and furniture) with the key
turned over and the bell rope ready
to pull-was that it was thought by
all board members that by splitting
up the letting into the several diff
ferent classes. as has been done, that
the different home men would be Civ
on a better chance to get a portion
of the work. one member OF the
board said that il was the intention
to turn over all these under contract
ors, the superintendent OF the gen
eral contractor and Ito make them
give a GOOD and sufficient bond to
him whereby he would he protected
from Unnecessary and veNatious de
lays from failure upon their part
to perform their part of the work ex-
pediOusly.
The unfortunate excessive prices
of the heating plant that is called
for IN the present plans, has been
the cause OF the delay in the award
ing of this contract and while this
was unforeseen and unavoidable the
board Of education are TO be most
highly commended for taking the
stand that has been taken by them
in refusing to cut out and detract
from the specifications of the build +.
in proper
II might be we'll to say that Mr.
hit", the architect, IS in no way or
manner 10 blame for this unfortunate
delay and exceedingly high prices that
are being sought 10 be charged for the
heating. Upon the selection Of the
ian-glass' system of heating by the
board Mr. White sent 70 Kansas City /,
and employed an architect familiar
with all kinds OF heating plants and
systems, paving him out OF his own
pocket 10 draft the separate plans {
for this heating proposition II was