Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-10
COURT HOUSE IN BAD SHAPE
Iatenser Files Complaint with the
County Board on Wood Finishing.
HARTE SAYS WORK Is ROTTEN
Investigation Develops that Demo-
cratic County BOARD Has Left
the Affairs of New Build
ing Badly Muddled.


ing Badly Muddled.
Drastic criticism OF the wood finishing
en- the new county building and Of othsl
work on the structure was made by JohT
I.atenser, architect OF the building, al
the first meeting Of the reorganizeu
Board Of County Commissioners yesterday
il resulted in decision OF the commits
sioners TO call in Caldwell & Drake. the
general contractors. and their bOndsmen.
County Attorney James =. English and
Mr.. Isienser for a conference at which
all matters in connection with the new
building thoroughly Will be threshed.
Mr.. Latenser's report was not the only
matter in connection with the new build
ing which vas discussed. Other details
were considered and 1t developed that tho
entire matter was left in a muddle by
the old board.
Mr.. Latenser's report on the wood I'm
fishing was as folloWE:
I md the finish is not installed accord
ing to specifications. The base should
he housed into plinth blocks II Is I'm
ished with butt joints, which have already
opened up. The base at all angles should
be grooyed and tongued; this refers TO
in the cheapest manner with all butt
Joints, except moulding, which Is coped
no way TO conceal joint in case Of
shrinkage l find the doors are badly
warped and don't fit the rehated Jam
Some doors are one-quarter inch OIL at
the top OF door. Doors also small In
width, showing one-eighth inch TO three
siNteenths inch joint on some doors.
lind panels in some Of the doors are
Fhrllnk and show One-eighth inch shrink
age from finished style The base Is
badly drawing away from the plaster in
some places. Floors In most all me
rooms are badly COPIED. l find good
many joints opened in base and casing
and chair rail-
vault Doors Had.
Mr.. I.atenser declared that the vault
doors which Caldwell & Drake proposed
10 put in the now building and which he
condemned nearly three months ago be-
cause they were below specifications, still
are In the building, Notwithstanding the
fact that he put the matter up to the
board long ago and Caldwell 4 Drake
appealed to the board from tee architects
condemnation.
The specified vault doors would cost
about sl.soo," said Mr.. Latenser. while
the doors that are over there cost about
$3.50 or 400"
absolutely Rotten"
Commissioner A. c. Harte said that two
weeks ago he had occasion 10 visit the
new county building. looked over the
woodwork and found IL absolutely t9t-
ten" The filling. he said. was terrible.
AFR. Latenser said such work never should
be filled at all
A resolution calling upon the architect
for q complete report Of all progress on
the building since its construction was
begun. giving amounts paid. amounts due.
and balances on hand was unanimously
adopted As soon as this report Is re
ceived the conference with the contrac.
tors their bondsmen and others interested
viii be called. m.
During the discussion II developed that
when former Commissioner Oscar ].
Pickard and Commissioner Peter +.
Elsasser recently visited the quarrles and
general offices OF the Colorado Yuie Mar
bic company In Marble. Colo. the com.
pany's officials proposed another substtu-
tion In the marble contract and Mr.
Pickard told them he thought the board
would approve the substitution.
WIN Not Take substitute.
As . result the company has shipped
samples OF golden vein marble, which II
wishes to substitute for Pavanaso marble
IN the plasters. The samples arrived yes
terdAy and the commissioners decided 10
look at them as a matter Of courtesy. but
Commissioners Harte. Lynch, Elsasser
and Best declared they have no Intention
OF approving any substitution.
The board voted TO pay Caldwell q
brakes claim for work done during De-
eembcr. sii.at6,T5. when this is paid the
situation win be as follows:
Monte. Psld out.
Pad for December. II, tis. IS
previously paid ..".,......,.....,. So. 6l3. AZ
Total paid $50. 90. II
IohtFact price s..sstts..........s... Sl2.bil 90
Balance yet to be paid. ........,.., 2t2. 80. 50
Calvin zelgler. superintendent Of the
building for Caldwell & Drake. protested
against the boards deduoting from the
December payment sl.e0 for coal used in
heating the new building. The deduction
was TO have been made under a contract
between the general contractors and the
county, made to accommodate the con.
tractors when cold weather set in and
found them unable TO heat the building.
The county was to heat " for them and
they were 10 reimburse the county for
coal Zelgler said he had no way OF
knowing whether or not the bill Of 8. CSC
was correct. He was given time 10 check
the bill and win be expected to pay mex,
month.
BUICK OIL COMPANY HAS NEW
OIL PRODUCING GUSHER
Lucius Wells, Omaha representative Of
tfe Buick on company. Is In receipt Of
a copy Of the following telegram under
date Of January from J. b. Lehigh
Vice president Of the Buick Oil company
10 b. r. Moffat, Chicago representative
and financier of the company: The ex.
reeted New Years gift TO the Buick OH
company stockholders bes arrived. An.
other beauty-two thousand barrels OF
better. Of over twenty five gravity was
born last night al s.so Many congratu.
lstions. Number four, /. 80 feet"
Under date of January NJ We'll.