The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-04-14
PRES. marble
MAKES REPLY

70 The Forum: In the Saturday
edition Of The Forum, there appeared
a communication from one of the Far
go architects, attacking the school
board in general and Judge Young and
s. F. Crabbe in particular, in the mat
ter or the new grade building erected
In the Fourth ward. Had the COM
munication in question stated the stu
alton accurately there would mani
testify be no occasion to reply to il.
The purpose of this article therefore
Is not to defend the integrity Of the
board. but merely to state the facts
correctly, so that the public may Judge
for itself whether or not the criticism
is justified.
While it is true that the architects
were requested to submit plans and
estimates for this building, they were
also requested at the same time to
submit bids upon which they would
draw the plans and specifications and
supervise the construction of the
work. These bids varied from ~ per
cent to 5 per cent of the total cost of
construction.
None of the plans submitted were
acceptable to the board, and all were
rejected. The question of engaging an
architect to investigate modern school
buildings in other places, in coniunc-
ton with the superintendent and pre-
pare plans in accordance with the
wishes of the board was referred to
the building committee with owe to
act, and the committee engaged that
architect who had submitted the low
est bid for service OF supervision.
The plans finally adopted after such
investigation differed very materially
from those originally submitted and
provided for a larger building, fire.
proof throughout except the roof.
The competency of this architect is
best evidenced by the building itself
and the fact that the plans and speci-
fiCations were so accurately prepared
that the board vas not called upon to
pay a large bill of extras when the
building was completed and accepted.
The suggestion hat the building cost
twice the estimated cost is therefore
not true, first, because the plans in
which the estimate was based were
not the ones which were adopted and
secondly because the building which
was actually constructed did not cost
$4,000 as stated, but $S6,750 includ-
ing the contract for plumbing, heating,
wiring and an independent sewer and
water main from the building to the
street. Even including the total cost
Of the grounds, grading the same, and.
installing concrete sidewalks, and fur
4AA0AAAAAS LAO "u4INAAASJ al NOld1 COSL is
well within $100, 900, and the building
Is entirely completed.
The statement that 800, 900 is to be
paid by the taxpayers in two years is
equally inaccurate. Before even the
architect was employed there was ap-
proXtmately $4,000 in the building
fund for this purpose, $685. 900 addi-
ttonal was provided for by q bond is
sue bearing interest at only 4 per cent
and extending owe a long period Of
years, leaving only the balance to be
paid for in two a or approximate
ly $4,000 per year, the last installment
Of which was assessed in the 1912 tax
es. The balance of the levy for build
ings and grounds was used for repairs
on old buildings and to pay for the
Fairgrounds.
As to the location: the building
had to be erected with reference to
the other school buildings. in that
ward where there was then the great
est need, and in that part of the ward
where sufficient ground was available
at prices which were not prohibitive.
That the school was needed in that
locality is demonstrated by the fact
that already over 800 children are now
enrolled in that building.
H. w. Marble,
President of school board.