Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-07-26

Ripley x laws
Honolulu, T. H., July IL. 1913:
Messrs. Ripley & Davis,
Architects,
Honolulu, T. H.
Gentlemen:-In reply to your letter
of July Is, we desire To state that we
have gone carefully into the method
of construction as outlined by you for
the new armory, and we find that the
method required by you is not as eco
nomical. as the one that we originally
outlined for ourselves, and we will
be put to considerable expense and
delay in making this change for the
following reasons.
We are now properly equipped with
men and machinery 20 erect the steel
work within a period of two weeks.
BY your method We cannot hope to
erect it for at least two months, and
the steel men whom we have under
contract, demand an additional $4,000
for this delay, which we consider en-
tirely reasonable, from the fact that
they have to pay rental for the engine,
derrick, etc., and their loss of time
during this period. There is no other
work in sight at present for them to
go too, and If the armory was com.
pleted they would go to the coast If
they go now We will have TO go to
the expense of bringing men from the
coast, and will be Obliged to pay all
of their expenses. Our original plan
which seems to be the only one FEAST
BILE due to the location of the build
ing was to put in the first floor and
feed our mixers from it BY your
method we would be unable to get
material to our mixers, If they are
placed on the inside of the building,
without going to considerable ex,
pense, and beside they would be in
the way of erecting the roof trusses.
We cannot set the mixers up on H0-
tel street or on the Waikiki side of
the building, and If placed on the
other side of the building we will
have to move our lumber and other
material, and then have a very long
wheel for the concrete, all this great
ly adds to the expense of construc-
ton. We also desire to ask ii you
desire to carry up theTside walls with
out running the front at the same
time. If the front has to be run with
the side walls we will have to stop
and excavates and move our hosting
engine, etc. We also desire to ii>
vite attention TO the fact that by your
method of construction there will be
nothing to tie the columns to the
side walls, and prevent them from
pushing out into the drill hall, as
the wooden girders are shown Just
resting in brackets rtveted to the sides
of the columns Also in rooms No
! to s inclusive on the. second floor
that the under floor aud most of the
Moor 5oist have been omitted, there
fore you could not depend upon them
very much to stiffen the columns, We
also desire to ask again if this steel
work as 1T now stands is not strong
enough to be erected with safety, or
by leaving out the knee braces as
suggested by Mr.. Young. We desire
to do everything possible to facilitate
this work and to follow your instruc-
lions and requests as far as we can
reasonably do SO, but as the contract
price for this building is exceedingly
low, We do not feel that we can az
ford to go to this additional expense
and delay unless we are granted an
extension of time if necessary, and
also extra compensation for the addi-
tional expense to which we will be
put
An investigation on the site | am
sure will bear out the facts as we
have stated them, and we hope that
We can all get together and settle
this matter amicably and immediate
ly so We can proceed with the work
with as little delay as possible.
Very respectfully,
HONOLULU PLANNING MILL LTD.
Heard Of no Changes.
John w. Caldwell superintendent of
public works, admitted this morning
that he had caused some examination
of the building to be made, but denied
that it was with any idea of determin-
ing ii the steel framework was strong
enough
Some days ago engaged Mr.. w. c.
Furer, an experienced structural Steel
man, to make a report to me on GER
tain parts of the building, but it was
not with the view, of ascertaining
the steel was heavy enough
for the building, or to see if the speci-
fications were being properly carried
out. | merely engaged him to get GER
tain information of us to use in other
work
AS far as the steel is concerned, /
am certain it is strong enough. There
is no doubt In my mind about that.
According to the report of the, arehi-
tects, it is being put up in accordance
with the plans and specifications.
mo changes in the plans and speci-
fications have been made If any
changes are to be made it is neces-
sary for the contractor to get the or
der therefor signed by the architect
and countersigned by me as superin-
tendenE of public works / have
signed no such orders. If any changes
have been made am not informed of
them ....
''The contract for the erection of
the building was let before took of
fee. It was turned over to the archi-
tects, Ripley & Davis, 10 see that the
building was properly put up, and to
stand responsible for it's erection.
They will get per cent of the con-
tract price for seeing it through. I'm
der these conditions, the entire struc-