The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-08-18
Inferior Stone Used Al New High School
 Challenger Charges
Warsaw, Instead of Specified Blue Stone, Declared Used in Lintels and Window Stills Substitution Admitted But Inferiority Is Denied Tests Are Ordered.

Charges were made by Commission CT Howard Challenger at the meeting Of the, board of education held last night, that the stone used in the con- struction of water tables, 1intels, and sil1s in the new High school building
 were of an inferior grade. instead of blue stone, as required in the specif
 cations The specifications, declared Commissioner Cha allenger, required the use of high grade Wyoming blue stone instead of which the contractors are
 using a decidedly inferior stone, known
 as Warsaw which is about one-third
 cheaper in cost, and which verges on
 limestone.
 In bringing the charges. he said his attention had been first directed to
 the substitution by an outsider He proceeded to investigate, and found
 that the stone used was not up to standard, and that it clipped easily. He declared that it was similar In many respects to limestone. Archi- tect J. Gamble Rogers admitted the stone substitution to him, but de- cIared that it was just as good. On motion Of Commissioner Challenger.
 the board voted to ask a written ex- planation from the architect
 The substitution of the stone was admitted by Sup uperintendent Hass of Durkin & Laas, who was present, but he declared that instead of being l. $ I costIier, and of better quality than
 Wyoming blue stone. The samples produced were thoroughly examined i by the commissioners, and it was de-
 cided that they be subjected to test l by a stone authority
 Miss Durkin was not present at the conference held last Friday night, be-
 tween committee appointed by the 1 board to seek explanations as to why I the work on the High school was be-
 ing delayed, and Architect Rogers and
 Plumbing Contractor Gibson, accord l ing to the report made by Commis- sioner 3EIavens The work on the j building is now more than 35 days be- l hind the specified time The delay l was due. declared Plumbing Contrac- tor Gibson. because of a bed of rock I struck by his la.borers, in excavating. Half charges of dynamite are being used in order that the foundations may not be disturbed He declared I that the delay could be overcome by night work
 The architect declared himself as l confident that the building would be completed on time The commission I CTS instructed the architect to order I the contra ctors to have a full connple- I rnnet of men at work today, and to I see that construction was pushed l without further delay. The architect | took full blame for the stone substi- tuition, declaring that he had allowed 1t.
 l Commissioner Bell stated that Building Inspector Rowland reported i to him that the present plans provid- ed for four inch water tables instead I of eight inches. In reporting to the board. Commissioner Bell scored the inspector, declaring he was too slow in making his report.
 1 Bids for the Bryant school construc- tion are to be opened on August 31. l The board decided that one contract | bids be asked, instead of bids on each | special work. Architect Northrup ot 1 the North street school was instructed
 to receive bids for wainscoting of l white enamel brick in the corridors l Bids are to be opened on August 31
 The state appropriation of $5706O fo1 night schools was accepted by the l board before adtournm ment.