Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-04-27
OF BRICK
IMPORTANT POINT
TO Be DETERMINED
Willamina Pressed Brick Co.
Makes Only One Grade OF
Product Now

Is there "joker" in the letter of
the Willamina brick company accom-.
panying a shipment of sample pressed
bricks, contemplated for use in the con
struction of the new Mckinley school
building, in which it is stated that the
company manufactures no more of the
"B" grade Of brick and only the ga"
grades This is one Of tho questions
which presents itself for investigation
and solution to the Salem school board
before specifications are adopted and
bids advertised for. Other important
issues to be determined at special
meeting to be held tomorrow night by
the school board are: Who will super.
intend the construction Of the new
school and whether or not "A" or
"B" grades of brick will be used in
the construction
There is difference in the price of
the "a" and ''B" grades of pressed
brick which would amount to several
hundred dollars in the entire building
whereas, as matter Of fact, the only
difference in the grades is that the
"A'' or first grade is sorted as to uni.
formity of size and color, while the
"B' grade is composed of an assort.
ment of colors, or rather shades Of col
or, and the quality is supposed to be
just the same. When the question came
up at last night S regular meeting, when
the board went over the specifications
in detail for the first time, some of the
directors favored the US, of "a" grade
brick in the front Of the building and
the "B" grade for the balance but
opinions were divided and the question
was left open for further discussion and
final decision.
Architect Post, who prepared the
plans and specifications, stated that
when he sent for samples of the two
grades Of pressed brick to the William.
ina company they only returned ono
sample with an explanation to the ef.
feet that they only manufactured the
first grade of brick now and do not
make any Of the second and third
grades any more, There is difference
Of about "a in the price Of "a" and
~ grades per thousand and the
board desires to economics wherever
possible without sacrificing quality or
efficiency. The statement of the brick
manufacturers that they only made one
class Of brick now, and that the first
| quality, suggested to the architect and
some OF the members that il might pos.
sibly mean that the company desired TO
dispose Of all Of its stock as Of the first
grade and at first grade prices. How.
| ever the company was given the bcue.
mt Of the doubt and an investigation
wall be made before the specifications
are finally adopted upon this important
/ ponit. As tho specifications now read
both the "a" and "B" grades are
provided for
The question Of superintendeucv of
construction did not come up for con
siderarion at last nights meeting but
1t is probable that it will be decided
at tomorrow night meeting. Architect
Post believes that the architect. as a
matter Of right and justice both to the
board aud architect, should superintcpd
the construction Of the building and the
specifications now refer TO the architect
as the superintendent of construction.
Inc question for the board TO decide Is
whether the superinteudencv br award
ed to the architect who drafted the
| plans and specifications or to a quail.
NED and didntercstcd party.