New Britain herald., 1917-03-31
MORE MONEY NEEDED
 TO BUILD ADDITION
Committee Finds St7,000 Appro-
 priation Is Not Sufficient
BIDS SHOCK THE MEMBERS

Plans Will Be Changed and Contrac-
 tors Will Be Asked to Revise Their Special Town Meeting
 Called to Vote Extra Appropriation.
 Reporting their inability to have
 the work done for $17,0O0, the com
 mtttee appointed to arrange for the
 construction and equ1pplng of .
 four-room addition to the Broad
 street schoolhousc has had the se-
 lectmen issue a call for a special
 tcwn meeting to be held on Monday,
 April 9th for the purpose of increas-
 ing the appropriation, made last Jan-
 uary when it was decided to increase
 the school accommodations. Notice
 ot the meeting was prepared today.
 Members of the committee were
 treated to most unpleasant sur-
 prise last evening when they met to
 open bids submitted by contractors,
 each of the builders naming 8 figure far in excess of the amount allowed for the construction of the addition The increased cost of material and an advance in wages caused the con- tra ctors to give a high estimate to insure a profit for themselves. Owing to the size of the bids the committee decided to hold up awarding the con- tract for the time being. Architects Unkelbach and Perry of New Britain. who drew the plans, were instructed to make some changes in the specifi- cations in an effort to reduce the ex- l,erise and the contractors will be asked to revise their estimates ac- cordingly, only those who responded to the original call for bids being permitted to figure for the work. Chairman A. L.. Rogers was in- clined to be reticent when questioned this morning as to what increase in the appropriation the voters will be ] asked to make. For the present, he said, the board desired to make no public statement After they receive a report from the architects and get the contractors to revise their figures they will be in better position to specify the amount they will prob
 ably require.
 Bids were received from eight con- tractors. The committee has de- clined to state the figures named, be- lieving that it would be unfair to those who sent in bids as the informa- ton might be used by their competi- tcrs in revising their estimates to
 conform to the changes in the plans.
 Architect M. J. Unkelbach attend
 cd the meeting last night and after it
 was learned that the bids were con- siderably higher than had been ex- pected. he explained where some changes might be made in the plans that would reduce the cost. although he didn't believe a suitable addition with the proper equipment could be provided at an expense not in excess of the approprja ton already made. That the coming town meeting will vote to increase the appropriation is generally expected. Additional room is needed at the school and it seem- il gly is up to taxpayers to provide 1t, regardless of the expense the changes will entail. There is no indication at present, according to builders of a reduction in the cost of materials. 1 The contrary is expected and a delay apparently would be unwise.
 1 When school re-opens in the fall more room will be required for the accommodation of the pupils and it ] is the purpose of the school commit tee to have the addition ready for oc- ] crpancy by that time if possible.
 Old Residents Buried.
 There was a large attendance at the 1 funeral of Mrs. Olive M. Hemingway,