Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-06
CONTRACT AWARD
FOR KENT BUILDING
FULLY EXPLAINED
Committee of the Levy Court
Makes Public Statement of
All the Facts.
WAS MOVE FOR GOOD WORK
Special Correspondence of Every Evening

Special Correspondence OF Every Evening
Dover, March 6.-Thc Kent county
Levy Court. at Its meeting. yesterday,
giving consideration to the adverse
criticism that followed its award of the
contract for the alteration and improve
rpcnt Of the Kent county court house, on
Dover Green made public the following
statement bv the contractors to whom the
contract was awarded:
To the Levy Court OF Kent County
As YOU are already aware, Wilson Eyre u
Mcllvaine of Philadelphia, with William
II. Thompson of Dover. as associate, were
employed as architects to draw plans TO
nmodcl and add TO the Kent county
court house Eyre Il Mcilvalne are
architects of national reputation. having
offices IN both New York and Philadcl-
phia You are also aware of the fact that
the plans accepted by us contemplate
extensive changes TO the present court
house Among other things, there is to he a
large twu-storv extension at the rear Of the
present building, a onc-story extension
st the rear Of the present building; a one
story extension 10 the east of the new
addition: the third story IS To bc torn
down. and the roof lowered. All Of the
windows are to bc changed, and the walls
of the present building are to hc laced
with rough brick, 81 rs to make II CORES
pond rs far rs possible with tho general
style of architecture of the state House.
When the Legislature passed the bill
for the purchase Of the county building,
the members fully realized that the
present thrcc-story court house dd not
add 10 the looks of the Public Square. and
the fact that Il was represented that the
building was to hc rcmodclcd on lmcs
a. n tIr State
House v,,s a very important factor III the
final NJ titudc of that body. rs to this bull.
We are advised hv the architects that IT
WIS necessary 10 lower the building and
therefore, to do awav with the thlrd floor,
m oricr To carry ont tins idea. We more
rrailly consented to this because We felt
that the third floor would not he con
sidcrcd hv the public satisfactory for
public Offices.
Rriooe adopting the final plans we in
vestirsted the cost OF an entirely new
bS,iding. and found that tins would in
volyr nearly double the expense which
the present plans Will entail. We believed
that the present building, with the altera-
norrs and additions that We contemplate
making thereto. would bc satisfactory for
the needs Of this county for many wears 10
come. and we therefore did not consider
that We were justified in making the extra
that would hc required for a
new building?
We hesltated for considerable time
before giving out any contract for the
work We realized the Importance Of
cutting out all public building work which
WAS not positively essential, during the
war. We only determined to 90 ahead |
with this work when VIC wrrc assured by |
tho State authorities that hy reason Of the |
conditions At the State House, |
rncrr room WAS a resi- necessity 70 the |
State administration.
After We had adopted the plans VIC /
considered the question o tasking for bids |
We WIRE advised by the architects that it |
was always difficult for contractor to |
fc1lre accurately IN making alterations to |
an old building and that il WAS particular |