The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-02-17
.SOWERS' ANSWER TO
ARCHITECT LETTER
MAN WHO REPORTED ON BUILD.
ING OF COURT HOUSE CLAIMS
HE Is COMPETENT AND ARGU.
MENT Is GROWING HEATED
Winnemucca. February II, 1921.

Winnemucca, February II, 1921.
To the Editor, The Silver State,
and to the taxpayers and residents of
Humboldt county: On February
was employed by the Hon. County
Commissioners to go over the Hum
boldt county court house building and
compare same with plans and specifi-
cations, and report as to whether the
contracts and specifications had been
complied with. On Saturday, Febru-
airy IL, l made my report to the coun-
ty commissioners.
The personal representative of the
general contractor, Mr.. Williams, and
the architect, Mr.. DeLongchamps,
were present. Mr.. Williams repre-
sentative objected to my report as
being unreasonable criticism of his
part of the contract. Mr.. DeLong-
champs was present and took no part
in the conversation, neither refuting
my statements or standing by Mr..
Williams representative in his con-
tent.ons.
On Tuesday, February Is, Mr.. De
Longchamps published a statement in
The Silver State which sounds very
much like the prattle of a whipped
school kid. He INDUCES in calling of
names and making dennnciations
which are beneath the respectability
or notice of any gentleman. However,
| want the people of Humboldt county
to understand few cold facts.
While came among you stranger
and have been in your midst only a
little over year. am not stranger
to the state, having spent about
twelve years in Nevada. AS to my
being competent you know little. As
to my ability l will match it as a
| builder with Mr.. DeLongchamps in a
public examination conducted by any
representative board of builders. al
any time he so desires. | have fol-
lowed building for the greater part
of the past Al years. have had
charge of public work and private,
and have worked in most of the cities
of note from Chicago to the Pacific
coast. l was superintendent of
bridges and building for five years
| with the Chicago Northwestern Rail-
road Company, and that company
does not employ a novice at this job;
| it takes a real man of ability.
AS to my report, l stand by every
word l said in that report and chal-
lenge it's refutal.
AS to my statement of the condition
of the roof, DeLongchamps tries to
make me out liar by saying: "The
roof is Certainteed Products Com
pany's highest grade roof and is
backed by their ten-year guarantee,
now on file with the county clerk"
| No company as manufacturers of
paper roofing will guarantee their
products, unless put on under their
supervision, and the bond of Mr.. Will
liams, furnished by surety COM
pany, expressly states that This
bond does not cover guarantee OF
roof"
When | agreed to make this report
did not know any of the contractors
or DeLongchamps l had no AK to
grind, being neutral. l told the COM
missioners that l would take the job
on one condition-that l make an un-
biased report-and this is what
have done.
II there is a demand to have 1t con-
firmed by some other disinterested
expert | court the fullest investiga-
ton of my report and trust that even
greater defects than have noted will
be brought to light.
AS to who is responsible for the
omissions and poor work that has