Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-10

board 70 pass upon the Legality Of these
contracts. but we do feel that they were
both unethical and Unbusinesslikea nd we
| have been surprised to learn that the
/ same parties had entered into identically
the same contracts with the county com
mlSSioners Of Marion County We fA@I
that the employment Of Mr.. Snider and
tue nrm OF SDider ~ Rotz instead of
saving money has E5Ty greatly increase
/ the total cost of the buildings which have
been constructed ana that this increas
/ is very plainly reflected in the figures
I submitted To this board.
OTHER TREMENDOUS
/ COSTS ARE CITED.
/ We wish also to point out tremendous
cost OF the heating, ventilating, plumhiug
and electric wiring In proportion to the
general construction cost of the building.
{ The percentage OF cost of this part Of
the work called engineering is far great
ct in the buildings that have been con-
structed than IL is found to be in other
/ buildings throughout the State. If the
general construction were reduced in
/ cost ~ least so per cent, as we believe
+ II could be, this difference would be
even more glazing and would on some
/ contracts amount to almost 80 per cent
OF The general contract price.
/ For instance at School No. % the gen.
erai contract was let for. S246, 5ss
Engineering contracts. ........... 76047
Architects, advisor and engineer
/ lees .-.+-N- OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Zl.2US
Total cost. ...................... Ss45. sSs
This building has a capacity of $50
pupils and without any expense for fur
nishing or equipment shows a eonstruc-
/ ton cost for each pupil Of more than
/ 500 This per capita cost is $500 too
high The engineering cost compared to
I general contract price Is one Of the low
4 est Of the entire number OF the school
buildings which have been erected. The
! fees for architects. building advisor and
engineers are over ca per cent Of the
construction cost.
while there Is some variation in the
/ cost Of the different buildings this is
I believed to represent a fair average. In
/ comparison with other school buildings
erected in other parts of the State we be
lieve that a building could have been
I erected, providing everything for the use
! of the school children and for efficient
I service that this one does. for 80 per
{ cent less than the total cost.
when this building program was
! planned this building was estimated to
cost from S15O.OOO to 100000. and has
now cost S345. S3S. The building No. 20,
estimated to cost from $500. 600 to $3.50, 600,
has now cost S5S7, 164 and both OF these
figures may be subject TO some extra
amounts before final computation Is made
/ Of the cost. School No. p has twelve
{ class rooms. combination gymnasium
and assembly room and all other neces-
/ sary rooms together with a manual train
I ing and domestic science department.
+ School No 20 has twenty four class
D
I assembly room and all other necessary
rooms together with manual training and
domestic science departments. These
I contracts were let in June. 1920
AT about the same time the school city
Of Muncie let the contract for a junior
high school containing twenty i've class
z rooms, two assembly rooms and other
/ rooms necessary to make this a modern
! $254. 24S. and additions TO the Lincoln
school containing seven classrooms and
Z one assembly room together with other
rooms necessary for modern school as
I required by the laws Of this State and
| freprOof throughout at a total cost OF
: S1Oe O63. and an addition to the Blain
[ school containing ten clsssrOomA one as
l sembly room and ten other rooms, not
classrooms, building hreProof and mod
ern throughout at a total cost Of S103.511.
| COMPARED WITH
/ EVANSVILLE COSTS.
The Howard Rooss school al Evans
I Vile. contract let March. 1920 containing
I eight cIaSsrooms. a combination gym
naslum and assembly room. eight add
tional rooms together with all modern
. eonveniences freproOf throughout at a
total cost Of $4,000.
This board could present other com
parisous showing what seems reckless
l spending of public money and In view Of
\ the actual needs of the school city to
7 provide proper permanent housing facli-
I ties, it seems that one OF the first duties
]
apolis Is TO see that one hundred cents
Of value be gotten for the city for every
dollar spent.
aTwo years ago It was shown that
modern school buildings were being
( erected in the State Of Indiana prepared
to house 500 pupils at cost Of $4,000
and such building complying with all the
I requirements of the State laws and con-
sidering that such building would cost
4 $500 600 In this city at the rate Sc, 900. 900
20 ouf1 a 2
TT is matter of common knowledge
( that in the erection Of buildings public
officials often accept the aid OF advisory
committees who serve without pay. ap-
( pointed by taxpayers whose duty it be-
comes to see that everything done Of the
officials is to the interest OF the tax
building of courthouses it would be
pOrtant than school houses, and IL the
aid of taxpayers as counsellOrs and ad-
visors without cost is accepted In the
building Of COurthOuses II would be
equally as proper in the building OF
school houses.
fore any further contracts are let that an
advisory committee consisting Of prac-
teal business men be appointed to act
as advisors to the school beard in the
letting Of future contracts. seat for
every pupil does snot mean q seat in q
palace: Il should mean a seat In mod
ern, safe and sane building without any
unnecessary THIS.
This board suggests that the school
officers Of this city should welcome the
assistance of an advisory committee OF
taxpayers. to be appointed by the Tax
payers League, Chamber of Commerce,
Board Of Trade, together with the en-
giDeer Of the State board Of accounts and
engineer OF the State tax board. to act
with them In such capacity and change
the plans and specifications If deemed
necessary and proceed without any delay
TO receive bids for the proposed buildings
and Il found that proper bids are received
at prices showing that Indianapolis is To
receive value for its public money this
board will then be ready to give Its aid
in approving such bond Issues as may be
necessary.
BOARD SHOULD TAKE
CHANGES INTO ACCOUNT
I'VE feel that the school board and Its
building advisor should take cOgnizance
of the changes that take place In the
prices Of building material Of all kinds
so that they may know whether or not
contractors bids are excessive and so II
they are reject them, which we suggest
orsble course to pursue.
IAN idolotTous adherence 10 build
Ing program, with many features of
reckless extrava gance. which benefits
only a small part of the school children
and leaves many without any of the
ordinary conveniences and necessities of
school life. cannot be defended.
we therefore, recommend the en-
piOyment. at yearly salary. not in any
event on commission, of a building ed
visor not in any way connected With any
OF who might be employed by the school
bosr I'd !. the Abortion of uniform or stand