New-York tribune., 1922-06-24
Fuller Co. Wins
Courthouse Job
For S4,l39,OOO
Contract for Superstruciure
Of County Building. To BE
Wholly Of Granite. Award.
ed by Estimate Board
Craig Explains Decision
Other Bids Lower. but City
Saves by Having One Firm
Do the Work, He Asserts

Contracts FOR building the County
Courthouse were awarded yesterday
~ the BOARD Of Estimate 20 the George
A Fuller Construction Company for
s4isa.o0o. This provides for the en-
ire superstrueture in granite bid'
unlimited for the rough plumbing will
be considered by the committee OF the
whole Wednesday
Comptroller Craig. chairman Of the
Courthouse Committee. submitted a
report in which he said that while the
Fuller company proposal was somewhat
hlrh,r than the combined bid 81 five
o,h,r contractors. II would be % the
ADVANTAGE of the city 20 accept IL. he
"a the difference would be more than
,Tsst An the time taken IN cOnstruc-
,ion the cost OF separate inspection
oH,.s by the city and the responsible
~ 81 having the whole work IN the
b,nds Of one general contractor David
Hirshfeld Commissioner OF Accounts
sbo Investigated the bids. agreed with
The Comptroller.
Architect Favors Granite
Both the Comptroller and Commis-
,ler.r Hirshheld favored a granite
fuildinr. and in this they ware sup
,ertsd by Guy Lowell. the architect
u,ho designed tho structure. Mr.. Low
I'll told the board that the site Of the
Courthouse was % be the center OF a
s,.s. civic area, that two buildings in
sioss proximity, the Hall Of Records
,nd the Municipal Building, were OF
c,anito and that, in his opinion, "
~ould be a grave mistake II the new
Courthouse was constructed OF any
other material.
In the Comptroller's report u was
.bou,n that the first bids were opened
IN July. 1920. when the lowest bid sub
ri,ted by a responsible person for the
granite work was S3,lO0,OOO. Inc pres
srt bids show a reduction in the cost
~ The granite work Of 1909 S77, while
~ Limestone we're used on granite
haze the reduction as against the price
of 1920 for limestone would be SslO,4oO.
Tis Comptroller said that in view OF
the bids under consideration he be-
Loved A decision 20 use granite botn
for the base and superstructure would
be ,mplv sustained by all the circum-
,t.nees a. we'll ss by public opinion.
The Comptrollcr reviewed the history
of The city's endeGv0r TO construct
new Courthouse.
Authorized in 1903 by State
"The necessity was recognized in
1909" said the Comptroller, when the
legislature passed an act which re
ouired the BOARD Of Estimate within
twerty-four days thereafter ahrma--
lively 70 determine the suitability Of
.tc ,vesent. or so-cnlled Tweed court
house. for further judicial ana pubhc
bv.,ness. and unless such an nfnrna-
81. determination was so made the
Nsvor was required 20 appoint com
mission 10 be known as the Court
bouse Board. No such affirmative de-
Termination was made and the appoint
rnen. Of the Courthouse Board iol-
lowed
"t'nder the original act. and under
amendments that have been made from
time 60 time, the responsibility ior the
seleetiou Of a site and the construc-
ton of o courthouse was seriously
divided. the action Of the Courthouse
Board required the approval al times
~ the Justices Of the Supreme Court
and rs a consequence about nine years
ELAPSED before site was selected ana
acquired. The first site thus acquired
In 1912 had 20 be superseded or sup
plementcd almost Immediately by the
,eouieition q an additional site, 10
which title vested in the City OF New
York In 1913. The necessity for TINS
ACQUISITION WAS the discovery that the
so FIRST acquired was underlaid WIN
subway construction and quicksand 10
an eYtcn, that made 80 impract icaOie
10 construct courthouse upon It,
Cost 10 Date Is Si5,OOO,OOO
The report states that the cost OF
tho site. including interest and the
loss OF taxes thereon. 20 date IS ap-
proximately Sl5.O00000
"For purposes Of comparison u may
be stated" the Comptroller continued
stnet n granite Is used both IN the
base ard the superstructure, the cos'
IN The bids now under confederation
lrelsd.ne the drainage and rougf
riumhing. will be S4,22i ,736, as again,s'
90 400 on the bid Of 1920. On th'
nys,,rt bid. using limestone for a su
n,rstrucsure on a granite base the cost
,rcIudjng the drainage and fougi
rlumbing will be S3.570,3s6, as against
. cost Of s5.642 800 for the same wof'
on the bids o. 1920, or a reduction OF
49, gff