New Britain herald., 1929-02-04
THE HIGH SCHOOL PLANS

Regardless of who draws up the plans for building in this city-be it . private or public building the method of appraising the quality and utility of the plans must bs the same. That is to say, because the city is constructing q building that is no reason why the supervision of the city's building department should not be every whit as rigorous as If . private firm were erecting the struc- ture. If anything. the oversight should be even more rigorous. if that is possible. The city government. merely because it happens to Do the government. is not justified in erect ing . building in . manner that would not be permitted if | private firm were the builder.
 Obviously, this refers to the addi- tion to the senior high school as we'll as to any other civic building. The building inspector, in demanding that the plans be corrected to con- form with rigid local standards did 2 service to the city. The changes ordered may have been important or not important; that is . matter Of opinion. What counts is that the city has adopted high standards- forced upon tt by certain experiences and these must be maintained in the community. If ths city were constructing new city hall that would be no reason to forego high standards of planning and construc- tien.
 The city cannot set up one set of rules for private builders and an- other for itself. :,
 The city is aise in the same posi- tien as . private builder respecting the reliance that must be placed in the skill of architects and builders When . private builder signs . cen. tract for the erection Of . building he places his enterprise in the hands Of ether parties. No private builder is to blame for mistakes Of archi- tects ar contractors; except that he ts liable later for damages if some, thing untewsrd occurs by dtnt of . defective structure. The man or firm, who pays for 2 building is not an ex- pert and must repese confidence iu ethsra But his ts tho responsibility after the building is erected
 The plans for the senior high school have had to be ohaaged te conform with the city's proper standards. The Beard of Education, in employing architects. regardless of where they lived. left the plans to these men-as any private firm would do. Perhaps because they were from out of town the usual pro- cedure here was not followed. The local method is to submit plans to the building department before the construction contracts are signed Such procedure is not required, but is good practice because it is easier ts make changes before work fl started than afterwards. It is hard for . sensible person to believe that reputable contractors anywhere would provide plans for . school building that are not perfectly safe Changes in detail are always possible Regardless of this, however. 1t fl reasonable to ask that the plans fol the new high school confirm to loca StandardA. It would be wrong ir principle to force private firms ts confirm to the standards set up and permit any department Of the city ts erect building differently.
 The standard cannot be too high The little delay that accrues as . re suit of improving the original plan' will amount to virtually nothing. -Th' main thing is that the plans must b' as perfect as the city regulation demand. But when all this is said le it be understood thoroughly that tn
 citizens of this city will not stan, for politics in this matter.