Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-10-09
GLENN DALE BIDS
$4,000 TOO H|CH;;
MAY A[TERP[ANS
Sultan and Other Officials
Confer on Adult Tuber-
cuIosis Hospital.
LABOR COST INCREASE
AREASON FOR FIGURE
Questions of Petitioning P. w. A.
for More Funds or Reducing
Size of Building Considered

Instruct officials today faced the
serious prospect of having to reVamp
mans for the adult tuberculosis nos
nital at Glenn Dale, Nc, to shave
the cost down by $4,000, because the
lowest bid received for the super
structure was that amount nlghef
than the original estimate.
One alternative is petition 10 tne
puhlic Works Administration for addl-
t,onal money, which, if granted, would
remove need for dropping some OF the
nronosed auxiliary buildings or reouc-
ING the size Of one or more Oh 'iie
buildings to be erected, ofhclaIs Salu'
Another expedient would be TO re-
advertise for bids for the main ouiio-
ing in the hope lower ofer "ouio De
lust what decision will be reached
was not indicated today althougil
Enpineer Commissioner Dan I. Sui
tan conferred at length with capt..
Hoel S. Bishop, assistant engineer
commissioner; Municipal ArcnlceCt
Nathan C. Wyeth and several ofhcias
of the EORlIl6tl bSPoA 0AAAN
ssss,OO0 Lowest Figure.
The problem arose suddenly late
yesterday when bids for the mann
building we're opened, to reveal $685.
COO as the lowest Of seven olos, th,s
being submitted by the waiter hlooe
constructors of New York City. "A
gear ago when tentative estimates Oh
the costs of various units OF the sana-
torium were submitted to the T. w. A.
tho cost of the main building was CAL
culated at $685., 600.
1.-THE reason for the low DID being
so much higher than our estimate ap-
,arently is that prices OF everything
have been going up in the last year.
said Col. Sultan.
"one of the principal elements mere,
am told, Is the increase IN coSts u
labor"
Nv recent decision of Secretary OF
labor Perkins the prevailing wage
rates in Washington, used in F. w. A.
contracts, were held to be applicable
to the Glenn Dale project, which Is
being financed out of a P. w. A. ad-
vance of s1,5oO,oOo, 10 per cent of
which is to be repaid with interest.
Not to Be Abandoned.
Col. Sultan stated emphatically TO-
dav there was no danger Of the con-
struction of the hospital being
abandoned, or even halted for any
considerable time. Under rules pre-
scribed by Secretary Of Interior 1ckes,
the P. w. A. head, the building must
be completed next July l and ready
for occupancy by September next.
The present problem must be solved
promptly, however. if the time limit
on completion Is to be observed. Some
observers said this puts damper on
hopes of getting more money from
the P. w. A. Secretary Ickes is now
with the President on cruise In the
Panama Canal area.
The District Commissioners already
have let contracts for four units OF
the hospital having cost totaling
1928. 4e7 These are for we'll cost
ing $23, 497, foundations for the main
building, $105,000; warehouse and
garage, $4,000, and additions to the
heating plant, 100000. Also. engi-
neering costs and contingencies have
cost to date $4,000. Planned work
not yet under contract is estimated
to cost s1,255, 300.
Question Of Changing Plans.
II plea Is not made for more
money, or If bids are not readvertised,
Col. Sultan will confer with archi-
tectural and engineer officials to de-
termine whether the type Of construc-
ton should be reduced in cost, wheth-
er to eliminate some of the rooms, or
whether one Of the several auxiliary
buildings should be dropped, at least
for the present.
This recalls the experience with the
Children's tuberculosis Sanatorium,
the two wings of which were dropped
from the original plan because of in
sufficient funds and which now are
being built under an additional ap-
preparation by Congress out of Dis
trict revenues.
Among various elements Of the pro-
posed hospital plant not yet subject
to contracts are the following:
Employees building to provide resi-
dence for internes and other employees,
estimated to cost $4,000; home for
superintendent of institution, two du-
pick houses for medical officers of
hospital and home for the assistant
superintendent, a total of S189,500.
In addition to these are several
projects for sewers, kitchen equipment,
electrical facilities, water distribution
system and roads and ground work.