The Wilmington morning star., 1941-02-20
CITY MAY HOLD
BUILDERS BOND

The city commissioners yester.
day voted to continue negotiations
with the j. N. Thompson company,
of Raleigh, in an effort to secure
correction of flaws in the concrete
flooring of the city hall, which was
renovated about a year ago.
During the discussion OF the mat
ter, the possibility that the city
may withhold release of the con-
tractors performance bond for
satisfactory completion of the
work developed.
Through it's engineering depart
ment, the city will renew its pro-
test with the Raleigh construction
company that defects in the floors
of the city nall are the responsible
ity of the contractor. On motion Of
Mayor Thomas E. Cooper, the COM
mission, in regular session yester-
day instructed that a copy of the
city's protest be forwarded to the
contractors bonding company.
The performance bond, effective
for one year after completion OF
renovating the city hall, will ex.
pire Feb. %, unless the city takes
action to delay its discharge
through court action.
The floors of the city hall, &C.
cording to yesterdays commission
discussion, have a tendency to
powder on the surface, a condi-
ton due, it was said, to laying OF
the finishing cement in excessively
cold weather. The Public Works
Administration, under whose joint
supervision the city hall rebuild
ing was instituted last year, also
will be notified of the condition of
the floors.
o. B. Ford, supervising architect
on the city hall remodeling prof.
ect for the municipality, appeared
before the commission yesterday
and disclosed that he has called the
attention of the contra ctors to the
condition on several occasions.
"They point out" Mr.. Ford said
that the P. W. A. ordered the
floors poured within specified
length of time; and that during
that time we had some excessive
ly cold weather.
Concrete, the architect advised
the commission, has a tendency te
crack when poured and allowed tt
set in certain low temperatures.
Other matters considered by the
short commission meeting includ
ed:
A resolution continuing city as
slstance on an equal basis with
county aid for maintanence of the
community ladies' rest room anc
merchants exhibit. A delegation
representing the facility's operating
committee called upon the com
mission for more financial help,
pointing out that in order to find
new quarters down town consider
ably higher rent would have to be
paid than was paid for the present
quarters, soon to be incorporated
ina new building project. The COM
mittee, composed of Mrs. Maggie
Price, Mrs. w. r. Noe and Mrs.
Bruce Tabb, also presented peti-
ton urging increased city aid,
signed by 81 women.
The department of public works
was authorized to expend $50 for a
new roof and certain painting on
the city fireboat station at the foot
of Grace street.
Authorization was granted to the
public works commissioner, James
E. L. Wade, to order street num-
Der changes in the 700 block OF
North Fourth street.
Commissioner Wade also pre-
sented to the commission, as in
structed last week, detailed
sketch and cost estimates for ex-
tending the Macomber's ditch
drainage culvert an additional 564
feet, or to a point north of the
bridge at the cemetery en-
trance. The departments report OF
the present drainage facilities vari.
lied complaint of residents of the
district that the present culvert is
lnadeuate to carry off rain and
seepage water in the area.