Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

REPORT OF BUILDING COMMITTEE

FOR 1868.

COLLEGE BUILDING.

TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

GENTLEMEN: Your Committee met at the College Farm, April 21st, 1868, for consultation on the proper course to be pursued in completing the work on the College Building; present, Messrs. Dnnham, architect and superintendent, and Reichard, contractor.

Your Committee were of opinion that the law making appropriation of $10,000 to complete the Building and settle with Mr. Reichard, contemplated first the sure completion of the Building With this view, they determined to direct the expenditure of the money and to see that all bills for material and labor performed should be paid under their supervision. They proposed to Mr. Reichard that he should proceed with the work, make his own contracts for labor and material, and your committee would pay all legitimate bills presented to them. Mr. Reichard declined. Your committee then proceeded to complete the building, the work being done under charge of Mr. M. B. Moore, the superintendent's efficient representative. The building has been well completed, so far as the contract with Mr. Reichard required, at a cost of $8,900.86, properly chargable to the contractor. In addition, bills not properly chargable to him have been paid, amounting to $1,584.93. Total expenditure, $10,570.79. Amount of appropriations drawn, $13,000.

PROFESSOR'S HOUSES.

At the meeting of your Board in May last, your committee were instructed to proceed with the erection of three houses for the use of professors.

After careful examination of houses built of concrete blocks, upon the favorable opinion of the architect, there being no adverse opinion expressed by any member of your board, they reported in favor of building the house, of that material. The manufacture of the blocks being finished,work was commenced on the walls of the buildings. as soon as deemed safe. About the latter part of September the walls of one house were completed, and the roofing partly on. While the masons were finishing a chimney in the center of the building, it gave way and took with it an inside wall on which the joists from the side, of the building rested; the joists, falling, drew with them the outside walls of the whole structure. This unfortnuate catastrophe is supposed to have been the result of using the concrete blocks before they had hardened sufficiently, and of the continuous wet weather that prevailed during that portion of the year. The whole night and morning preceding its fall had been very wet, probably the immediate cause of the calamity.

It was the desire of your committee to have all the houses enclosed early, with a view to their entire completion within the year. With this view they had instructed Mr. Moore to hurry them forward as fast as safe. This desire, no doubt, prompted him to use the blocks during the wet weather, before hard enough.

Soon after the fall of the building your committee met, and ordered all work upon the houses stopped for the season, hoping that next spring the blocks would harden sufficiently to be safe. Of the other two houses, one has the joists of the second floor laid, and the other of the first floor. The walls have been banked to protect them from water and frost, and it is hoped they will prove satisfactory in the spring. Mr. Moore reports the wood work of the fallen building little injured.

Your committee had purchased all the lumber thought necessary for the erection of the three houses, likewise window frames, glazed sash and doors. Total disbursements for the houses, $8,214.62 ; of the appropriation has been drawn $6000.

HEATING APPARATUS AND COOKING RANGE.

According to instructions of your board, your committee investigated various processes of heating large buildings. Their preferences

were for heating by steam pipes. They invited parties engaged in the business at Chicago to examine the building and submit propositions. The lowest bid received was $13,400, with the condition that changes should be made in the building estimated at $1500, making the entire estimated cost exceed the bounds of the appropriation therefor. Your committee were thereby precluded from attempting it by that process, being sworn to refrain from letting any contract, or undertkaing to order any work, the estimated cost of which should exceed the amount appropriated for the purpose.

Your committee then examined the Ruttan system of heating and ventilation and invited W. A. Pennel & Co., of Normal, Ill., to examine the building and submit a proposition for warming and ventilating it under the Ruttan patent. After due examination by a member of their firm, they proposed to warm the building to at least sixty-five degrees, Farenheit, during the coldest weather, for $6,500, on condition that such changes be made in the building as were then pointed out. These changes involved the enlargement of two flues the entire height of the building, and the construction of hot and cold air ducts, aud of ventilating flues, with other less important changes. Your committee were of opinion, from estimates made by Mr. Moore, that these changes could all be made within the amount of the appropriation, and therefore concluded a contract with Pennel & Co. for the completion of the work, taking bonds to the amount of the contract price from them, with security for its faithful performance. The work ordered by them has been completed according to their instruction, but we are sorry to say that the building has not yet been sufficiently warmed to meet the requirements of their contract. We understand their agent has been at the college and ordered more furnaces with a view to a full compliance therewith.

The amount expended has over run the estimated cost. Total disbursments, including cooking range, $10,339.89. Appropriation drawn, $10,000.

WATER, CLOCK AND BELL.

A bell has been procured and is now in the belfry; cost in place, $184.11.

It was deemed best by your committee to refrain from procuring a clock until a permanent supply of good water should be procured. After examining various projects, it was finally determined to dig a well at the head of a spring about three hundred yards west of the College building, and, by the use of a windmill, force the water to a tank in the upper story of the building. Accordingly a mill was bought of Mr. Halliday of Batavia, Ill. It has proved a success, furnishing an abundant supply for all purposes, besides providing a means of speedily extinquishing fire. The water is brought from the well in a two inch iron pipe, smaller ones being used for conveying it through the building. The whole amount paid out and charged to this fund up to date is, $1,354.98. This amount does not however, cover the entire expenditure, in as much as pipe and fixtures for the water works and for gas works were embraced in the same bill and no data is now at hand to make the proper division. The whole is included in the account for gas works; appropriation drawn, $2,000.

SAFE.

A large safe has been purchased, and is now in the building, at a cost of $800 in Chicago, at a discount, as donation to the College, of $100; whole expenditure, $850. Appropriation of $1,200 not drawn.

GAS WORKS.

Your committee were instructed to examine gas generators, with a view to procuring gas to light the building. After much inquiry and personal examination of different machines used for the purpose, they finally concluded to accept a proposition made by J. M. Stryker, of Chicago, to furnish and put up an apparatus under the Rand patent. Your committee preferred this, among other reasons, on account of its location outside of the building. Mr. Stryker proposed to furnish and put up the apparatus for $800, and to have it completed in a short time. Your committee were informed by him that delay was caused by the death of the foreman who had the works in charge. It is now nearly finished, however. Your committee employed Mr. John S. Pearce, a gas fitter of Des Moines, to examine the building and give an estimate of the amount of pipe and all necessary fixtures to complete the gas fitting; they also agreed to employ him by the day to perform

the labor. The estimated cost of the whole gas fixtures and apparatus, when we finally concluded to have it put in, was about $3000, allowing, as was supposed, a liberal estimate. The actual cost, no doubt, will exceed that amount; the precise sum, however, cannot be ascertained.

Total disbursements charged to this account, $3011.58.

OUT-BUILDINGS.

Total disbursements, $634.46. Appropriation not drawn.

INSIDE FITTINGS.

Total disbursements, $793.42.

CLEANING BUILDING.

Total disbursements, $191.36.

RECAPITULATION.

DISBURSEMENTS.

Amount expended for completion of College building

Amount expended for Professor's houses......

.$10570.79

8214.62

[blocks in formation]

State appro. drawn, heating apparatus & cooking range..... 10000.00

« AnteriorContinuar »