1896-02 WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for February 1896WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for February 1896 Volume 01 - Page 025 1896-02-11 Board met 10AM pursuant to call all members and the clerk present. The minutes of the meeting of Jan 31 were read and approved. The chairman presented the written opinion of Assistant Attorney General Haight upon the question of the legality of the proposed substitution of stone for pressed brick and Hills sand brick in the construction of the building, which opinion was read by the clerk and ordered filed. It is to the effect that the law gives the board the fullest authority to proceed according to its own judgement, using any material or making any change that it may deem promoting of the best interest of the state. The clerk reported having recieved the written report of the Architect Skillings relating to the quality of the Denny pressed brick, said report agreeing with the verbal report referred to in the record of- WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for February 1896 Volume 01 - Page 026 1896-02-11 the meeting of Jan 31 was read by the clerk and ordered filed. The clerk was directed to write to Mr. B. Evans of Tacoma, superintendent of construction of the state capitol, and ask him to favor the board with his opinion as to the quality of the sandstone propsed to be used in the construction of the building, if built on stone, and also as to the quality of the sand and cement now in use; and the clerk was directed to request him to telegraph his reply and if favorable, Mr. Higginson was authorized to go to Tacoma and confer with Mr. Evans, taking with him samples of all material upon which an opinion is desired. Adjourned. O.H. Culver, clerk. Eli Wilkin, chairman. 1986-2-18 Board met pursuant to call at 3:30PM all members, the clerk and architact Skillings present. The chairman stated the special object of the meeting to be to receive the report of Mr. Higginson as to his conference with Mr. Evans at Tacoma, upon the subject of material, Mr. Evans having wired the clerk that he would meet a member of the board there at any time. Mr. Higginson made an explicit verbal report to the effect that Mr. Evans had made a careful examination of the samples of stone, cement and sand shown him; that he had pronounced the stone of similar character and apparently equal in quality to the (?) stone used in the foundation of the state capitol, and that in his judgement it was well adapted to the use intended in the Normal School building, but he further expressed a personal preferance for the use of pressed brick in such a building in this climate, he found no fault with the cement but condemned the sand as containing too much vegetable matter and (?), flinty pebbles. The reason for his opinions were fully explained to Mr. Higginson and by him to the board. In (?) to the suggestion of the chairman. Mr - WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for February 1896 Volume 01 - Page 027 1986-2-11 Higginson said he would file a written report with the clerk which he did. Mr. Skillings was then called upon by the chairman to report as to his examination of the sand, cement, and foundation so far as built, which he did. As to the foundation he expressed the fullest approval and stated that would stake his preofessional reputation upon its absolute solidity and durability. He agreed Mr. Evans in the condemnation of the sand and stated that he had already directed the superintendent not to permit the use of anymore of that character, and had also given him instructions as to the mixing and use of the cement. An adjournment was then taken until 10 o'clock the following morning to give the architect time make an appropiate estimate of the relative cost of pressed brick and stone, if used in the construction of the building according to the approved design. 1986-02-19 Board met at 10 AM pursuant to adjournment with the all members, the clerk, Architect Skillings, and contractor present. Mr. Skillings reported his estimate of the relative cost of stone and brick according to the respective designs, and the contractor asked for a few days more time in which to determine which material he would use, he having been given the option of using either. The request was granted. The board being advised that work upon the foundation would not be delayed in consequence. The record of the meeting of Feb 11 was read and approved and the board then adjourned, no other business being presented. 1896-2-26 Board met at 10:30AM pursuant to call of the chairman, all members, the clerk and contractor present. The contractor formally withdrew his proposition to substitute stone for pressed brick and Hills' sand brick in the construction of the building on account of the matierally greater cost of stone as revealed by the figure furnished by the stone cutters. He also stated that he had closed a contract with the Denny Clay Company of Seattle, - WWU Board of Trustees meeting minutes for February 1896 Volume 01 - Page 028 1896-2-26 for pressed brick and that he was ready to proceed with the construction of the building as required by the contract and specifications. The following resolution was the then offered and adopted upon motion of Mr. Higginson: "Inasmuch as this board heretofore expressed the sense in favor of changing the contstruction of the outer wall of the Normal School Building from pressed and sand brick, with stone trimmings to stone if the same could legally and safely be done, and now after a full investigation it is found the board has full legal right to make such change, if desired by the contractor and consented to by the sureties on his bond, but on account of the large amount of tooled work required to be done upon the stone, under any design and plan acceptable to this board. The expenses that would be incured by reason of such change make it impracticable to make the change contemplated though much desired by the board; therefore resolved. Then the contemplated change be abandoned and that the contractor is hereby instructed to proceed without delay under the original contract, plans and details." Adjourned. ##