Report of the Keeper of Public Buildings and Grounds, 1903 May 30

A
GOO,k I

\ .',.

; ~~A\ .GA,,:..

!,_;: C

.... 0N, ING A<ND PUBLISH-fN G C O . _STATB_l> RINTE ,, . ---"--""--'"""-.;... .....;:;.;.;;;.:

RECEIVED
JAN 2 6 1993

REPORT
OF THE
KEEPER
OF
Public Buildings and Grounds.
MAY 30, t903.
ATLANTA, GA.
GEO. W . H ARRISON, STATE PRINT ER.
1903.

;

REPORT.

' STATE OF GEORGIA. OFFICE KEEPER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND ,GRO UNDS.
ATLANTA, GA., May 30, 1903.

His Excellency Joseph M. Terrell, Governor of Georg ia.

SIR :-In accordance with Section 233 of the Code, ,I

have the honor to submit herewith a report of the business

of this office for the period beginning with January r, 1903

(the date of my assuming its duties), up to this time, May

30, 1903.

SPECIAL APPROPRIATION.

Estimates were presented the General Assembly at its

last session in accordance with the report of my predeces-

sor, Gen. J. W. Robertson, asking for an appropriation of

$30,000 for making all needful repairs upon the State

Capitol. In accordance with the recommendations of the

Committee on Appropriations, it was agreed by the Legis-

lature that the sum of $15,000 "is absolutely necessary to

prevent further deterioration of the Capitol building" and

that sum was appropriated '' for the purpose of putting

said building in such necessary repair, said repairs to be

made as early as practicableY

In accordance with this resolution immediate steps were

taken for the instant repair and painting of roof, dome,

corridors and corridor walls of the first, second and third
~ories. (;ontrac~s ~er<; le~ ~o ~~~ lo~est ~nd ~ost respo~'

4
sible bidders for the repairs of the building, and also for larger, better and the latest improved boilers and attendant machinery, so as to furnish additional power for a new and improved elevator possessing greater speed and safety.
The work has been pushed with all possible diligence and up to the date of this report there has been paid out of -the special appropriation of $"r5,ooo the following sums:
For Roofing. ------ ------ ----- -- ---$ 5,494.15 ForPainting ______ __ ___ __ _____ __ _ 2,652.85 For Work on Elevator --- ---- - -- ___ _ 1,556.03 For Sewerage and Plumbing... _____ _ 44r.3o General Repairing Electrical Wires, etc 647.30 New Water Meter ___ - - - ______ __ __ 135.00
$ ro,926.63 The old pump in use m the engine room was sold for $165.00 and the proceeds applied to payment of expenses for repairs in that department. The unfinished portion of the work contracted for will be completed by the time the Legislature assembles, and there remains a sum sufficient of the special appropriation to nieet all outstanding obligations.
PORTRAITS RETOUCHED.
The portraits of Georgia's distinguished sons and eminent statesmen that adorn the Capitol corridors have been retouched, at a cost of $150.00, so that the venerated men " that were not born to die" present an appearance in keeping with the newly painted walls and the respect and honor so eminently due them. So dark are the corridors of the Senate Chamber and Hall of House of Representa-

5
tives that it has been deemed fitting in rehanging these portraits to place them in the rotunda of the Capitol, where it was originally intended they should be suspended, ai::id where a good light always plays upon their historic features.
The drafts on the fund of Public Buildings and Grounds have been -unusually heavy since the first of January, owing to the deficiencies and overdrafts of last year, amounting to nearly $2,000, all of which had to be paid out of this year's appropriation. To these were added bills for extra work on the Executive Mansion, .made necessary by bursting of sewers from heavy rains and repairs on roof, the plaste'ring of the rooms, the chimneys and main body of the edifice. At the Capitol unexpected repairs have been rendered necessary by the falling of a large section of the heavy parapet wall of the grounds at its highest point, corner of Hunter street -:ind Capitol avenue.
The coal bins were found empty early in February, which necessitated the purchase of coal for a part of the winter and all the spring at advanced pr' ces. While expenses have been reduced in the fixed charges, extra necessary work on the Mansion and Capitol grounds, walks and the walls enclosing the grounds, have largely increased expenditures in these directions. Having done so much work on these lines it is hoped that for the remainder of the year the State will be exempt from expenses of this character.
INSURANCE.
The completion of two new buildings for the State Sanitarium, at Milledgeville, Whittle and Cabiness Halls, and one at Athens, The Theory and Practice Hall, together

6
with other new buildings n eanng completion, renders a new appropriation necessary for paying insurance 011 this new State property. To .secure the State, insurance policies were taken out in April last on the recently completed buildings, the premi urns amounting to $ 2,850, the agents agreeing to wait until the assembling of the Legislature for their pay, the rates being those fixed by the Southeastern Tariff Association for the term of five years.
The State requires under existing laws an insurance on only half the valuation of her property. She would be better protected with insurance upon three-fourths o_f the value, as is the rule prevailing among business men in the walks of private life.
NEW CARPETS.
New linoleum has been placed upon the floor of the post-office, that room being much used during the session of the Legislature, the material being durable and easily cleaned. The carpets of the Senate Chamber and Hall of Representatives have been carefully cleaned, but having been so long in use and so greatly worn, it is respectfully suggested that the General Assembly make a special appropriation for the purchase of new carpets for the two legislative halls. The sum necessary for this purpose is estimated at $1.500.
OTHER NEEDED REPAIRS.
While the Legislature appropriated $15,000 of the thirty thousand estimated as necessary to place the Capitol in complete repair, and while the work done under that appropriation adds greatly to the appearance and substantial improvement of the building, it may be stated that there

7
is a necessity. for providing for further work, at no very distant day, on the lines that were presented to the General Assembly at its last session. The roof has been recovered, the dome repaired and repainted and the leaks stopped that have been so damaging to the walls. The corridor walls have been painted but the damage to the plastering of many of the rooms on all the floors, the discoloration and cracks of the walls, loose masses of plastering overhead, hanging like the sword of Damocles ready to fall, are repairs that demand attention. Many of the toilet rooms, stained and disfigured from overflow of fixtures above, should be looked after. Not only do committee rooms need attention but department offices and _the Supreme Court room require the touch of the artisan and plasterer. In the Representative Hall, and to some extent in the Senate Chamber many of the bases of the pilasters are cracked and some broken off. Large, open joints appear also between the wainscoting and the plastering. It is estimated that $6,080.00 would place both legislative halls, offices and committee rooms in first-class , condition, creditable alike to both the State and General Assembly. Many _windows are sadly in need of repair. The blinds need retouching with hard oil varnish. The wood work would be the better for repairing.
TILING.
There is much loose tiling on the southern portion of the first floor that should be relaid. It may be that work on the other defective tiling could be postponed a little while longer.
The basement floor should be attended to promptly, as it is in a very sorry plight.

8

MITCHELL STREET ENTRANCE.

The cemented walk running from the Washington street

entrance should be extended to the Mitchell street en-

trance, but laid in asphalt so as to support the weight of

I

wagons discharging their loads in the bins, rooms and

armories in the basement. At least $350.00 is required for

work needed at this point.

EXPENSE ACCOUNT.

The expense account from January 1, 1903, to May 30,
1903, is as follows : Keeper of Public Buildings and Grounds, salary, $ 625 .oo Engineer Capitol, salary, . _______ _____ ___ ___ _ 500.00 Fireman Capitol, pay, ___ _____ __ __ _____ .:_ __ __

Watchmen Capitol, pay, - - ______ ___ ______ _

Porters' salary at Capitol and Servant's hire at Mansion, . . _____ ____ ______ ______ ___ . __
Water, Capitol and Mansion, ______ . _____ . .. __ Fuel, Capitol and Mansion,.. . ___ _________ ___ Lights, Capitol and Mansion, _____________ ___
Contingencies, repairs Mansion and Capitol, __ Carpets for three Executive offices, . __ - . __ -'- _

2,242.80 37.00 553.74
832.35

;3ecretary of State and Compt.-Gen., and sundries necessary for departments, .. - - - - .. - - 5,497.30

$rr,483.50

For rent of cottage back of the Mansion there has been

paid for five months, Fifty Dollars.

Respectfully,

WM. T. REVILL,

Keeper of Public Buildings and Grounds.