Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1915 — ARCHITECT DROPPED HIS TOWNSHIP SUIT [ARTICLE]

ARCHITECT DROPPED HIS TOWNSHIP SUIT

Man Who Wanted Big Pay For Barkley School Plans Decides Not to Go Into Court Just as former Trustee Folger and his attorney, Geosge A. Williams, and a number of witnesses were ready to depart for Kentland to defend the atcion of a Chicago architect Robert M. Hyde, the attorneys for the defendant decided to withdraw the suit which had been sent to N-ewton county on change of venue. Last year when Trustee Folger and County Superintendent Lamson tried to comply with the new state law which required townships under certain conditions to erect high school buildings, Hyde submitted plans for a building. He had been informed that the building should cost from SB,OOO to $lO,000 and his plans were to be within' that amount. When the plans were drawn and submitted he said the building would cost from $lO,000 to $12,000, according to Mr. Folger and he had witnesses to prove this statement. The best bid that was received, although the building was advertised two or three times, was in excess of $17,000, exclusive of the heating plant. The cost was so high that Trustee Folger and his advisory board decided not to build. They also decided that measuring diagonally Barkley township was near enough to the Rensselaer high school that the law compelling the erection of high Mhool buildings did not apply. The measurement had at first been figured around the road. Hyde had claimed to have a contract signed by Trustee Folger by which he was to receive 2% per cent of the contract price for the building if his plans were accepted and an additional l‘/« per cent if lie gave an architect’s supervision during the time the ibuilding was being erected. He had drawn up a contract to this effect, but Trustee Folger had not signed it. Hyde had, however, been paid SIOO for the plans and his expenses and was to have received 2% per cent in ease the contract was let for the onstruction of the building. Hyde claimed to be entitled to $447.92, which was .2% per cent of .the lowest bid offered. The dismissal of the suit will save the township further expense.