"All galvanized iron work is to be made of the very best quality B. B. No. 26 galvanized iron, except where otherwise specified, all to be formed, bent, and folded in the very best man ner, well soldered and riveted, and to have all necessary iron braces and stays that may be re quired. All the ornamental work is to be of heavy stamped zinc, models to be submitted to the Architect for approval; to be accurately fitted, well fastened and soldered; to be made perfectly water-tight.
"The Contractor for the carpenter work will supply necessary brackets for the cornices of the first story; and the brackets for the roof cornice will be put up by the Contractor for the iron and steel work. The metal work is to be particularly well made, all parts are to be free from buckles and dents; all arrises and mouldings are to be true and sharp, well fitted and jointed. All parts must be perfectly water-tight.
"Braces made of by iron, spaced every four feet, and accurately formed to fit the shape of the cornice, are to be securely bolted to the same. All necessary iron straps and reinforcements of all kinds, except as above specified, are to be supplied by the Contractor. All the iron work is to be painted two good coats of metallic paint. All the galvanized-iron and metal work of the front is to be painted two good coats of best white lead and pure seed oil, tinted limestone color; the paint is to be allowed to dry before the work is sent to the building.
"Galvanized-iron ventilating flues are to be provided for the engineer's toilet-room and the toilet-room of the first story, as shown on plans and directed; to be provided with 12-inch by 16-inch white japanned iron registers, with louvers and chains, etc., as directed.
"The skylights on the roof over the pipe shaft, over the offices, and over the stairs and hall, and the skylights over the elevator bulk head, and the skylight at the foot of the fourth fire-escape, are to be made of first-quality No.
24 B. B. galvanized iron of or other equally good make, approved by the Architect. The sash bars and rafters of the skylight over the elevator shaft are to be strengthened by steel core pieces; and all are to have condensation gutters, cap pings, leaders, etc., complete, and are to be made perfectly water-tight.
"All skylights to be glazed with 3/4-inch thick first-quality solid cast wire glass, bedded in white putty; all to be provided with ventilators and dampers as directed.
"Blue Stone Work—The blue stone work is to be of the very best quality Hudson River blue stone, except for the pier bases, and all to be rubbed unless otherwise specified; all faces to be full and true; all to be set in the very best manner, and, on completion, to be pointed up and cleaned." "Very best quality Hudson River blue stone" is rather an indefinite specification. In the case of stone, there is even greater Chance than in many other materials, for variance of opinion as to what the best qual ity may be. This is an excellent example of the case where the Architect should have samples on file for the Contractor's reference, and should require quality of material to be equal to quality of samples.
The following items are apparently sup posed to come under the heading of "Blue Stone Work;" but the specification would be much clearer if statement of this were made: "Sills—Window-sills of the court and gable walls are to be 5 inches by 8 inches, without lugs and washers. Sills 4 inches thick and width of wall are to be provided for rear doors on all stories to the fire-escape.
"Lintels—Window and door lintels of the court and gable walls are to be 4 inches by inches. Soffits 3 inches thick are to be placed back of the door lintels.
"Copings—Parapet wall copings, including the coping at foot of fire-escape, are to be 3 inches by 14 inches, to be in five-foot lengths, properly jointed, and to have leaded clamps.
"Chimney Cap—The chimney cap is to be in four pieces, rabbeted at the ends, to be 4 inches thick, and properly clamped.
"Curbing—The curbing on the avenues and street is to be 6 inches by 18 inches, in five-foot lengths, outside upper edge rounded, and inside cut down square 4 inches from the top, to re ceive sidewalk. The curbing at the corners is to be carefully cut, and no more than three stones are to be used for one full corner curve. All to be set and jointed in Portland cement mortar." The kind and quality of stone to be used in curbing should certainly be stated more carefully than is indicated by putting curb ing under the general heading of "blue stone." The quality of curbing on tangents and on the curves at corners is probably in accordance with rules and laws of the City; but if a contractor at a distance were at tempting to bid on work, it might be highly inconvenient for him to gain access to all city regulations.