An interesting and wholesome rendering of the Colonial. Joy Wheeler Dow, architect 



CHAPTER XVI 

 CONTRACT AND SPECIFICATIONS 



N THE preparation of the contract and specifications one must 

 observe two things: First, that all points be fully covered; 

 second, that they be simple and have no double meaning. 

 Thus polite language and figures of speech are not for these. 

 One should decide on what one wishes and put it so there may 

 be no mistake as to its true meaning and intent. As these doc- 

 uments may be called upon to stand in court it is doubly ad- 

 visable that this be so. The 'contract in particular is a legal document, from the 

 performance of which there should be no escape for the contractor who is dis- 

 posed to take advantage in any way. At the same time it should be fair to all 

 parties concerned. 



In letting the contract it is not always advantageous that it be to the lowest 

 bidder; more often quite the contrary. The cheap contractor will bid low with 

 the idea of making up for it later; therefore his reputayon should be looked into 

 before he be allowed the contract. The trouble and worry with this sort of 

 swindler is more costly than is the awarding of the job to a decent man at a fair 

 price in the first place. As is usually the case in calling for estimates, "the 

 owner reserves the right to reject any and all bids." This allows him a chance 

 to escape from a lot of building sharks and call for new bids. 



The form of contract here appended is substantially that drawn up for, and 

 used by, the State of Massachusetts in the construction of the Woman's Prison 

 at Sherborn, in 1875. This contract v^as approved by Attorney General Train and 



299 



