Letter from Thomas Mulrooney to Fr. Brendan O’Callaghan

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RAYMOND GLEESON THOMAS F. MULROONEY GLEESON & MULROONEY Architects 250 S. BROAD STREET PHILADELPHIA December 7, 1935. Very Rev. Brandan O'Callaghan, O.M.Cap., St. Patrick's Priory, Silverside, D elaware. Dear Father Brendan: I am writing you in regard to the delayed payments on the construction of your Novitiate Building at Silverside, Delaware. While the General Contractor and Plumbing and Heating Contractors have made no complaint to us, many of the sub-contractors and material men are daily complaining to us of the injustice of the prolonged delay. When estimates were obtained on this work in June of this year, these estimates were based on the work being done in the Fall and early Winter period and we were fortunate in obtaining keen competitive and extremely low prices. This, I am sure you realize now that the building is nearing completion and you can appreciate the quality of the material and workmanship entering into the construction. These estimates were obtained and the contracts drawn with the understanding that payments would be made each month on the basis of 85% of the amount of the work completed that month, and the 15% remaining retained until 30 days after the entire work is completed. These are the terms under which all of our contracts are written. We know of a few instances where contracts have been drawn on a deferred payment basis; where the contractors have waited until the completion of the operation before receiving payment. In such instances a charge of approximately 10% is always added to the estimates. In this operation this charge would have increased the cost of the contract approximately $3500.00. Several months ago, when it was learned that the building would not be needed until the Summer of next year, we considered stopping work until Spring. This arrangement, however, was not agreeable to the different contractors. They claimed with the improvement in the building market and the increased cost of labor and materials, they would have to receive additional funds to complete their contracts at this later period. RAYMOND GLEESON THOMAS F. MULROONEY GLEESON & MULROONEY Architects 250 S. BROAD STREET PHILADELPHIA Very Rev. Brendan O' Callaghan, O.M.Cap. - 2. Several of the firms supplying material claim that unless payment is made them very soon, they will appeal to the Most Rev. Bishop. Once before on one of our operations this was done, with the result that all concerned were placed in very embarrassing positions. While I know, Father, the financing of this building operation is not your responsibility, I am hopeful those who are responsible will find some way to fulfill the terms of the contract. Very truly yours, GLEESON & MULROONEY THOMAS F. MULROONEY. TPM:DMC.