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November 24, 1950
W. E. Reynolds Commissioner
Public Buildings Service
General Services Administration
Washington 25, D. C.
Re: Renovation of the Executive Mansion
Dear Sir:
It has been the desire and purpose of all concerned to complete
the renovation and modernization of the Executive Mansion by October of
1951.
Because of the world and our country's related unsettled condi-
tions, and the preparedness and defense program now in progress in our
country, both materials and labor are in such short supply that the re-
sulting conditions make it impossible to properly schedule and complete
construction work.
At this late date we are unable to let many of the most important
and extensive contracts because the Commission for the Renovation of the
Executive Mansion, the Architect of the White House and yourself find it
necessary to extensively revise the drawing and specifications to bring
the costs within your budget.
We regret we are compelled to advise you, since we have not had
the information with which to place contracts and orders and properly plan and
coordinate this work, it is practically an impossibility to complete this
project by October 1951, however, if all concerned cooperate to the utmost,
we are given the final drawings and specifications in the next few days,
subsequent information promptly as required, changes eliminated, and priority
authority to secure materials as and when needed, we will do our utmost to com-
plete the work as close to October 1951 as possible. Lack of any of these
items will prolong the construction time.
It has been and is our fervent desire to make it possible for the
President to resume his residence in the White House at the earliest possible
moment, therefore, it is with utmost distress that we are compelled to write
you this letter, however, we reassure you that if the authorities that supply
us with the design information give us the required documents in the immedi-
ate future, we will do everything we can to complete .the work as quickly as
possible.
Very truly yours,
JOHN McSHAIN, INC.
/s/ John McShain
JMcS:hc:hg
John McShain - President.
DE
(COPY)
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"ocrText": "(COPY)\nNovember 24, 1950\nW. E. Reynolds Commissioner\nPublic Buildings Service\nGeneral Services Administration\nWashington 25, D. C.\nRe: Renovation of the Executive Mansion\nDear Sir:\nIt has been the desire and purpose of all concerned to complete\nthe renovation and modernization of the Executive Mansion by October of\n1951.\nBecause of the world and our country's related unsettled condi-\ntions, and the preparedness and defense program now in progress in our\ncountry, both materials and labor are in such short supply that the re-\nsulting conditions make it impossible to properly schedule and complete\nconstruction work.\nAt this late date we are unable to let many of the most important\nand extensive contracts because the Commission for the Renovation of the\nExecutive Mansion, the Architect of the White House and yourself find it\nnecessary to extensively revise the drawing and specifications to bring\nthe costs within your budget.\nWe regret we are compelled to advise you, since we have not had\nthe information with which to place contracts and orders and properly plan and\ncoordinate this work, it is practically an impossibility to complete this\nproject by October 1951, however, if all concerned cooperate to the utmost,\nwe are given the final drawings and specifications in the next few days,\nsubsequent information promptly as required, changes eliminated, and priority\nauthority to secure materials as and when needed, we will do our utmost to com-\nplete the work as close to October 1951 as possible. Lack of any of these\nitems will prolong the construction time.\nIt has been and is our fervent desire to make it possible for the\nPresident to resume his residence in the White House at the earliest possible\nmoment, therefore, it is with utmost distress that we are compelled to write\nyou this letter, however, we reassure you that if the authorities that supply\nus with the design information give us the required documents in the immedi-\nate future, we will do everything we can to complete .the work as quickly as\npossible.\nVery truly yours,\nJOHN McSHAIN, INC.\n/s/ John McShain\nJMcS:hc:hg\nJohn McShain - President.\nDE\n(COPY)"
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