The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-12-25
500
Dollars 57,665 To
PRESIDENTS HOUSE.

1t is we'll known that the Preiident's houfe
was inhabited before it was inifhed; and that
IL fill remains in fate 70 far from completion,
as to want many of thofe accommodations, which
are thought indefpenGb!e in the dwelling of a
private citizen. Of all the ncenveniencies at
tending the houfe, the greateit was the Ieakinefs
otthe roof, which had indeed never been right
ne ram water which entered the building in G.
very part, had injured the furniture exceeding
~, and ruined many of the ceilings. This
important defect arofe from two principal eau
les: the very injudic manner in which the
cutters and the troughs conveying the water to
fhe ciitern were contracted and the badnefs
% the 0ating.
The cutters are of lead. The fleets were fol-
dec together; the fall or current of the gut
rers was much too fmall the openings in the
root through which the water pafied into the
troughs, were 10 contracted, as to be incapa-
Gle OF diicharging the water of moderate rain.
confequently 1t overlooked, and found its wav
into the building: the troughs were of boards
hned with lead, foldered at the joints, ard laid
with very little current, and all the lead was of
bad quality and badly caft. All and each of the
cauies occai1oned leakage i: the cutters and
troughs. 1t re-. ures very little theory or expe-
Renee, to know that, wherever folder is ufed in
ieaden cutters, leakage is inevitable. In water
c'tterns and pipes, folder is neceiary, and the
joints made with it are found and permanent,
the temperature ofthe water they contain not
being fubjeet to great variation. But in cutters
and Hats, alternately expofed to the fcorchng
1un, and TO feyere frof, the ufe of folder is eve
~ where inadmiiiible, but peculiarly 70 in our
climate. 1t IS behdeS very expenfive, and in no
well contributed building, it is neceGary. In
the Prehdent's houfe five feet Of additional cur
rent was eafiiy procured, and by that means
the new cutters were laid without folder, and
with proper grovings and drps.
lhe frft part OF the feaon was 70 uncommon
~ wet that no very early meaflres could be
taken' to make thorough repair the roof
me attempts at temporary repair, made with
view to fave the furniture and ceilings of the
houie, did not fucceed, and tended only to
prove the abionte necefiity of complete alter
alton OF the whole fyftem Of guttering, and of
providing new lead for the whole building.
Such general repair is always troublefon,e and
difficult, and was much more expenfye than II
would have been to have executed the work
right at firft. 1t now fniihed and the roefis
free from leaks. Ii will, have no doubt, re.
main 70.
The fecond caufc ofIeakage was the astipe.
lhe quality the nates was bad but their
hze, Especially towards the ridge, was more
Injurious than their bad quality. The upper
courfes, tor a comfortable ditance down the
root, did not thew more than from twoto two
and an haf inches in width and large rnaio-
rity ofthcfe flates, were only from one and an
halfto three inches in breadth. Slated roofs are
always difficult to repair but fuch i roof
could not be repaired at all : and there were al
10 other reaions, which rendered it neceG5ry,
az all events, to remove 10 heavy covering as
fate.
l am uniformed why the particular mode of
contribution, which renders this roof 70 heavy
and 10 high, was adopted. IF frenetb was bro
poied, capable, Of bearing covering of nate
laid 10 mortar, it has rot been attaiusd, for the
framing has every where given way, and at the
eahern end Of the houfc, where there are mo-
internal walls, it has failed 70 much, asto force
out both the front and the back walls very con.
ii,!erably. Ii appeared therefore neceGary, IN
tbr hf't place, 10 iecure the tmbers, as well as
the walls, by ltrong ties of iron which being
hSct, both are gew perfectly iafe--In the
next place, il became highly proper 10 take Of
the load of fate and mortar, even had thsy not
leaked. for they ieem to- have been the priucipal
cauie Jf failure of the framing. In The cover
ing whieh was to fupply the place of tie gate
bghtnsis was the principal requjGte but fsfe,v
from fire, and economy were ALTO neceGary
erstions.------Shingles and tiles wen |
kereiJre out Of the queftou, as well as ,csd y