Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-03-30
.4Gioiari of Alexander Murray.

!, Alexander murray, OF INeWpOTt, III tie
State of Rhode Island, brick layer and stone
mason, do certify on oath, that was muster
builder in erecting a tower for bell aud
clock machinery, near the Beaver Tail light.
house. in 1929; tor the erecting of which, Da-
vid Melvil, Esq. of this place, contracted
with the late collector, Christopher Ellery,
Esq. According to the contract, the foundation
of said tower, thirteen feet square, was to be
built of stone well laid in best lime mortar,to
the height of three feet; whercon was to be
built tower twelve feet perpendicular Of
hard brick, also laid III the best lime mortar,
twelve feet square at the base, and ten feet
three inches square at top from out to out;
the thickness of the walls at the base to be
twenty seven inches, and to be uniformly
graded to eighteen inches at the top. On
examining the stone in the vicinity, which
was authorized by the Collector to be used
in building the foundation, found it to be
soft and shelly rock, which would not make
handsome and durable foundation. In con-
sequence of the quality of the stone to be OBJ
taincd there,I proposed facing the foundation
Of stone with hard brick, which would be
more expensive to the contractor, but would
make the work handsomer, stronger, aud
more durable, which mr.. Melvil proposed to
the Collector to do, in my presence, without
any additional expense, to which the COllec-
tor readily agreed. The foundation was ac-
cordingly built in that way to the height re-
Quired. In the course of the conversation ut
that time with mr.. Ellery, the question was
started whether the usual manner Of building
walls Of that thickness, wholly Of brick, was
preferable to filing up between the outside
and inside courses with large flat stones?-
] gave it us | my decided opinion that stone
was by far preferable, as it would make
stronger and better work. Mr.. Ellery observ-
ed, the tower OF brick above the foundation
was the contract, but he did not care how
much better the work was done than the
manner specified in the contract. This,
considered, ,as asserting to that mode ofbuild-
ing. The tower above the foundation was
pccordingly built by laying five or six cour-
ses of hard brick outside and inside length
wise, and levelling of the space between
with large aad small slate or fiat stones and
mortar-s-then laying heading course oihard
brick outside and inside, and lcvcling off
with brick and small slate stones and mortar,
that the next course of stone should bind e.
qually on the heading courses, and so contin-
ue to the height required, occasionally pack
ing in the bricks that accumulated on the
staging, which were not suitable for the out
side. During the progress ofthe work, was
informed that man who had been employed
there, and discharged, had entered u COM
plant to the Collector, mr.. Ellcry, that the
work was not going up according TO contract;
that stone was used instead of brick on the
inside of the walls, but never heard of mr..
Elery's noticing it, he certainly never men,
toned it to my knowledge-and | should not
have known that such complaint had been
made if the man who made it had not told it
himself. This mode OF building is frequently
adopted here, where the walls are of suffici-
ent thickness to admit of it.
| The lime used in doing the work on the
Dollhouse at Beaver Tail, was selected by
myself by request of mr.. Melvil. 1t was the
first quality Of Dexter lime, and cost from two
dollars Fifty, to two dollars and seventy five
cents cask.-thc sand used in making the
mortar was good fresh sand. The mortar,as
well for the brick as stone work was Of the
best quality; the brick was Of the best quail
ty Of hard burnt Taunton brick, selected by
myself, and not single broken one put in
the outside Of the work to my recollection,
| any farther than was proper to break joints
and the strongest desire Of mr. Melvill APP
pearcd to be to have the work done in the
best manner, with the best materials. ] new
er received any directions from mr.. Melvill
as to the manner of building the walls, nor
when to lay brick or stone on any occasion
whatever, but did it according to my own
! Judgment. And ] further certify that the
revenue cutter never visited Beaver Tail, nor
did captain Cahoone land there, or come
there in any other way, during the whole
time the bell house was erecting. We com.
menced building the first week in June, and
finished il the 25th of July, 1929.
!, have since superintendent the building OF
several light houses, and dwelling houses, in
this District, by agreement with mr.. Elery
and have repaired two or three which had
been recently, but badly built-whch super.
intendence and repairs should not have beer
employed in il the Collector had not beer
satisfied with the work done by me on the
bell l.house; and can state with the strctes
regard to TRUTH that never have seen any
building, of brick or stone, built by contract
for the United States, SO well executed "a
that was.
further certify on oath, that took dowr
twenty feet from the top OF Beaver Tail ligh
house in 1877, for said Melvill, who had con
tractcd with the late Collector, inr. Ellery, I,
lower it so much and put on a new deck an,
larger lantern, which wall had been built a
bout 90 years, and cut down four feet into tn,
fold wall that had been built more than II
years; and in boththe latest and oldest work
, found the mortar IN a moist and crumblinl
state in the interior Of the walls, which nigh
have been occasioned by having been frozer
before it was dry-orby its vicinity to th,
salt water, and frequent sea fogs.
ri In executing the las, named contract, mr.