New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-02-10
BuiIdins Of the New state Arsenal.

The Committee appointed on the 25th OF June
last BY the Commissioners of the Land Office to super
intend the erection Of the State Arsenal In this
City, have made the following Report which was sent
to the Assembly the 10th ut Ii contains some rich
information and those who remember the language OF
TAs Tribune the subject last Spring, will perceive
how completely statements have been substan
tiated by the Official investigation.
The Committee report that on inspecting the work
done toward the Arsenal under the immediate direc
ton Of the late Commssary General Storms they found
constructed the foundations aud north half OF the base
nent story OF building 2O2 II In length and SO In width
In the Report Of the Commissioners Of the Land Office
of March a. leie, the disbursements of Commisssry.
General Storms including $1,000 for his personal ser
Vice. amounted to s36,5l3 a. In his Report to the
Controller the Commsssry General states that of this
amount tie 81 $4,000 used for iscsiius blast
fnS filing and grading The ground phicA the STATE
xrssnai located = which would leave balance OF
e2 5l3 "a expended toward the erection Of the Arse
nal and tho accommodation Of the workmen. OF thi.
expenditure the Committee, upon careful inspection
and measurement found only the following amount OF
work and materials, that were of any value toward the
construction OF completion Of the Arsenal, viz
In foundations and pers In cellar, s72i cube yards,
BrieI sewer, is n long. SKA a oval.......; SIC 90
drain, AIS cube yards Of dry wa..........., III %
Timber delivered al Arsenal. asa 81
Cut stone, not laid wals.................... 26 ~
isss. 7o5 90
mechanics to have cost wv ~
Total .slo5Ss As
grou This sum deduct the coat Of sheds and tools,
ss above lest ~
Leaving. $685. -
a. the value Of the expenditures made for the erection
Of the building TO the 2si March lsf3 committee o.
mechanics, called by the Commissioners TO examine
the masonry Of the basement story and the piers or
the foundations Of the iron columns necessary 20 sup
port the oor pronounced the work to have been doae
In negligent and unskifu manner, aud recommended
the taking down and rebuilding in more substantial
manner the walls ot the basement far as completed
which, the north halt OF the building were nine feet
high and three feet thick and on the south half about
four feet above the cellar, and OF tAe same thickness
also eight piers in the cellar The Superintendent
ports that the walls found 10 have been built In
front and foot thick the center foot being NIL
cd entirely with stonecuers chips, small that they
were removed by shoves and barro~s The front halt
Of tho walls first taken down. and the rear psr
lef standing for some days thereafter not single
header binder Of eighteen inches length found
In the three feet walls very small proportion only
Of the stones found In the walls were suitable for y
work of substantial character The mortar was OF 4
very inferior quality having scarcely any adhesion L.
the stone, months siter being used. The cos OF re-
building these walls and piers was as scar as can Be
ascertsined 063 Ia Ii Is estimated by the superin
tsnent OF the work that the value OF the stone found
IN the walls about equal 10 the cost Of removing
them and recuttng such were imperecty cut in tn
frat instance Several of the most experienced build
ers In the City New York estimated the cost Of com
pstine the Arsenal upon the plan originally sdopted
~ - -; ,.;,ns i0Ss IA
Or 10 build the walls OF brick feet thick above the
basement story instead OF stone the carpenter and al
the other work 10 be finished according 10 the origns
plan o., 900 lees than the sum above stated
Nf.h.. AZ
port above referred to- remarks that considerable
portion of the lands near the building are low and
mArshy and win cause stone walls 70 be damp, which
would be the II the walls OF brick. The
almost constant sweating OF stone wall win the
nxms 10 rust l would therefore recommend that the
walls above the water table be built Of brick instead OF
socne' The committee. being OF opinion tina, brics
walls would be more suitable than stone for srseus
purposes and desroas Of sscosi. the building of the
diensions Of the foundations in par, constructed for
sum greater than that 10 be paid the State BY
sround (e3o000 concluded 20 substitute brick for the
walls above the basement OF two feet four oehes in
theknsss with spsce OF ts1r seass IN Width IN the
cantor Of the piers between the windows for the ecu
a,ion Of air They also made very mAersl changes In
he plan from that designed originally BY elsvstns the
hsehs Of the eadns the ground dimensions esiag the
ssne plan 's and swing larger o ar ,ss
whore the ars have to be carefully examined and kePi
ffss from rust BY frequent cleaning
The building 70 now erected; The rooi towers aAo
hssslsments were completed with the exception
Of painting and copepg) the early part OF De
cenbsy The work of removing and rebuilding toe
basement walls commenced the 18Th Of last July snd
the building enclosed 10 leo than Eve months taeres
ter The building materials were contracted or 81 is
prices The work with the exception oSthe basement
wss mossly done BY contract under the immediate 10
spscson and direction OF the Superintendent appointed
By the Commissiooers In conformity with sec T. chap
2O4 Lave of 1913 One more OF the COMMITTEE
have waited the work during its progress semi month
H. furnish plans and specifications. make contracts
pay the contractors and lsoorers, and personally ~
specs the building They have the Satisfaction OF re
porting that tho work has done In the moot sub
stsnrsl and workmanlks manner, at cost lsss than
the estimates Of ssveral experienced mechanics and
BUILDERS IN The City Of NswYcrk, end - cheap, hey