New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-07-31

Of the building but the timber the piles under the
outer peTs connected
Charles Roome President ~ th. Manhattan Gas Light
Company, No. - We, Thirty thrd-t -worn-Previou,
the erection Of the works the corner OF avenue aad
Fourteenthst examined the ground and had the earth
bored in number Of places TO the depih OF tweniy-'H
feet so A. 10 ascertain what steps necessary
permanent and solid foundation for The buildings pro
posed 10 be erected decided that II Necessary 10
place the foundation piles. AMI prepared ny plans
cordincy the buildings designed by me and desire
10 assume all the responsibility in this case.
The plans drawn by John Fuller Harrison accord
inc 10 my direction the specifications drawn by me-
and given TO the respective contractor BENJAMIN NJ
CLARK the Superintendent under whose personal drec
ton the work executed: M Harrison the architect
assisted Mr. Clark Mr. Clark was an old experienced
builder, upon whose skll the company had un5oundef
confidence he finished works Of great extent for this
psny and for the NewYork Gas Light Company for the
las. fifteen year. and be employed under John b.
Lewis az his superintendent in the construction Of the
CrOton Aqueduct during the progress OF the sad building
wac daily on the ground and hourly in consultation with
the superintendent, and with the architect, and en-
deavOred by all the means in my power by
personal observations and repeated instructions
10 the officer employed 10 spare expense Wh!ch II
might be necessary 10 incur TO erect the WORKS IN me
strongest and most substantial manner was IN the
building yesterday for nearly two hours and eft there
about one hour before il fell: although examined a.
thought every portion Of the work which was vlslbe
saw nothing that not in my Judgment as perfect az
could be desired to ensure genera security am unaoe
to express any opinion 10 the cause OF the sad accident
The foundations the building should think cost over
$40 600 and the whole work including the ground
estimated to cost, when finished. 81 100000 Mr.. Clark
always EXPRESSED his admiration OF she kul manner in
which the ronwork performed. DO not think any
storm could have affected the sOdity of the structure
was the habit every day OF examining the whole work
as il progressed.
James y. Wells sworn-I live al No. 2Gs West Twenty
second-st. master builder and have been engaged
in erecting buildings for the last forty years inspected
the design of the buildings at the Of Avenue aud
Fourteentl-t before they built aud approved Of
the combinations; / visited the building when in the
course o. construction far the work know
that il was done in 'he best manner under direction
Of BENJAMIN NJ Ca-k, who thoroughly competent 10
s exec uon visted the building again after tbs roof
was on and considered il of the neaest and best
constructed jobs had inspected | considered
the iron rafiers there used sufficiently strong TO bear
the weight placed them and I considered the
iron columns strong enough TO support the
weight of the rscf in stating placing slate any quantity
side than another would not affect il the
construction Of the building being triangular the sinking
Of Of the columns four FIVE inches would not have
caused the fall Of the building; when Mr. Rome brought
the plan of the building to for my opinion think he
would have altered If had suggested any alteration,
but did not see that there any necessity.
The ipGuest then adjourned until clock this day.
Before separating the Jury consented that certificates
sbouli be given for the burial Of the bodies Of the de-
ceased, which accordingly was done.