New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-11

ing the beam. Although q model Of such pintle i
mentioned in the correspondence thS somebody would
show 70 me- have ret the Of ever
having Eeen it, and know thai was called upon
beforehand 10 determine its strength. Long after all
discussion Of the systeA Of columns was ended the
eonns and pbtles contracted for aud purchased by
the owners OF the mill received Ia good faith and
put into the building without any special attention be-
ing called to the subject of their strength. IT, under
the circumstances ought then to have examined and
rejected them, the responsibility for not doing fairly
rests with me. But after au Il perfectly clear that
the breaking Of the fange of the pinte would hs had
triaing effect lowing to the mode Of placing them in
the beams), and could have caused column 10
break when It was properly made.
Thirdly; cannot DOW attribute tomyselfauy blame
for not causing rigid inspection of these castings
applied the testimony shows all that any body had
ever applied before, and all that anybody would have
applied in my place
FSurthly In regard to the sufRciency of the walls
II enough 10 say that they stood ak years under the
full operation Of the MILL absolutely nvsrisble aud
straight when fret erected and that the mill far
free than usua from vibrations and IN fact did
not vbIate at all. lie certain, If they had been far
stronger than any mill walls built in this country,
they would have been overthrown by the destruction
Of the iron columns.
Fthly; 1t is the united testimony Of the most com.
peent witnesses that the rgdity and invarabihy Of
the floors was remarkable II was clearly proved that
the shafDg ran with degree Of perfection rarely at
tanned. This would not have been the case If the
floors had been sprDgy on account OF the distance be-
was somewhat greater than usual all viii agree that
1t point Of excellence in such structures TO reduce
the number of the points OF support far possible
consistently with the stnt and security of the MILL
That the former of these objects perfectly attained,
was shown az lust stated aud nobody can doubt that
the Pemberton mill would have been standing secure
to-day had not been for the most uDlooKedor weak
in the columns IL is very easy now for any one
TO sugges remedies for suoh defect, and to learn
lesson-fIst, to guard against its occurrence, and
second against its effects, if it should occur.
Siztkly; One paragraph in the verdict states that
made all the contracts in relation to the structure,
whereas is truly stated subsequently, that the owners
of the mill had the right TO make contracts II they
pleased ano in fact they actually exercised il in regard
to the pillars. It seems strange that general and
sweeping that contained in the last clause
of the verdict should have been thrown upon me, al
though il is stated in hypothetical form, when 30 sut
fcient aud manifest cause for the disaster existed,
(which everybody knows did actually produce IL in
which acted no part and could not have avoided by
any care or diligence which would not have been most
unusual and extraordinary As far public sentiment
is made up by such things and far rs the good OPT
mon o. my fellOw.men is Influenced by them, must
bear the loss.
Finally 1t is the fate Of engineers land in this their
lot ders from that of other professional mem long
as their work stands and runs with perfection 10
be unnoced and forgotten. Perhaps ia one Of the
highest proofs Of it's excellence TO be thus passed by
noticed If there are any thinking men, however
stive enough to imagine the suffering caused me, In
having my name connected at all with this most sad
and disastrous calamity, they also sympathze in
the additional regret FEEL that structure which was
regarded as model Of excellence in the adaptation Of
ali its parts the accomplishment of its object should
have been whelmed in such total defeat through the
most unoOked-for careessness dishonesty Of sub
ordinate agent. And under the circumstances, such
men 1ciH not tympathize with those who can be p:o
phets after the fact and discover abundant fault where
q pTiori only excellence would have been found.
Boston Feb g. 1880 CHAs. II. BIGELoW.