The New York herald., 1868-06-27
NEW y0Rk HERALD, sATDRpAy, JUNE a. 44;s
\, ' y, by ,verty iarss wiu,iovs, out I q

that the light ~ entirely ohstructed Dy the walls o.
the north stairway for space 01 nfty ieet lnGeed,
the driveway n 80 in2enlOasiy arranyed that AL
abundance 0f space and hight B Secnfed, excep'
where the WAGONS receive and deliver she mall mat
ter, or, IN other wors, where H is most needod, q
clear space OF thirty feet only being obIned for the
mat wagons at the worst crowded pari BY the use 0
a. before described, cot OH by the stairway. The
arrangement is undoubtedly unique, ana, 10 my
opinion, pateniable ~ an original invention
have however some doubts ~ " Ats PRACTICAL saine
"DROPs'' Va. ELEVATORS .f
am glad to fnd one point IN which the opinion
and only regret that they did not cali elevators
elevators, instead OF "drops," which would have
enabled me to understand their meaning
''MUsoLEn AT THE HEw POST OFFICE.
I am aware thai the windows opening on the
public corridor on Broadway and PARK row can be
readily converted into doors, except at the point
where the necessity Ii the greaiest-vz.. At the
southern entrance, where, am informed in The me-
paragraph, but one opening has been iclt ior one
prevent the public from cOngregatng At tins loot
Of these principal stairs leading TO the upper stories
! believe the provisions VIII be found erectual not
only in preventing congregating at The foot, but In
preventing any portion of the public except the
most able-bodied from attempting TO approach the
stairs. On the principal OF compensation presume
the sfairways from Broadway and Park row are SO
located 10 afford the public the greatest facilities
for the congregation so much dreaded IN the former
case.
This assertion, II it proves anything, only proves
that the gentlemen In question aud myself dfer very
materially as to the requisites OF properly con-
structed Court House. and the statement that space
mas been left for private stairs for the jury II they
should he desired, is but paipable attempt to ex-
crse the imperfectiOns Of the design, as the jury
rooms could not be reached in the manner de-
scribed, as may readily be seen by glance at the
plans.
An examination Of my report VIII show that OBJ
jected TO the use Of iron for the interior finish,
window frames sash, &C., for the reason that while
greatly increasing the cost 1t added nothing practi-
caly TO the security OF the building against fire. The
gentlemen have 70 thas snei r.
quently made by persons who have mad little or no
experience in the construction Of non-combnstble,
1t Is undoubtedly true that the cost Of their plan
could be reduced by adopting my recommendations
on this point, and believe on tne otaers Also Dut
wood should be used, they must take the RESPONSE
bility.
The want of fairness and cand0r in the statement
that iron DOORS &C., nave been provided as prOfec
ton against the destructive tendencies OF the men
and boys Of New York. who are constantly lettering
or waiting about the Post Ofice and courts, Ia best
made manifest by the following extract from the
original SPECIFICATIONS, Wine outside doors ana
first and second stories which open on the corridors
TO be Of wrought iron and paneed; all the exterior
doors in the first story to be In four folds and to rest
against the lambs when open rebates to be formed
on the iron ambs Of interior and exterior iron doors
of first and second stories for light wooden doors
hung upon patent spring hinges to open both ways"
unless it IL supposed that the eight wooden doors
being hung upon patent hinges" were provided for
the 8lnuSement OF the men DOyS, anu Inc ConSe-
quent protection OF the iron DOORS on the same pri-
cple that the Arkansas tavern Keepers are said TO
have furnished soft pine shingles TO their guests 70
save their furniture.
respectfully suggest that the gentlemen must
have perused by mistake work on mine ventilation
in lieu Of the report Of the commission 70 which they
REFER that is the method they have adopted for the
ventilation Of their court rooms, and though found
to work well in mnes wells, &C., has not, as yet,
re Wa 70
portions of the building repeat, the plans show no
provision for the ventilation so vaguely and grandil
oquenty described In their report and reasser that
building constructed according 10 the plans under
consideration would be the worst ventilated public
man who would deliberately argue that COVER
Ing courtyard with glass roof would improve the
ventilation OF the rooms opening on IT, would prefer
room lighted by borrowed light from the wen
hole of staircase to one opening on the public
street, and would cool himself on hot sunny day
by sitting under u skylght
ABOUT ''PLANSn AND ''CONFIDENCE"
My report contains no objection ~ the use Of iron
columns In the only part o! the building where they
structed to use then--nanely, the first story and
basement did and DO object to using nothing but
iron columns for the interior support OF the build
ing-an objection they 40 not answer. The adinis-
sion that the interior arrangement OF design for a
building prepared by seven architects, who have
also embodied In il the excelences OF the designs Of
ten others, requires TO be constructed Us 10 pro-
vide the greatest facilities for the rcarrangement
they appear 10 anticipate VIII be necessary indicates
great want OI commence ! the ntneSS Oi
the plan for Inc purposes for whcn 1t is designed
would respectfully suggest TO the gentlemen the pro-
priety Of constructing tile exterior as well as the
anterior the same principle as II would be douDl-
less equally convenient III case 1t should be found
necessary TO remove the building AS well
the partitions. Any architect. however. who
has examined the plans and specifications
knows tbar the pretended explanation Is Dut subler
fIge. There can be on; Two valid reasons given Tor
the adoption of this palry and costly mode OF
struction. They have either used hath and piaste;
partitions rs the only method o. overcoming the
radical defects of the plan or tney have adopted it
from desire 10 use as much iron In the construction
OF the building as possible. II proper construction
were adopted difficulty would occur a.lditiona
expense 6e incurred by constructing ,he partitions
Of brick recommended 10y me; but Vn the on,rary
large saving would DC effected, rs my estimates
show.
'thorough ana secure Dracing oI the buiidng 10y
direct and diagonal ties Of wrought IRON, neI,hcI
do the estimates or the specifications explain IN wha
manner IL IL proposed to accomplish The OOleci.
would suggest that as II is so easy ana ihea are NJ
confident OF the correctness OF their construction
the preparation OF diagram showing The uietlio
(which would certainly not have taken much time
would have been a much better answer 10 NY
criticism than mere bold assertion
IL s, As have before stated, no answer To In, ot
lection contained in my report, tn alege that IN,
point objected 70 was the design OF the commission
was diyected 10 crticise the plans, specifications
and estimates, not the designers bui should hike
10 inquire IL the instructions OF the former cvnnls
sion 10 the latter not to obstruct the driveway with
columns permitted Ill obstruction by a staiiway
thirty by nifty iee in tas have previously explained
the most crowded part
The architects did not place wrought iron com
pound girders OF sufficient strength Tour feet deep,
at every pier and ia each story as the plans dsiinc,
show four feet girders the rst story only, the 9th
ers being but two feet girders. Neither the spechc
tons nor estimates show any such provision. tht
statement OF the architects TO the contrary Dctwiti
standing a. 1 am prepared to demonstrate 10 an!
person Interested in the subject
CALCULATIONS.
in ihclr endeavois To calculate the weight the Oti
feet gr,iers supporting the court room foor wou'o
carry il airders Of that depth were used IN eaci
story "a they profess to have intended, as VIII bt
seen from the following calculation
los
weight OF four feet grders, per lineal foot. 1857
Weight OF II n. 10 IN. cubic Feet brick work ana
Weight OF "A inch flooring aud nails.,. o.
Weight of partitions at 10 pounds per superficial
i''
Weight or half corridor floor In third story. 20I
"AlIowance OF 55 pounds per square fool for
persons" assumed by the architects. which
is however, far TOO little lof a safe cacuia-
ton, IL being not u dead but moving weight. s5s
-n