New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-01-11
THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY BUILDINGs-CARD
FROM GEN. HOWARD.
NAsHINUIJN d Ni JtlII' . Io'1
To he Editor Of he National Tnteiligenccr;

wAsmNGToN, ID. c., Jan. c, 1869.
To he Editor Of Tie National Tneilgencer:
DEAR SIR: | notice in last nights TRIBUNE
card from A. b. Muett, supervising architect Treas
uIy Department in which he condemns the material Of
which the Howard University buildings
struced rs "utterly worthless for building purposes.
Now rs long Irresponsible men wrote hppant articles
full OF misstatemeus, and evidently written with
wicked malicious purpose deemed silence the best
swer and did hope the committees having tho inves
CATION OF the accident to inc hospital IN charge mght
should DO biased by any Official statement; but as there
q great interest at stake, It Is better. per
haps to say a few words. showing my grounds
Of confidence IN the material known the build
ing block | first examined the material and be-
came so far satisfied OF its value building material
that determined TO build NY own house OF IT, II being
the first experiment, excepting perhaps, Mrs. ~nsows
There was material enough for the entire wall
After the house was erected two sght vertical cracks
appeared in the eeatoy tower extending through the
buestono foundation. These evidently caused by
cracked replaced and nothing Of the kind has
appeared Ny house appearing 50 we'll puilt large
stable without the inner hnlng, ana ths DclcNea better
building than the house. Some 10 or IA private dwellings
have since been constructed IN Washington Of the
materia-lO at least without any inner hnE OF common
brick. Ny house went through last Winter, and
blocks not only resisted unfayorable action OF the
frost, but grew harder ana stronger, TIL today
in my house. with twelve in the family and have been
since last July. MI w. Alvord's house IS constructed
without common brick at al. lie and bis family sleep
quietly within ITS walls. The University building was
through last Winter though as bare wall, much ex
posed soaking with ram and freezing still IL improved
and completely resists the constant freezing ana
thawiDgOf this Winter The building is well constructed,
has an unusual supply OF sod cross walls the exterior
walls being 10 inches In thickness. No signs whatever
can be found Of liability 10 crushing few vertical
seifSS aid onnno% and IT. Iitne nS %
were replaced by sound ones not for cOnceament but
is done In finishing any building, when window sllls
caps have cracked, for the sake OF proper finish
This building is now occupied daily by the clerical
force Of the Feednen's Bureau, and by about hundred
pupils Of the University Prof Barber with his family
the steward, with his faulty, and number Of students,
occupy tho dornitories. The do mitory building is
deemed thoroughly safe hy us The foundation OF the
north wall built Of Seneca and blue stone vas
secure. and that with the wall gave way while building.
II begun again at the bottom sone-the foundation
OF the entire bGlding subjected TO thorough examina
ton-Aound by aFoesstones sod heavy iron clamps No
settling has appe2red for six months, aud there
cracks learn, in The superstrueture These buildings
oeen thorouslly SAFE am soiTy Mr. Mrlett has been
30 hasty WIN not speak of the hospital which III
process OF construction, and to which the ACCIDENT
ouIen because that is under investigation. have the
Oh more than twenty architects and bull 1ers that
nndng block good. and improves with time have
% sVine OF The abest engineers in this country 10
LOOK at these buildings and they say need give mTsef
ara University buildings dcprecae The Wholesale g. M.
aelnatlon OF members OF this building company let
sure or CRITICISM on account Of my Official positon II the
Diock was used IN the University bnldings The trustees
TO approve formally ofs use while fbc sniert ~ b"ud
iPg was under Adjustment You may say What Induced
fIst There was bed OF fine sand suitable for this
hill al 49,, ieSs uIai That OF pressed
MICH ana no more than that OF common brick making
more elegant building. "' '"'Ni"s
ihTdIit Afforded employment 10 n large number Of
eoloed laDOfefs understand from the cOnpanv That
.ne company nave never made anything above ex. |
RSIscs-hever nave Deeh able TO declare a dividend
They can speak for Themselves to their motives on
ceiH elVl ana military arc constantly investing I'm stock
e0npanes as IN the Seneca Stone Agency for example
They must do something to support their families and n
Is surely little hypercreal 10 condemn a Inaa because
w. mas invested MS money ID company he deems good
ana carrying on legitimate business. invested in Ills
originally win tho purcst motives, left IL for the
i IL.
put nave requested HIM To give me the benefit of tho
aes based on an experiment OF ascertauing by steady