The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-14
TIE MUSENM.

The new museum at the corner of Ninth and
Arch streets is a valuable improvement that
is deserving of the encouragement aud sup
port of the citizens of Philadelphia, aud it is
a matter for regret that intimations that the
building is unsafe should have been m lde
either publicly or privately unless there are
very strong grounds for believing such to be
the case. Mr.. Robert Simpson, the proprie-
tor of the museum, believing that his busi-
ness has been injured by certain articles on
this subject that have appeared in Colonel
Fitzgeralds paper. has commenced
libel suit against him, and at the hearing
yesterday before Recorder Givin q NUN Der
of practical builders gave their tes-
timony in regard to the construction of
the museum building, and united in the
opinion that unusual care had been taken in
its erection, and that it was perfectly secure.
AS any person can see for himself 10y even a
superficial inspection, the building is provided
with means of egress in event of fire that are
superior to those of any place of amusement
in the city; and we believe that Mr.. Simpson,
while the structure was in process of erection
last summer, took every possible precaution
to make it secure beyond the shadow of a sus-
picion, and the testimony offered yesterday
before the Recorder ought to reassure those
who have been needlessly alarmed by rumors
that have no foundation in fact Mr. Simp-
son, to whose enterprise Philadelphia is in
debted for this museum, is gentleman who
has worked his way in the world with but little
assistance from any one. Some gears ago he lost
his arm by an accident, and since then he
has been obliged to use his brains in
order to win the favors of fortune. By his
industry and business tact he has been ena-
bled to give this city what it has long needed,
museum that offers a great variety of attrac-
tions not only to our own citizens but to
strangers, and he is certainly entitled to better
treatment than he has received in some quar-
tiers; and we hope that the result of the suit
now pending will have the effect of demon
trating the security of the museum building
SO effectually that there will in the future be
no further doubt on the subject
Among the witnesses examined yesterday
was Mr.. Benjamin F. Wright, building in
speotor, who testified at the time of the erec-
tion of the building he had examined the
north wall between the museum and Mr..
Myers property with great care, and that it
was perfectly plumb and could not fall. He
was certain that the building was perfectly
safe. Mr.. Wright stated that he had been a
carpenter and builder for forty five years,
and had been building inspector for twelve
years.
MIR. James M. Stewart corroborated the
statements of Mr.. Wright. He said that he
had been building inspector for seven
years and builder by profession for thirty
five, and that the Board of Inspectors con-
sidered the building very safe one.
MIR. John F. Shermer, also building in
spector, corroborated the statements of
Messrs. Wright and Stewart; he considered
the building one of the strongest in the city.
Mr. John w. Murphy, civil engineer and
bridge builder, residing At No. 3t4 N. Thirty
second street, testified to the great strength
of the joists and supporters in the building.
The joists were so strong that they could
stand even one hundred pounds of pressure
to the square inch, while but seventy-five
pounds were usually given to places of
amusement and public halls.