Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-27

deprived of every dollar, while the evidences go
to show that had those structures been built en-
tirely of Frcar stone, they would have with
stood the storm of fire which visited that i'll
fated city. To subsantiate which, we print the
following letters-the first from Merrill Ladd,
ESQ.,, a retired gentleman of wealth, recently
president of the Mutual Life Insurance Co.; the
second is from Prof McChesney, a geologist of
worldwide renown, who was commissioned by
Mayor Mason, of Chicago, TO investigate the eff
iects of the great fire upon all the different stone
in use for buildings in the city.
"CncAGo, Nov. %, 1871,
"F. j. Chen, Esq, 81. Joseph, No Dear Sir.
| have been requested to give my opinion OF the
value and utility of the 'Frear stone More
than two years ago was led to examine its
merits, with a view to use it for a front of the
Mutual life insurance company's building.'
After n satisfactory exhibit of its qualities by
the owners of the patent, decided 10 use 1t in
the building referred to, the said building beng
the following dimensions, 81 4-l2 feet front and
four stories above high basement in height
equal to ordinary five story buildings. 1t was
situated on Fifth avenue, in this city, and about
in the centre OF the line of the great fire of the
Sth of October. At the time | decided to use
the "Frear stone," it had had not been used in
any buildings in this city higher than two sto.
tects expressed opinions that it would not sus-
tain the pressure Of so high building; but
having faith | acted as pioneer, and l
can and do cheerfully bear testimony as
to its capacity to sustain an immense pressure;
also the fact that the cold of winters had no
effect upon it Except to harden) and in passing
through the great fire, no signs Of taking, split
ting or disintegraton were percepuble, as was
the case with all natural stone (even grantee
which was used in this city. | will say in con-
clusion, that believe it 10 be the best material
that can be used for buildings were strength,
solidity and protection against fire is desired. |
say further that have no interest either directly
or indirectly in the Frear stone company and
this opinion is given purely from desire to
benefit the public, whose interests would be pro-
NOTED by the use of this stone in the erection of
substantial buildings.
Respectfully yours, merrill LADD."
"CHcAGo, Nov. 9th, 1871.
&c. Holland, Esq. Dear SRI shall notice
the 'Frear Stone in which you are interested, in
my report on the character Of the building ma
terial used in this city. | examined its condi-
ton just after our great fire, where ii had been eX-
posed to as severe tests as any building material
in this city, but ii was neither cracked nor scaled
off by the great heat so badly as the real stone
used in the city, and upon examining it closely
to ascertain the effect of fire upon it, conclude
it might be used to advantage in the construc-
ton of tire-proof vaults.
remain, very truly yours,
J. H. MCCHEsNEY."
Our excuse for placing before our readers so
full a statement concerning this valuable dis
covery, is our desire TO encourage all mannlac-
turing interests which tend TO the future growth
and prosperity of our city.