Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-25
TION.


The invo stigation into the quality and present
condition of the Seneca sandstone used in the
foundation walls of the new State Department
building, was resumed by the House Committee
on Public Buildings and Grounds this morning
Tyner, Getz, Sessions, Wells and Orr.
Emile 8. Friedrich sworn, and examined by
MI Getz:-Witness Is a civil engineer; Seneca
Stone is Of different qualities; would not prefer
1t az building material; had used it in build
ing the house of Admiral Powell, on j street,
and It worked badly, as 1t did also in the Colum.
bia Institute for the Deaf and Dumb; don't
think Admiral Powell was interested in Seneca
stone, but believe some of his friends were wit
ness persuaded him not to use much of this kind
OF stone, because he (witness) believed it trea.
cheIous; have known OF no case where Seneca
has been used in any national bull ding for the
foundation where granite formed the super
structure; have seen defective stones in the area
Seneca is more costly to work than granite
because that stone Is more difficult TO
cat nicely; 1t Is the opinion of witness
that the walls of the State Department, which
are built OF Seneca, might have been built of
granite just as cheaply; the foundation of the
Smithsonian is not built of Seneca, but OF blue
stone: would rather work bluest0ne than Seneca;
there is no doubt about the durability Of blue
stone.
BY Mr.. Tyner:-The trouble with the walls at
Admiral PUwells house as the dam pness; think
the present walls OF the State Department are
sufficiently strong to sustain the superstructure;
even the best Seneca will absorb great deal OF
water; the Seneca used in the State Department
differs in quality. some being good and some
BAD; there are q few broken stone in the supcr-
structure OF the Freedmen's Bank building;
would prefer bluestOne over Seneca az a fuunaa-
ton for the State Department; the lower fOunda-
ton OF the State De oar iment is of concrete: the
stone, broken at the Deaf and Dumb Institute,
hau ABOUT three tons pressure upon it; think
exposure to the atmosphere and moisture caused
ii to crack.
BY Mr.. Getz:-The stone in the deaf and dumb
building was pu. to 10 test before being placed
IN the walls, although it had been seasoned
nearly year.
By Mr.. sessions:-senecaa bsorbs more damp
ness than granite because il Is more porous;
moisture will dry out Of brick sooner than
Seneca because it is still more porous thaa the
latter.
By Mr.. Tyner:-Seneca stone can be delivered
cheaper than granite; think the latter (had II
been on the grOund) might have been cut and
put in the State Department walls cheaper than
Seneca because II cuts more freely; good cutter
ought to cut twelve feet of granite per day can't
cut within ten per cent. as much OF Seneca; the
concrete foundation ought to be at least two feet
By Mr.. Getz:-when architects are in.
structed to use a certain kind of stone in the
construction Of building, 1t is not customary to
lied to do so.
BY. MT. wels-woald much prefer hard
brick for partition walls to Seneca; would not
hesitate to use. Seneca stone, if brick is used
with it for foundation walls.
BY MI Tyner:-A granite building is seldom
built wholly Of granite, the division walls gene
Mr.. Vim. II. Huestis recalled and examined by
Mr.. Tyner:-A good cutter will cut from 80 to
100 feet of granite per day; of Seneca stone he
can't cut over 40 feet; I'm response to an adyer-
tise ment inserted by the chairmen of the Senate
and House Committees on Public Buildings and
Grounds, April IS, 1871, witness put in bids to
the stone marked No. 4" was from RicbmnnS'
Va; witness bids were 50 cents Der cubic feet
LOT stones under ten feet in dimensions, IS cents
Iorstohes over 10 and under % feet, 60 cents for
stones over 20 and under 80 feet in Dimensions.
&c, in regular graduation; didn't respond TO MT
hnilett's later proposals for stone.
in the granite walls Of the State Department
when witness examined the m q few DAYS AGO:
Seneca absorhs dampness but granite does not.
stone furnished for the State Department, and
1t Is good enough tor the foundation walls.
Mr.. VIM. II. Stienmets asked to be recalled,
ting excited the other day, as he had procured
Mr. Huestis dismissal from . stone yard, and
hence Hs hostility.
Mr.. Auestis.Nfhat statement is not 90; he did
try TO Get me discharged but didn't succeed.
gentlemen to order, and instructed the stenoS-
raphef not to make their remarks matter Of
Nj. Stienmetx then said that in nj. co,,.-
statement he made . mistake In estimating the
relative cost of brick and Seneca walls; Seneca
laid in the walls costs about $50 per cubic yard,
oAiu ~ on.y SASO Oh RcI Cu0lC y8f0; granite
would cost about $50 per cubic ward; the con-
crete foundation Of the State Departaent is -four
and half feet deep, and exteads two and half
feet b6yond the foundation.
Ar Henry =. Seayle, sworn and examined by
xr. Getz:-Have been an architect since was
fourteen years OF age; am familiar with Sene-
ca; In Its proper place Il Is good building ma
tenai; am now engaged on the new Repsbtican
once in this city; bluestene is used in the foun-
datien Of this building; builders generally pre-
Ter the biuestone over the Seneca stone for rub
Bile wallis; never have Reen Senaca s,udsfcna
nsed in the foundation walls of large buildinos
By Mr.. Wells:-wouid use Seneca for parfi-
ton walk, but would prefer brick; generally
partition walls carry much weight ss the ex-
terror walis, and sometimes more
By Mr.. Gotz:-Some OF the Seneca stone used
in the Republican building have been broken by
the frost; about five stones have been dam aged:
have asked that these stones be removed Al.
though IL Ia hardly probable that they will in
iure the building; know nothing about the State
Department building, and am not qualified to
judge of its construction thus far.
Adjourned to meet on Wednesday.