Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-03
The Seneca Stone Investigation.

MR.. MULLETT's TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COM
MITTEE.
Mr.. Mullett was before the Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds again this morn
ing, and testified that the plans Of the new State
Depart MT building, as far as completed and
The general design had been submitted to the
secretaries OF State, War and NAVY and had
been spprovedby them. As soon as he was able,
after he read the newspaper charge that the
"aiis had been affected 10y frost, he examined
The walls and found nothing at all to indicate
such injury. Witness was shown the piece of
seneca stone from the walls, and previously ex-
Elblted III committee, and said il came from an
unfinished portion Of the wall, and had been
broken of by blow from a hammer in putting
lp the derrick, and not by the frost as show n
ny It's being from the bottom of the stone. There
Is no rubble work in the building except the blue
tone backing in the foundation walls. The
seneca used is what is known as block
ashler cut from block rubble, description
ol stone between hubble and dimension stone
known in New England as "picks aud points. -
The highest tests OF English sandstone was the
scotch 'abrOath" stone, which bore a pressure
Oh ,es1 pounds to the square inch. The Port
ana (Englandl sandstone, from which both
Houses of Parliament and st. Paul's cathedral
was built, bore but 4, GO0 crushing pressure.
seneca bore pressure of 1882, which made It
me strongest sandstone known. Taking that
basis the walls would bear a weight az times as
great as required for safety. Considered the
piece shown in commute a good stone and
should not hesitate TO use it. Considered Seneca
"a
by the surface OF quarries, where the bluestOne
was rotten while the Seneca was hard. No per
ION had ever approached him TO induce him to
use seneca stone; knewcnly 10y report who were
stockholders in the Seneca COMPANY. Had heard
and believed the President was a stakeholder
Would prefer Seneca to brick, ii building for
himself, although sufficient strength in brick,
and brick would cost but about half as much
In case OF a breakage Of pipes, the bricks would
absorb more water and do more damage 10 the
E SaaS HIS estimate OF saving of s24,Oo was
based upon the expense of cutting for the State
department wing OF the building, which is bat
one-fourth Of the building contemplated. The
other wings have not oeen yet authorized by
Jaw When completed, it Is intended to include
the state Navy and War Departments
MT Mullett then explained about the locks on
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. The MINER
locks were or Seneca stone, and were in good
order; the lower ones were of Aqua Greek sand
Stone-the same As the center of the Capitol was
built of-sud were not in as good condition. He
hoped the committee would 90 some day and
examine the locks and the Seneca quarry for
themselves. ~
DR.. kidwell, who was present in behalf of the
Seneca company, also extended an invitation 10
the committee to visit the Quarries.
Aichde! McGotcdn, practical stone-cutter was
sworn, and testified that the Seneca was an ex-
ceiient building stone; that IL worked best and
easiest when freshly quarried, and that in nsins
Il 1t was customary to select the stone with re-
ference to the different purposes for which n
was intended to be used.
MI Francis 8. King, a lawyer, of Boston, in
ventor OF patent stone cutting macbiue. testI-
ned to having endeavored to induce Mr. M uIIett
10 use his invention upon the Boston custom
mouse, claiming that large saving of expense
IN cuttlng would have been effected, and that it,
use was recommended by Messrs Bryant and
Rocgers, who represented Mr.. Mullett, at Bos-
TON; but at the conclusion of his examination
the committee voted to exclude his evidence a.
irrelevant to the subject under Investigation.
The committee then adjourned without fixing
a Gay for the continuation Of the investigation