Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-03-13
Seneca Sand Stone Investigation.


PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS TO-DAY.
The House Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds this morning resumed their inves-
tigation into the character of the work done on
the new State Department building and espe-
cially with reference to the use in the founda-
ton OF said building Of the material commonly
known as Seneca sandstone.
Mr.. GetZ said that before any witnesses were
examined he desired to ask the reporters not to
report anything but evidence before the com
nittee. A part OF he last report OF the investi-
gat.On in THE STAR was the substance of a con-
yeTsat on between Mr.. Mullett and himself, and
was not the evidence Of Mr.. Mullett before the
committee.
Mr.. J. r.. O'NeiI was sworn and examined by
MIR. GetZ Our estate owns two blue stone
quarTies on the river; did not put in any bids
for the State Department building, but rented
quarries TO Major Vandenburg; otherwise is not
interested with Major v; there il Seneca stone
used in the foundation and partition walls of
the State Department.; don't think it will stand
any great weight; some Seneca stone will, but
this will not, neither will it stand dampness or
frost; have seen a. many as twenty places in the
foundation walls where il is cracked; examined
II last on the Ith inst; the walls are ruined, as
some OF the stones are crumbed and broken.
There witness exhibited piece of Seneca stone
which lie took from the foundation walls
about one foot in length, four inches
wide, and perhaps two inches thick Mr.. GetZ
OF the committee, was present when L removed
this stone; there ID one place in the arch where
some OF the stones split through the particu-
lar Seneca stone used in the State Department
foundation il not fit for the PURPOSE: the best
Seneca stone won't stand over 900 lbs pres
sure to the square inch, but that used by Mr..
Mulett will not probably stand 1900 lbs to
the inch; you can drill a hole into some of il
with your finger; know of no buildings, public
or private. IN which Seneca stone is used for
foundation; have no knowledge of Major Van
derbergs bids for work on the State Depart-
ment, except from hearsay.
BY MIR. Halsey:-The Seneca stone used at the
State Department is not as good as the best,
probably because II came from a poor yein or
was quarried in bad weather.
BY MIR. Tyner Have no experience as a
builder; my knowledge is simply ordinary; don't
know where the Seneca stone used by Mullett
was take from; don I know OF any thorough test
OF the stone to show whether it will withstand
the action or frost; the alueduct near Seneca
cree Is built of red stone, but don't know it to
be Seneca; have never ssen any evidence of
crumbling in this particular structure; took the
piece OF stone exhibited from OF the partition
walls, near the ground; it was frosted when
take out, and water dripped from it when ex-
posed TO the sun; the stone was flush with the
wall and did not project; saw other evidences OF
damage by frost.
BY MIR. Platt;-Our quarries are on the canal
above Chain bridge; understands that VanfIeu
ourG obcained bid for furnishing blue stone
Tor the State Department building; don't know
whether the Seneca stone in the Smithsonian
building has ever been injured by frost or not;
never discovered any damage done by frost TO
the Seneca stone pavements about the Capitol
although he had never critically examined
them; of two specimens of Seneca stone wnuld
not be able to tell which would be first affected
by frost; blue stone is superior to Seneca be-
cause II " ill stand $50 more pounds of pressure
than granite; experiments to illustrate the ca
Pacity OF stones were made by Capt. Meigs and
Others, and are given in Hawlcy's Engineers
Manual; think that Nandenburg could hay,.
taken out sufficient stone to fill his contract:
witness was not an expert, but when he saw
stone cracked by frost he knew it.
by Mr.. Getz A smooth face cannot be nut
on blue stone so well as Seneca: understand that
the bid for blue stone was the same as that for
Seneca.
BY Mr.. Plat Don't know who furnished the
Seneca stone for the State Department
by MIR. Tyner Judge that the Seneca stone
used IN the State Department will not stand
over 1000 pounds, but have made no actual test;
don't know whether the stone was seasoned or
not.
By Mr.. Halsey Never examined the Smith
sonian building critically.
By Mr.. Orr:-Denr know whether all the
damaged Seneca stone is like the specimen pre-
sented or not; blucstOEe used in the founda-
ions OF all the public buildings except the
treasury; bluestoBe is not generally dressed
but Seneca is.
By Mr.. Sessions Frost undoubtedly cracks
Seneca stone; the stone contracts until the
moisture In II reaches the freezing point, when
il expands.
by Mr.. Halsey:-Never tested any kind of
stone; guess at its strength.
by MT. GratZ "A IN not interested with Maior
NandenbuTg IN his contract; of course, the more
stone he quarries, the better il paws the owners
AT the conclusion of Mr.. O'Neil's testimony
the committee adjourned to meet on MOnlay
morning next at 10 O'Clock. Mr.. Mulett wa.
expected to be before the committee again This
morning, but did not put in an appearances II
Is understood that he did not return from Ralti-
more IN time to resume his testimony