New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-29
TIE STEVENS APARTMENT HOUSE.

| TIiB ABSENCE OF A FOUNDATION OF PlLES.
TO the Bdftor Of The Tribune.
SIR: did not intend to enter into any pub
lie controversy the tha Of the fail
ure Of that portion OF tho Stevens Apartment House
built under the plans OF Mr. Hunt and adjoining the pOr
ton erected under my during the past year.
had supposed that, the part stands like rock,
without crack or flaw blemish anywhere while the
older part had become cracked settled in places
remote from the work, we'll It, the case
would speak for itself with sufficient dstinctness to all
intelligent persons. supposed that IL tho old part had
settled from the first, while the new had not settled at
ALL the natural inference would be that the build
ing had proper foundation while the old one had not
The assertion of Mr. Hunts assistant MI T. Il. Raht in
your paper Of this morning. however that the present
diff Guilty entirely due TO mistakes In the plans OF Mr.
Gilman" is extraordinary that am compelled in
selfdefense TO publish few words ON this muchmooted
subject.
In the first place. allow to observe that this whole
matter has been greatly, not TO say absurdly, exag
gerated by the press and tho public. Buildings on
spongy foundations crack settle often much
more than this still retaining degree OF stability
greatly OF any weight they may be called upon
support This front wall cracked in full sight of
every passerby and has been securely shored and
is being renewed with stronger material which will
render entirely safe for the future but it was never
dangerous, particularly as it carried any weight
but its own The floors run the lot, usual par
whole of it might be removed, therefore, without
menacing safety of the occupants in tho least de-
gree. the second place. the stability OF the party
a GI tHe r Ta anse w iS tho the 'front.' or
broken wall erected with its foundations altogether
under the superBtendence Of Mr.. Hunt, seems to be
now called in question by his assistant. One would
think that party-wal OF a structure costing over
million OF dollars, wall 2s inches in thickness, and
lying between one portion OF valuable property and
another intended to be used for the same purpose would
have left in condition sufficiently stable to carry
the very slight weight which the half OF bay only IS
feet wide imposes upon 1t. And that 1t is thus perfectly
sound and secure have never as YET had any evidence
TO doubt Before proceeding to incorporate TINS wal,
however, in portion of the new structure, and IN
order TO feel perfectly at in regard to wall not
erected piles like my own called personally at t1e
the 9th day Of June last and being there
The works time TO time during the erection OF Mr.
Hunts building took him with me in carriage TO the
Site and requested him fully to examine the wall in
question and give me any such directions in regard to
the treatment of il as his knowledge or the building
while I'm progress might enable him do the rules
and regulations in force in the Department Of Buildings
might require In pocket notebook for That day OF
june MondsyTook Inspector Of Buildings for district up 70 se
y. Of t SIDE Extra strong says We
90 ahead but would like to keep well sSored l. , 81,
the Apartment House; Mr. Crooks my associate III the
work the contractor, and several others interested
were present and cognizant OF oil the CIRCUMSTANCES.
From the first examination which | made OF the SITE,
judged that pile Foundation was the G9y proper one 10
structure or the proprety and III laet the aosouIe
ton of the building at least which was erected
under my charge, no engineer OF aculVect "a
experience in soft yielding foundations could
entertain moments doubt The piles were driven
bv that careful and experienced or contractors
Mr.. Richard HILL all being driven by hand, and not by
seam as usual order i'll the least 10 shake or DIS
turb any other walls I'm the vicinity and the t@o walls
partyowali Of Mr. Hints work, now in question bear
witness in their upright and aG bGS 70
Tas Of n Hn ~ f W ar
existence any such document ever IN any NAY com,
to me until now H. however Mr; unv noS
nd at an
was unfit To use tine usual and ordinary purposes olh
partywa, that is certainly us aaiI aH ,,es Tim
"A personal discussion, particularly WIN any oiio Vi ny
professional cotemporares In general should prefer
- he iont Trusting TO time and the good sense OF the
community vindicate the carefuness anu eAIrerno
caution of professional career, now extendinR Over
nerod of thirty years without single case O acceht
failure unsafe result But the statements OF mr. hint,
on6-sided and unjust, entirely taking the saddle on
the right horse and putting 1t on TO the wrong one ma
it would be more than reserve vi ny IN a. mt
be silent The matter can, IN iact De all pu Ia a nut
shell part OF the stevens housi Th h D 0 stan
as IL ought TO have Deeh' anu me-, mart was
perfectly firm and even; Mr.. Hunts P arr W p9
Sero settlement In fact there never
was case where the irOnical maxim, FOst noe, eTg9
PPnnIicatjon But the thing i'll which the pnDc are
most concerned is the safety and security % e 40
nov entertain the slightest doubt whatever Repairs
may be made here and there, cracks may oCour, oi
nnenual and partial settlements take place as taeJ To-
peaiedy do in other and less preentlous
but the and vigilance with wnien tno5 arc or
ana maui ~ he sufficient TO convince the whole
muniy that out of the appafeIt Oh 'H0 '''0
regret moi have been able TO nave uspatcneu tn
matter iu a brefer space; but on readlng over "hat
nave written do not see that any portion of my ex-
PLANTATION could consistently 10 ouit'ep prurp GILMAN
No. ITO Trinity Building, April IS, 1874
CARD FROM THE ARCHITECT OF THE EXTENSION
To the EDITOR Of The Tribune.
SIR Having read a great many false suite
ents In regard TO the settlement OF the FlthaVe ron
of the old part OF the Stevens Apartment House. ft
ave and Twenty-seventh-st., would like to occupy
little OF your valuable space IN st"uins "io" law" "
| connection Herewith.
Thu settlement Of the foundations under the front
ral q, the old building well the party wall o.
curred before pile driven under the walls OF the
| addition. Before commenced Work oaiIeu 'uo NJ
tentton OF the contractor and Others, not only 10 W
seemept which had shown itself in several cracks on
tbe Fithave front Of the building, but also TO an ep
zen, hplg,ne OF the wallgabove the third story. Tho
| iorca nier on the south corner OF the fl1th-aVe'
from aso the pier the corner OF Ffth-ave ana
| ,rseventh-st had settled at this tme' nave
heen AT the building almost every Gay Since .ne GUN
MANAGEMENT OF the additions to IT, ana am certain 'ua'
tho settsment In either Of these piers since then mas
| 80. 90 little as TO be almost imperceptibe. Several
months ago told Mrs Stevens that 1t would Dc adVlsa
HE before the workmen quilted the Duung TO taho
the small brick piers anu ~ the old building to
Shc5 she acce led and had already zone P9i
Of this the attention Of W Pa front The
aangerous condition Of this front mas 1eoh Storoty
exaggerated 1t is the settlement Oh wan me same
ports nothing utitself; the innn With
lave found their natural bed and the OPINION Mni ht
expressed months ago. ana sun ibar Settlement
~ them that can inuIe the building Is indorsed ny
number of mechanics OF large anu n niles near the Old
rt Of the building weakened the lou th t
the same anu ron the fact that the SET element
of the foundations haa ocouiio not weakened the