The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-10
THE POST OFFICE DISASTER.
Report Of Postmaster James
Commission.
The Original Defects To Be Remedied-lhc In
Slructions Given and Work Performed.
Sad Results Of a Defective
Truss.
VERDICT OF THE cORoNER'S JURY.

WASHINGTON, May 0. 1871
The commission appointed by Postmaster jones OF
New YORK. under instructions from tho Secretary OF
thc Treasury, to inquire into tho causes OF tho late
accident at the Now York Post once building have
made extended report. After rcctng tho fact OF
their organization and the witnesses examined, the
commission proceeds
THE DEVELOPED
The facts "rs found 70 % foows-on July H. 1874
thls letter was sent from tho Supervising Architects
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF SUPERVISING .;. AEcm aln
ITO Hon g. Hun,nusn Superintendent onico and
SIR send herewith pan and section showing the de-
sign for tho court room to be found in the building
ss' ss . third S"s
y md a" ncr% me- sSa wit s"y
s a" s o viii nis see That
which
%sa hss '
order to carry out the aboye Instructions OF Mr. Null
removed occupied BY the United states
and Sxs ssn
dividing the room transversely. was removed to in
s EE1 % s'ss y. "s:A "''
required supported The Selling Of
the court our room cy wrought iron sirsr INTRODUCED
proved to be ne w'ich finally led the
IRON placed BY sas
spss BY ss east rsn Or ng
THIS girder. besides It's weight compelled sup
.od
he thu s
additional load Of 57sA square feet Of root dsck with
covering besides, the accidental increased weight
Mr. Muetss letter can be found in The office Of tie New
York does record there Of
q9eny is not possible for commission to determine
the officials of tho Washington office OF the supervising
The snsinesr Of that Office Mr. schnmann, that
Mr. Worms. iron worker, testify ssss
lie beams saken out Of ne floor. which Nv was
Thomas called the attention s,einmos to
n;rodustion of relieving arch il the
esned &c as Sn @ Ina ms made IN
SIGNS or WEAKNESS.
testimony soaIsy establishes discovered
s & al sps aa Ss
the
was and s s re ess
At the amSs Of the opening Of, attic wall above
' Of 'ess"s
and wall sussesea that wali should ss re-
be sss % ~ . Ss tor s Sa
70 recommend the substitution TO Mr. hil. present
The following Of letter Mr. Mullcst to Mr.
an !" compliance with that psS9m,sS yosx p., 1874
JAMES 6. HILL. ESQ.,. Supervising Architect - "
vide Tor the Criminal conr, room SrcE partition wall was
suitable and NY
settled AID caused crack % appear IN the ceiling Of the
Asssans by having large opening the
ms e" tho 81 &c. n "s
ofA roof truss in the other cases. Very respssslaly.
Supervising Architect New York Post Once
On April ?, 1877 Mr.. oakshou addressed the suboIned
april ., 1877.
your visits :" tbs building called YOUR attention to-
tho settlement OF brick wall dividing the large
the Criminal Court roon nave carefully noted tie set
ans are s scls anne e 10 ses
the wal, At substituting as Tor the
,on q the adjoining rooms These .u'ses were supplied
q siss 81 each Enclosed please Ind proposal Messr
nm Haven oS ,c rpr ,"pRyns the ndd1,ona
less than the contract price of the Kellogg Bridge Com
pany.
the proposal Of Messrs aeayslman llsven Co. and,
building. respectfully request expenditure
II. ii. OAKsIioTT, Supervising Inspector IN cnarge'
Mr. IN sprreyed the action q Mr.. oakshot,. as cx
''' " MKAsunY DEPARTMENT.
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISING AKcrlTEcr
p ns charge
sn-ln reply 70 your letter Of the I'd inst you arc ad
Heuvelman Haven Co tor supplying an IRON truss ut
building under supervision daicy above the
sde e :" an bt %a
approved You viii please prepare certify vouchers
ga Arthur; ESQ. upon prescnaii n, from funds
hands Under me to, repairs ana
JAMES q. NIL, Supervising Architect"
the proposition OF Ileuvclman Haven Co referred to-
"OrrIcn or IituvfLNAs, HAVEN 4 Co y
Npe <p N
NKw YonK, March 80 1877. !
States Post ONCE. New York.:
roof y he o :s en- to int a r"a truss .Gsr the
ssTn no" in place. ri i1s I'm T ES
memorandum in pencil explains the character of this
der tho orders Of supervising Inspector oakshott Mr.
DousneIy also under = direction saorea NJ tho roof
ton by contractors
Mr. Oakshott states that III consequence other duties.
he had bu, little time 10 devote 70 Pos, Office tn"uah
Monsas Ap.ii 80 ar Till ace"%paaied by Mr. o"fslot,
he accident Occurred I'm ,a, shores s,ns @ -
a,.emp, inpsci cril,cAy work 10 ino building
set in is pl.se. On .ae following aay MsyI.
truss 70 he eom"lete without an, formal order
., Mr. o"x.o' sa, effect, to. but apparently
the temporary shores with great cars Commence
the corridor vail he succes.sey raised slightly each
beam within ,hore removed the temporary support
and lowered ihe Its the
chord OF The last shur removed nearest
the north end OF the and on the easerly side
Within three 10 Ave minutes alter u was taken out the
snrc section winch this truss designed to
carry fell 10 the n,of below. calamity which has
stoned the present service Of the commission compari
OF the hlIcn with the adj AGENT ANA now
Hnndtng. which bo copied IN the construction of
tue reveals the fact OF several important dher
"a plan Of the model truss made from actual measure
taken by the commission, appended to the report
and maksa "a" also plan ~ the truss mariy
~ ii.
srnat NJ Of portion OF the fallen truss are also addcd
A plan accompanies this rcpurt)
Tue ratcr VI. ~. with its ties and braces the
tica %, ~ is wholly omitted and this being
neither bottled It's shoe built the wall
without lnrra support rho rooi beams inst AT Of abut
into aud consequently braclug the upper chord In
they did In the original adjoining
simply rested upon u AMI secured to u
The NJ about inches
dcpth aud Consequently lis proportion Of superiino,s
the factor safety spondnvy reduced
The al