New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-09
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
sArETY Ar THE ASSN OFFICE.
euMORs THAT THE BUILDING is UNsAFE-WHf
WOODEN SUPPORTS WE'RE PUT IN.


RuMoRs THAT THE BUILDING is UNsAFE-wHY
WOODEN SUPPORTS WE'RE PUT IN.
The falling of block of granite from the
souuda Of the Custom House recently and the discus
sions TO which the incident gave rise have occasoheu
very serious inquiry the safety Of other ola buo
ings used by the Federal Government In TINS city'
runor was circulated that General W. G. steiDmetz'
when superintendent of Repairs OF Public Buildings
few years ago. condemned the building ON Wal-S'' next
below the subTreasury used by the Government as an
ASSAY Office IL was said that the fumes OF the aclds
used I'm assayng gold and silver had so corOded inc iron
pillars aud beams Of the building as TO reuder them u"
SAFE one gentleman, in conversation on the sunleeh su
he understood that the iron so soft that one
stick his finger into it. General stenmez was reported
10 have written many communications to the treasury
Department on the subject He was therefore Sought
for information in regard to the matter
General stenmetz said that he considered the BUILDING
unsafe IL might fall at any time with the great Wegn'
of metals and acids its floors were compelled 10 sustain
IL was he said one Of the first iron buildings ereeted i'll
New-York and was destitute Of all those devices Tor
rendering such buildings secure which have been lii
vented since The brick floors rested on iron gruefs'
which were supported by iron posts Ihese ne sau D"
become so deoOmpOsed by the action OF acd Napors
through many years, that they could not De oeprnued
upon He had seraped from them large scales OF IRON
sone one and two feet length and mad sent them TO
Washington as evidence of the insecurity OF the bud
ing but from lack of money, indifference his repre-
cutotops All prOduced no effect Since he had lett the
oflee of SUPERINTENDENT OF Repairs, attempt had
been MADE 10 render building temporarily secure by
erecting wooden supports he did not think that the
end had been perfectly accomplished that the lives OF
those employed in the building were yet SAFE crash
might come at any time.
visit was next made to the Assay Office ana care
ful examination was made of the building accompanied
by Mr. Mason the assayer. The IRON girders OF eaeh
story were found resting heavy wooden Orders run
Mug ut right angles these being supported by WOODEN
POSTS While I'm the basement stood on SIX ioundatlons OF
stone and cement The posts and grders were OF SOut
ern pine and ranged from foot square ia lhe lower
Etorg 10 eight inches square in the upper Ihere were
SIX posts Orders in the basement Ten on the nsV
floor eight on the second and third three on the IOufh
the fifth Mr. Mason SAID tDat ne hau never
head thar the ronwOrk was cOrrOded by the VapOs in
the building beams had been exposed 70 aelds
which had leaked from tanks IN the upper STORIES ana
ton had been made of al the rOnwOrk by MI Jackson
the present SUPERINTENDENT of repairs, who had pro
nOunced good condition. except IN the rev places
alluded to. As he had understood the aet the WOVuS
cation years ago that corner or the DudlnH was
settling very slightly He had not 1elt any sense OF
insecurity but had felt II his duty when Ves were IN
trusted his to take every pfecautlou nc hV
therefore, made reports the subject and after some
delay the wooden supports had been put IN lie thOug
now that there would be no danger II all the lfOhWOrk
should fall the wooden supports would De suIncleut
The views OF Mr.. Mason were 1uly sustained al the
Office of Superintendent Jackson, IN the Post once
building where the contract and spccincalOns under
which the repairs were made were shown. Mr. jackson
July ~ 1877, and the work completed October 10
The cost was $500 The reporter was informed that
wooden supports had not been put IN because IL was
believed the iron posts and Orders had been Sc
building liable to be subjected to greater weight
than 10 was designed TO sustain when erected