Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-10-16
Local Matters.

OUR SCHOOL BUILDING.
Report 81 chief Engineer M.au,re {.
- its Character and safety.
Fort ELLIS. n. T., Oct. eth 1879
To the Presiient Of the Board of Schoo
Trustees, Bo:eman. NJ r.
SIR II have the honor to make the iol
:. lowing report:
- In compliance with the request of tn,
Board of School Trustees of Bozen,an.
on Friday the 3rsl Inst. and on Sunday tn,
9th inst. inspected the public school build,
ing situated in the aforesaid town of Boze.
inan.
From inquiries learn that the fornda.
tions and walls were laid during warm,
,lry season OF the year and have been stand
Ing now abO' { two years that the wood
work was of lumber which was more or
less green at the time it was put in.
From the inspection find
LIST. That the mortar is not OF the best
quality but am OF the opinion that it is
sufficiently good.
End. That all Of the walls are some
what warped or out Of line but it is nv
opinion that this warped condition is due
to awkward brick-laying and not to set
thing or subsequent "bulging' OF the walls.
could procure no case Of the opening Of
joints or serious cracks and consequently
am Of the opinion that the walls are safe.
SRI. That the foundations are in good
condition and in my opinion sufficient and
safe.
4th. That the plastcring of the interior
OF the building is OF poor quality and while
no immediate danger of its falling is to be
unprecedented. it would be well to have it
renewed during the summer vacation of
the school. 1t is my opinion that the NIL
Inerous cracks in the plastering are not
Indicative Of any want of strength or sta
bility in the building.
9th. That the woodwork is poor as to
the quality of the material used and also in
places rs to the exealtion. Some insight
~ openings ut the bases OF the walls in the
different rooms, due to bad workmanship
or to shrinkage and varying are to be .
found but the remedy is simple and easy
OF application. i do not consider these |.
openings as dangerous but simply, us men,
Toned above, unsightly. This opinion is a
confirmed by the fact that the openings
occur almost uniformly at the ends of tile
flooring boards and not at those of the .
,joists. +
9th. That the outer faces of the brick
walls are flush with those of the founda-
tiOns. This is defect but not a serious !"
one M there are no traces of crushing or u
Of Overturning. IL
!, As summary I would state that con-
sidethg the fact that the building has for 10 :,
two years been subjected TO the test of the "
Varied atmosphere and tliermomet,ic a. =,
changes usual in this section of the coun- y.
try and that Nd serious defects are TO he n
fodhd | am of the opinion that it is stable -
Ind safe structure. M
l would however invite the attention of VI
he Board of Trustees to the fact that too ", :"
much care cannot be taken of or attention n
paid to public buildings especially those az
requented by children. The natural an ,e..
<iety of the parents in any community Fl
must be regarded and il, rs understand. FL
here are fears Of the safety ct the building "a
iI'der consideration it would be we'll for LII
he Board to take steps to alay those fears. so 81,
The insertion Of horizontal iron rods W
''nning through from wall to wall in the M
lane Of the joists and attached to outside me
nchor plates by screw and nut SO as to NC
ernlit Of adjustment would constitute a ~
precatition. ~
The drainage around the buil,lfng should TT
E looked to and facilitated by slopes and. ru'
necessary. bitches. 4"
Lastly would recommend that the INA
astering be renewed where necessary,
as I understand that some
mes dancing parties ars given IN the
iilding and the irregular vibrations corr n
'q''ent upon such exercise may at any ~
oment cause the plastering to fall. : =.
lam Sir. Very Respectfully I ,.".'
Your ob't Serv't O"s
EDWARD Mcguire. =
cut. of Engineers U. $. A. Chief Eng'r up
Dept Of Dakota and in charge of Mis- goo
souri, and Yellowstone River Improve III
ments. c'ttr