The daily gazette., 1880-07-30
A Successful Test.
TRYING THE STRENGTH OF THE DEMA-
RARA MARKET HOUSE WORK.

TRYING THE STRENGTH OF THE DEMA-
RARA MARKET HOUSE WORK.
Philadelphia North American Thursday.
At the Edge Moor Iron Works, near
Wilmington,yesterday, an Extraordinary
test of fabricated iron was made The
test was applied to Fink truss, per-
ton of the iron market house for the
city ofG or ,etowE, Den arara. Whe n Mr..
Nathaniel Mckay, Of Philadelphia, was
negotiating wi. Ii the authorities of that
British colony several jealous English
and Scotch bidders who were on the
ground annoyed him by throwing all
sorts of obstructions in his path, going So
far even as to pilfer the ideas from his
plan. Among other nonsense which they
ciculated was the libel that the mechan-
les of the UDned States could not con-
struct building of sufficient streught to
stand the wear aud tear of he tropical
climate of Demerara and the occasional
wind storms which visit that latitude.
In order to retute this SANDER, the
American bidder expressly stipulated
that if the contract were awarded to him
he would furnish test under the super
vision of competent engin, ers, TO prove
that the Ioof trusses were in accordance
with the specifications by ali actual load
oftwenty five pounds. per square foot.
Mr.. Charles.sH. Latrobe, the consulting
engineer for the city of Baltimore, and
an engineer of some note, was engaged TO
| apply the test. There were also present
yesterday Mr.. W. M. Levering, of Will
son Bros. & Co., who drew the plan of
the building, Mr.. Volmar, Of Baltimore,
| contractor for the corrugated and
| galvanized iron which will enter into its
| construction; Mr.. George Sellers, super
intendent of the EAge Moor Iron work ;,
and Mr.. Mckay. When everything was
in readiness the test was applied in the
following manner: Two trusses, each
having total span Of fifty-five feet one
inch &C to O. of end pins, were erected
side by side in the yard ofthe works-in
the position which they VIII occupy in
the building-and then loaded with the
enormous burden OF 133, 900 pounds OF
iron, properly distributed at the several
points of support, which represented the
test load oftwenty-fve pounds per square
foot, and for which the contract ipulat-
ed. This was strain of $500 pounds
upon each of the eight panels INTO which
the truss was divided.
These trusses were on the Fink sys-
TEN, with height of thirteen feet ter
inches, the total weight of each trus:
being $50 lbs. Under this load the strait
was so heavy as 10 cause two If the ends
to sink several inches into the grount
and to disturb the plumb. This occurr
ence was owing to tie fact that sufficien
bases had not been bestowed the Messrs
Sellers having been led TO understand
hat test of only 60,000 pounds was t
be had. Notwithstanding this unex
pected disadvantage for the truss, tn,
I defiec ion i'll the centre was shown to b'
but half an inch while MT the slightes
weakness was found ia any of its parts
his tes was eminently satisfactorily
both to the engineer applying it, TO th
architect, the fabricators and contractor
This morning Photographic view o
the truss, carrying Its tremendous load
will be taken, which. together with th
certificate If the engineer, will certainl,
convince the Mayor and Town Counci
of Demerara that the test was honestl.
performed. The market house is bein.
loaded on brig now lying at the Edg'
Moor works, and which will transport
to Demerara. Albert Fink, who wa
the inventor of the truss under trial, ha,
his first American experience under th
late General II. Latrobe, whose caree
as an engineer is familiar to the pro
tession, and who was the father of TIL
gentlemen who conducted yesterday
| tpst