Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-04

WHAT BUILDERS AND ARCHITECTS SAY ABOUT
T-THE LESSONS OF MONDAYS sTORM-THK
SUCTION THEORY.
The wholesale destruction OF tin roofs By the
storm OF last Monday evening has attracted tie
earnest attention CT builders TO the manner (
laying roofs. Most builders and architects hold
that the great majority OF roofs that were
blown on were badly constructed, and that tn
remedy is In making roofs strong. Some novel
theories have been advanced as to the
action OF the wind. and what causes the roof to
60. The wind as it travels" said Mr.. C. E.
Dutton, architect, to q STAR reporter ''de-
scribes cycloical circle. When the vertex
strikes roof IT is going of. 1t can't be kept
on. You see, as the wind leaves IL M axes
sort Of vacuum. The pressure upwards would
be about as great as the momentum of the
WIND. These roofs are built 10 stand static
pressure and not upward pressure. The way
10 remedy it Is TO abandon the Fat tin
roof, and build double pitch roof
Of about twenty degrees inclination. In
1874 the roofs were blown off row OF ho Uses
corner OF 18th and streets. They were built
In the very best and strongest way, with skela-
ten frames OF wood filled In with brick."
THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN TEE SUCTION THEORY.
Mr.. Kinderdem, Of Robert Davidson & Co.
stated to reporter that the destruction OF
roo's was due to BAD construction. II a roof
was properly put on and cIeated the wind
OF suct on, he said, was absurd. The trouble
was that the houses were built by incompetent
builders: People were not willing 70 pay
enough for good building.
MR. DAVIDSON.
OF the same frm, said that tin roof should b
cleated at least every thre feet Some Icopie
would pL. seats In only every cen feet II
takes ne. o, course, to put roof down well
and costs something. The wind. he said,
puckered 1r the tin where 1t was loose. The
TN would break and the wind would then get
under It and roll IL on.
Ut the firm OF Gray Page, architects, said that
the loss of roofs was owing to defects in con.
struction. 1t would be found that roofs were
Eouses where the material was worn out. He
did lot believe Ia the suction theory. The
Mr. JOHN HENDERSON,
builder, said that It was rare tnat GOOD roof
went Of. He had noticed some uouses un-
rcofed in the recent storm where the rafters
the @ tin nv would be stripped OF the WOOD. II The
roof was properly made, 1t would not go with
out taking the whole ceiling and upper part II
1he soruce
opening.
OF tae 1r OF -..euu q Humphrey. wheh ap-
preached by STAR reporter. said that the rem.
edy was TO make roors perfectly tight. He
sgreat zeal or rne damage charged to -
wind ADS: Monday was done nv electricity; that
the ee ectricity started the TIN and the wind took
were NOT properly fastened. In some cases the
rafters weIe laid on the walls without any
thing to Dind. Many OF the buildings that suf
specuiatorR A flat roof. II wen made, was apt
TO suffer In such storm. The suction theory.
ne thought, was az Old theory revived but d,
did not have much faith Il. l.
SUDDEN DEATH OF GOVERNMENT CoNrRAC-
OR.-At Harrison, NY, VIM. Matthew'S, well
known government contractor, and who aCcu-
mulated fortune Of millions during the war
died suddenly OF apoplexy at his residence
Sunday eveBing. He had but just returned