Morning journal and courier., 1882-11-28

II mare at En9 emu Oh HlGy yours; IL lS WeAG |
inned and painted and Is quite capable OF |
asting long and doing good service without
single touch the special dangers to which
.oof so large as this is liable arise from the
weight of snow and the force of wind. BY
mathematical calculation made soon after
this roof was put on it appeared that, as orig
nally made, it was quite competent to bear
more than three times the amount which
modern architects allow for resistance to the
weight of snow it rests directly upon up.
right posts, securely braced and supported
on strong cross walls built up from the
ground, and has no outward thrust to endan-
ger the outer walls. There is not truss in |
the building
THE PLANS FOR REPAIRS.
Messrs. Brown & Stillson, whose architec- |
tural designs and suggestions are justly ap- |
oreciated in this community, have submitted |
plans for these repairs which appear to the |
committee simple, strong, effective and such !
as will make this building more presentable |
than it ever has been such as, if carried out
faithfully, will make unnecessary any 1mpor-
tant supplemental repairs for long time.
They have made drawings and working plans
to accompany this report.
1. They recommend that the facing walls
of decayed and decaying marble be taken
down and set aside
g Place along the sides east and west a
granite case about eighteen or twenty inches
high and about ten inches thick laid on as
phalt
g. Build g brick wall, eight inches thick
up about as high as.the present water table
rub down and paint and sand this brick wall
to correspond with the work above.
f. Place upon this brick wall a granite
water table ten inches thick with the upper
edge SO cut, beveled and set into a recess
three inches deep, made in the foundation
walls, that the stucco can be brought straight
down and rest at last on the water table at
the upper edge of the bevel. This will ef-
fon 11xr uny7fQ an waite
the facing and foundation walls. The draw
ings and specifications herewith submitted
will more clearly show these plans than any
description can do
5. A considerable part of the marble of
the facing walls is still strong and capable of
further use; with this marble the north steps
can be repaired; the south steps still
good for the most part only needing two or
three stones replaced, replace the present
steps with granite on both ends.
6. The pavements of the porticoes are still
| good, but should be relaid on asphalt re-
touch the stucco on the pillars and other
places where it is broken away and paint all
the stucco with three coats of oil. Cut the
basement windows lower SO that they shall
better harmonic with the windows above Or
place mullion through the center up and
down to relieve somewhat their present ap-
pearance.
u Place on the porticoes light iron gates SO
| arranged as to lock and close up the space
| around the pillars and protect their bases
| from injury when the open space should be
| needed
| 8. Regrade the ground on the west side SO
as to permit the surface water to run away
| from and not into the basement connect
| the drainage with the Temple street sewer
| and ventilate the water closets by cast-iron
pipe connected with a heated fue.
The expense of these repairs will evidently
be relatively small.
\
| off hand Judgment in this particular we
| have the offer of responsible parties-Messrs.
| Chatfeld & Grant, Major Maher and others
to do this work for a sum surely moderate
and within what a wise conservatism must
| deem reasonable.
The final estimates of Messrs. Chatfeld &
Grant are upon the basis that none of the
marble now there is capable of further use,
and that the steps at both ends should be
granite and the sides, except the brick
work recommended, should be granite,
and all the other recommendations of the
committee should be carried out. On
this basis their outside estimates are $751;
$50. This does not include yentilating, pipe
| or grading. Their first estimate On the basis
of the south steps remaining as they now are
with some necessary repairs them was
$13, 600,
Major Makers suggestion of $4,000 for
the necessary repairs finds many supporters.
Mr.. Joseph Richardson, an eminent build
err of New York and Bridgeport, highly rec
| commended to the committee, has examined
the building during the last week at the sug
gestion of the committee and makes pro
| posa1 to dispense with facing walls altogether
and give the main foundation walls rubble
| work finish. Treating it in this way and
using the marble now there about the build
ing for repairing the steps he thought the
building could be made more presentable
| than it ever was before for about So, 500.
This suggestion is SO to the committee
that they make no recommendation in regard
| to it other than that it seems to merit fur
ther examination.
The plans are evidently practical, simple
strong, thoroughly effective and permanent
| and they are of moderate expense. If any
repairs to be made these seem worthy OF
consideration and adoption.
The committee therefore recommend thai
the building be repaired that these plans b.
| adopted and carried out
Hartford, with characteristic sagacity anl
prudence, has repaired and made useful ,
much worse State House than this YaI
College, though some of its professors advis,
us to destroy this building, with a wise thrift
that does it's management great honor, hal
just repaired and made useful SO bad build
ing as old South Middle college. The city
,, may we'll follow these excellent examples O.
good Judgment and economic thrift in tn.
| management of public property.
L divided sentiment, perhaps characteristic
| of New Haven, is certainly unfortunate in
matter like this. The committee deeply re
| greet that they have been unable to harmonic
| the conflicting views and judgments that have
> been urged upon them in public and in pri
vate. They have. however, faithfully gath
cred the facts and considered the arguments
: Immediate action is important as to the
facing walls and the north steps; they are
| an offense if not a danger as they now are.
The lease has yet nearly four years and 6
half to run. 1t seems plain that the city
cannot without dishonor destroy this build
| ing during the term of this lease against the
| protests of its present occupants its dilapi
dated appearance is now simply disgraceful
! it can be repaired and restored at moderate
| expense with manifest advantage to the
whole people and with the approval of the
| occupants.
In your decision therefore as to what shall
be doue with it are involved considerations
1. OF common honesty as to this lease.
2. Of good faith as to the implied contract
with the Historical society, trusting to which
. | that society has spent much of it's time anG
| money.
g. OF common humanity and good policy
| as to the street lads who from time to time
in this building in great numbers are gathered
and taught.
H. OF good policy as to increasing the city
debt and increasing taxation in the face of 6
! two per cent. levy already made necessary
for the next year, to the preservation of 6
useful public building already worthily occu
| pied and capable of still greater use-for be-
ginning free public library, for free pub
lie hall, for free public discussion rooms and
y defense against a library building not capa
BILE of being used except in part even ii
made, and which will almost inevitably now
) be designed in mistake and result ip waste
and cost, with the land, at least $150,OOO.
AS to all these matters yonr committee
rest not altogether ON the unsupported con
illusions of their fully matured judg
ment, but on the concurring and supporting
| Indictment and advice of men with whom, or
; question like this, cautious person might
: well be content to stand. Among them are
every committee of the Common Council
| that ever examined the subject, also James
E. English, Harmanus M Welch Thomas r.
Trowbridge, Ezekiel Trowbridge, Eli Whit
ney, Amos F. Barnes, Brown d Stillson, Dex
ter r. Wright, H. o. Hotchkiss, John Ell.
Leeds, r. P. Cowles, Professor Niemeyer,
DR.. Crane, P. 3. Foster, Charles S. Lsete,
Charles L. English, John P. Tuttle, Charles
Fabrique, Charles Thompson, Wilson P.
Booth, John G. North, Charles A. Baldwin,
Harry Wright, Porter G. Moulton Charles L.