New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-09-25
more instructive than precepi, but Mr. Pulitzer has the
power make his precept very influential The Word
CONCRETE FOB THE PEDESTAL.
AN ExTRAvAGANr PRICE PAID FOR IT.

MILK"
To the Edftor OF The Trtbuns.
SIR: A discussion about concrete cannot bs
interesting the great OF TRIBUNE readers pro.
pose therefore, drop It, leaving the word to Gen.
eral Stone He is perhaps Untitled to it, doubless
needs it. being on tie defensive in very weak cause
The General appears to have brought himself fully "a
the belief that 81 2Sa per cubic yardthe cost of the
pedestal concrete put In under his drection-is low
price that work, exceptionally low indeed, he
felt justified saying officially that" II doubtful II any
important mass OF concrete aud groating, OF quality
approaching OF the IN question: has been
made In this vicinity low cost" felt that such
sweeping assertion ought not 10 30 unquesoned and
stated In your issue September s. the siguatu
OF Engineer" that 81 2sl9 is good round prc4
for the quality OF concrete used In the
pedestal that upon many OK our most mpors
ant public works. well as upon buldtngu
for corEorations and private parties, where hydraulic
is used large masses, SO to SO 30 cubic
yard pay for the excellent work. possessing
great strength and soldty and that instances rare
indeed where 1t 10 necessary to exceed 50 80 or S6J
while in vast majority OF 81 80 TO IS per cabIc
yard Will be ample ths entire of good
work and everything connected with II in the wal
of excavation planking, cenireng materials, labor in
spection. and contractors profit"
You took the precauton, as a vgilant editor may OF
right d. the correctness Of my figures by
ing inquiries among architects and said editoriaiy THAT
the answers confirmed the statements in my letter. and
that several wcnown architects agreed that IS 80 to
SO would be fair price for such material General
stone referred to. General stones consisted
mainly IN a request that would inform him OF the
stence within dty miles OF this city, of any
p0rtant say from six to ten thousand cubic yards
of concrete" as good quality and low in cost
that Of the PEDESTAL | knew OF OF that
size within the district named and said In reply add
ing what follows: Mass is element Of cost In this
that the larger the mass larger is the amount Of
money that be wisely invested in improved
plant and machinery for mixing and laying 1t, and,
therefore, the less should be Its cost per cubic yard.
General Stone has put OF concrete which IL
both large bulk and compact in formexeeptonally
perhaps Both these conditions favor the production
OF good article at comparatively low COST know
no reason for questioning its quality and the Gener
ais of its cost at 81 2Sl9 cubic yard would
have elected criticism FROM me- but for the
rantable assumption which accompanied 1t, conveying.
lfit meant anything reflection the professional
knowledge and skill Of engineers and architects in this
aeghbOrhood."
In General stones last note Of September 8, he fully
dscams the idea OF casting any reflections upon engi
and architects here elsewhere But he roler-
ates his belief In a OF confidence which commands
admiration that the pedestal concrete is the best
male in this vicinity low cost, and says
II no Is not correct In HIS opinion, he
will cheerfuy yield 10 evidence but not to simple asser-
ton. He then goes to admit, with q candOr which
seems yield the whole question: that his opinion
based upon hearsay, he himself puts II, "upon
the made TO (m) OF the cost OF certain
works IN and near this city" 1t submitted that tho
opinions against which the General arrays himself
not drawn any such vague and uncertain source.
They are In fact, part Of that positive knowledge born
OF expereuce-an intelligent and varied experience-On
part Of the engineers and architects Of the country
They nelp to make up the professional equipment OF
f,.f.p Tina h..
standard to that degree that the proper cost Of
hydraulic of given quality, laid under given
conditions is little matter OF doubt than the cost
OF common brick work or plain carpentry.
II Is from my wish to embarrass General Stone by
this discussion have been drawn into 1t, as already
explained by the Of his report and the claim to
superior merit set up therein. When man accepts q
hubble trust his official acts and sayings are proper
subjects OF public criticism. AT time when II was
extremely difficult get funds for completing tho
pedestal aud extraordinary aad peculiar efforts
put forth to popuarze the subscription and to
gether the needed by Raising dollar here and
dollar there wherever could be done, the people had
right to expect that the money would be expended with
the most rigid economy. 1t is claimed by the engineer
the pedestal that this has been done with such not
Bile work OF quality approach
ing that the pedestal has ever been made In this Vi
entity at low cost. have been obliged TO difei
with him to OF claiming that the concrete cost
at least 81 per cubic yard too much briefly giving mJ
reasons therefor fair price for IL wOud be from 20
to 50 10 but article quite good enough for the pnr
pose could been put in for about 80 10 per cubic
yard inclusive OF all contingent expenses This state
ment am quite sure In substantial accord with the
views OF engineers and architects generally who have
had any very considerable experience in the many uses
20 which concrete IN It's forms and grades Gus
tomartly applied O. A. GILLMoRE.
Army Bialding SeC- YORK, Sept. l6. 1855
General Gillmores high position III the Engineer
Corps of tho Regular Army is universally known;
and all familiar with such matters know also the
extent of his experience in masonry aud other con-
struction work along the Atlantic coast. There IS
no engineer in the country whose opinion on sdch
a subject would carry greater weight, and there
cannot nc the slightest doubt rs to bis facts. We
regret therefore, that with this letter before 1t the
public is forced to the conclusion that there was
needless and considerable waste on the pedestal II
tho very time when such extraordinary excrtons
were required to procure funds for the work. The
treasurer or other officer concerned in handling the
money. seems to have been much more eager abont
WAYS and means for getting 1t III than oarefu
nut