The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-21

or contraction Of fourinch east ison pipe cause a
leak at shis joint. The charges g. g. and 10 have
been substantially answered above.
Respectfully submitted,
ApoLF SHERRER, Architect,
| j. G.. PENDRRGAST, Supt.
| The report of the architect and superintend-
ent shows that the expert plumber in his second,
| hfth, and sixth specification of defects has mis-
represented the facts; there is no such piumbing
| in the specifications, and none such was ever in
| tended. In his first third and fourth speciica-
| tons ne states the construction truly, and the
| Commissioners are glad to know that such meth
| DDS are now pursued by the most experienced
| sanitary engineers of the country
The expert in his seventh specification exhibits
| either ignorance or deception.
| 1t seems strange that an expert plumber
should not know that the basement floor would
cover the pipes under it, and if he did. he tried
to create the belief that there was something
| wrong in their position
/ His eighth specification of a loose joint is no
doubt true for several loose joints have been
discovered before. and even after they were
wrenched apart For protection of the work
the Commissioners have been obliged to employ
| detectives to discover the author of this mis-
| chief.
| The expert in his ninth specification repeats
his first, giving as his reason why a fresh air
| inlet should be provided, that ''the pipes will
| become air bound and the flow of water
| checked" To do this, the refuse matter pass
ing through the pipe must consolidate into
| a piston, alright The possibility or such
| thing is so remote, not to say ridiculous
| that it would hardly be wise to introduce cold
air and freeze the trap in order to preventit
| The expert in his tenth specification makes a
| false statement when he says the fues into
which soil and waste pipes enter ''are to be left
open even with the floor OF the attic" he we'll
knew that when the plumbing was finished the
| pipes would be carried through the roof
In the report Of the Board of Health the first
| defect they mention consists in the sewer being
| placed under the building. The following COM
munication from Mr.. Levi r. Green, sanitary
| engineer of Sarge experience, whose opinions on
| such matters are highly valued by sanitary en-
| gineers throughout the country, will show that
| the objections to the sewer by the Board Of
Health have no real foundation:
INDIANAPOLIS Ind, April 26, 1886.
To the Honorable Board of state-house Commits
soners:
Gentlemen-I have the honor to acknowledge the
cept of your communication of this date, incesing
| copy of published communication from the State
Board of Health and asking to examine the plumb
ing work of the Statehouse so far as completed and
the specifications therefor and to state what In my
judgment, is the character of the material used and
| the system employed, in sanitary view =,
In reply / have to say that, in company with and
by the assistance of the architect have examined
carefully the work so far as performed. and have
amined the specifications for the completion of the
| work. Having had q somewhat extensive experience,
both contractor and consulting engineer for such
work, it occurs to that unless the inspector and
| critic of the State-house plumbing be emnently
practical man he WILL in its present unfinished condi
ton, be easily led into error as to its ultimate design
| of operation.
| The principal objection named by the Board of
Health is the fact that the main four feet in d
ameter passes directly under the building and being
four feet in diameter. is not wholly flushed by any
quantity of water passing from the solppes and the
Board of Health do not approve OF sewer passing
under any building public or private
l learn that the main in question was de-
signed and put in by the city engineer and was built
under his personal supervision; that in view OF the
building and the grounds occupying two whole
squares and that the distance and grade at which the
smaller pipes would have to be carried to meet sewer
without the building with all the possibilities of de-
rangemsnt in such design the present plan was was
from the roof carrying the rainfall OF an area OF two
acres and the surface water of twenty squares
of the city in addition should be carried through this
| four.foot sewer for the purpose of flushing IL.
find that the itself is built of twelveinch
| brick wall and arch, eptical in form laid in pure
cement, lined with cement, and is twelve feet from
the level of the basement floor to the top of the
also that the basement floor above the is made
of concrete. broken stone made solid with cement
also find that the grade, pitch, of this main
it's outlets two feet and six tenths in nine hundred
and thirty Under the circumstances of the
| involved the grades provided and the precautions
| taken for the flushing with the depth at which the
se~eris placed and the thoroughness OF the work,
have no hesitation in saying that such design, In my
Judgment will be altogether satisfactory and success
| full and will be the of any evil effects
from sanitary point of view and have doubt but
that f the State Board of Health assigned quar-
ters in the basement of the building and are nerrnt
ted live until they injured by any gases there
| FROM they will die at good old age.
The other objections made by the Board OF Health
in their communication referring to the design for
instance items which they number respectively q g.
s. and subjects upon which l. as professional
| engineer and think l am stating it correctly any
| professional would be cautious in adopting any
| arbitrary plan dimension the several mem bers
of the State Board of Health would be about the d
4 ciS of q
| practice.
An extensive experience In the plumbing of large
buildings has led five (5 inch down pipes for
all pipes where two more closets having four az
inch inets are attached The State Boards of Health
of New York city and Boston require it. but this In
| diana board condemns it. L am of the opinion that
such size is in accord with the larger part of good
| work all over the country.
The terminating Of a soil pipe vent pipe in fire.
| place fue. opening into room, Is Objectionable as
stated and find was done in one instance without
the knowledge or sanction OF the ar
( chitect. and contrary to the specifications
and has been remedied by the contractors. But the
objection to terminating vent pipe, the whole of
the vent pipes from the soil pipe traps or sewer in
the main smokestack. is absurd; indeed that is the
very thing the most eminent engineers have aimed to
| accomplish and patents for such devices are numer-
| GUS The whole system of ventilation for the plumb
ing and sewerage in the Southern Hotel at St. Louis
one of the largest and best in the West constructed
about five years ago, empted into the main smoke
hue with the certainty that II any gases descend
| they must do it through bed of live Goals.
The celebrated Bessemer, well known for his in
ventions in steel into whose hands the English Par
ment put the improvement of the ventilation of the
sewerage etc. of the Houses of Parliament England,
prepared huge chimney just without the buildings.
to which all the vent pipes were taken. and in the
bottom of which was built fires for the express pur-
pose of producing draft to exhaust the vent pipes
| could quote many such instances.
| In conclusion have to say that if the work be
finished in accordance with the plans and speci6ca
| tions prepared by your architect, you will have
a work with which you, a board, and citizens,
need cavil although, in the present condition of
the art of sanitary engineering Ipresume there will
be much difference of opinion as to best methods:
there is to-day in the different State boards of
health.
In reply to your request to state what has been nay
experience and observation in sanitary plumbing for
large buildings in the United States" would say
!, that l have made the plans and specifications for
| plumbing the Iowa State-house. large number of
hospitals for the insane and penal institutions and
for large hotels-the Windsor Westminster, Vsn-
dome and others in NaX York city and elsewhere.