Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-07
Complaints About the Delay i'm tine
Construction.

THE NEW LIBRARY BUILDING.
Complaints About the Delay In tine
| Construction.
| SERIOUS CHARGES MApE-vHAr Is SAID ABOUT TIE
NArTER-THE CEMENT woRK-sESAToR VESTS
RKsoLUrIos OF INQUIRY.
There has been considerable complaint made In
regard TO the delay In prosecuting the work Of
Constructing tine new Congressional Library build
Ing, and Senator Vest Wednesday introduced a res
! oiutlon OF inquiry into the matter, which was
adopted Among the charges published Is the fol-
lowing In the Lewiston (Me.) Journal.
"The construction OF the new Congressional
Library building does not seem 10 be proceeding at
| an IN the way In which it ought 70 do. There are
| those who do not hesitate TO say openly that
lure in particular which gives the business an ugly
i ,ook; 1 smitnmeyer. the architect, advertised
w aGr wpd nor me in an no
| or 10000. What was required was 20 lay 300
cubic yards OF cement In trenches sunk several
! feet into the ground, both all about the circum-
/ ference OF the entire wall OF the building and
across the cellar In lines wherever walls were In
t i 70 rise. There were seven bidders ana
nent contractor, and formerly connected with the
White House IN republican days. He furnished
| samples OF English Portland cement, and his ng-
ures were lowest.
''rhe contract was signed. the contractor bonded
and the work should have begun september 81. 1t
has not been begun yet, ana nothing Is likely 10
be done on the work this winter. The reason OF
the delay Is In Architect smlthmeyers unaccOU NJ
abe obstinacy regarding the cement offered
What he seems to want is that Contractor Atchi-
son shall buy all his cement OF an agent who has
sole control OF German make. AtchisOn thinks
otherwise. ON gettiug his contract he went
straight 70 New York and bought $4,000 worth
OF the best English Portland IN two grades, the
Black Cross and *. b. q t. This was shipped
on here An engine, rock crusher, rock and a
plant, altogether worth $4,000, was ready, but
not thing could be done. smithmeyer was set
he has
pounds.
"When It came smithmeyer put 1t in the hands
OF an expert such peculiar mode of test was
used That the showing OF the cement ran down to
200 or little over. This was uninUelliglble 70
same barrels from which Smithmeyer had drawn
were sent 10 Capt Menocal, OF the Coast Survey I;
T TspI G1qid a, tne navy-yard ana Gen MeSs
3O0-pound limit, but above it, and gave their ap-
prevail Architect Clark, OF the capitol had test
made for his own benefit, and both he and Secre-
tary Lamar, members OF the commission, approved
OF IL. This was all brought TO Smithmeyer's atten-
ZION: suddenly strickland, the expert, lost his
head Smithmeyer laid the blame for the tests oil
on him.
snow strickland is going about declaring that
ne made the tests In the way In which he did
solely because these were Mr. Smithmeyer's Or
ders and because he was warned that he would
lose his place II IL was done otherwise. test OF
the qu1ck-Settng qualities OF the cement to which
smithmeyer raised exceptions also resulted In the
same way, with all the examining testers on the
.sThe latest folly is a high board fence which
runs way into the street. and which, plans and ALL
win cost CLEAN 5000. Smithmeyer evidently
thinks II ought TO take ten years and 100000
10 put up the new Congressional Library building"
SENATOR VESTS VIEWS.
Senator Vest said to-day to a STAR reporter that
numerous complaints had been made OF the dila-
toriness with which work On the new library was
prosecuted. But he added it did not require that
his attention should be called 10 the slow progress
He had observed IL, and he concluded that the
Senate ought 10 have some Information as TO the
ton. MI. Vest said he advised Mr.. Spofford of
the commission. and Senator voorhees,, chairman
OF the COMMITTEES on additional accommodations
for the library, OF his intention 10 offer the resOlu-
ton. 1t was suggested that he withhold 1t FOR
aw lille, but he was not willing TO do 50. "Why, at
TO: Vest, "nOne OF US Will ever live 10 see the CON-
pietion Of the building" He said that he could
not conceive any adequate excuse for such delay,
and II there are any obstacles 10 the proper prog.
reSS OF the work Congress should be advised OF
Them, that they may be removed.
THE ANSWER OF THE COMMISSION.
II is understood that the response OF the COM
mission to the senate resolution will furnish a
statement OF the money expended, and that on
hand, and as TO the stoppage OF the work, Will re-
port that it was caused by the architects rejection
the details OF the cement contract which is really
AZ the bottom OF the trouble. Architect Smith
meyer held that the cement furnished by the con-
tractor was not up to the standard desired. AT
the request OF the commission Gen. Meigs and the
Navy Department made tests OF the cement The
reports were that tue tests demonstrated the
Smltameyers advertisement 1t has been learned
by STAR reporter, however, that the library COM
missioners hesitated TO compel the architect 70
accept material which ne pronounced UNIT for the
purpose. They realize the great Importance OF
procuring a substantial and durable foundation,
and are not disposed TO assume the responsibility
OF antagonizing the opinion OF the architect one
OF the commissioners remarked that should they
compel the use OF tbs cement and any defect
Oh hsa IN hrlft SIRh
settling OF the walls, cracking &C, the entire
sponsibility would be chargeable and charged
upon the commission. All the expert opinion, so
far obtained or expressed except that OF Mr..
Sm1thmeyer, pronounces the cement 10 be fully
up 20 the standard. In fact, there are architects
and builders who maintain that American cement
would amply suffice for the purpose, and IL costs
much less than the Portland. AS proof of this
the fact Is cited that American cement was used
building, and In the Capitol improvements and ex-
tensions.
WHAT ARCHITECT sMrrHMEYER SAYS.
A STAR reporter visited Architect Smithmeyer at
his oflce In the library grounds to-day, and In re-
Spouse TO an inquiry he said: 1.-THE sole cause of
the delay is in the rejection OF material which
does not come up TO the requirements OF the speci
ncations and contracts All OF this Will be es-
tablshed the satisfaction OF all parties inter-
ested or concerned whenever the architect shall
have an opportunity to make his report and sub
init the results Of tests OF the material The def
cheney Of the cement for the concrete foundation,
as proven by large number OF tests, has retarded
the WOIk, Dut ulttJcT VI SUBSTANTIAL ana
durable foundation Is OF vastly more importance
than little time, for II the foundation Is bad or
defective the whole structure is injured beyond
repair, and instead OF being a source OF pride
Will be disgrace 10 the nation No consideration
except 70 procure the best possible foundation
ought 70 have any weight. II economy In money
or time Is aimed at 1t should be exercised after the
foundation Is safely established and not at this
Juncture."
THE STAB reporter ascertained that the cement
offered by the contractor had been rejected three
times In pursuance OF and based upon tests The
architect says he Is very particular TO the ce-
ment for the concrete foundation, because a single
weak spot might damage the whole structure. The
soil on which the foundation is TO rest not uni
FORM In places IL is more solid than In others,
and the object In procuring q high grade
OF cement Is TO make Uniform
foundation; that resting in solid and durable
mass upon the stronger, more unyieldng places In
the soil, the concrete foundation shall act as a
beam and bridge over the softer or weaker places
sustaining the superstructure evenly. For In
stance, where space OF the softer soil exists be-
tween two spaces OF the frncr, the concrete shall
have tensile strength that will sup
port the superstructUre at that weak
spot without yielding at all. The bidders
for the cemen: contract furnished samples
which were all tested and those OF the successful
contractor reached the requirement OF the specifi-
cation. When a lot OF cement was received before
putting II into the foundation it was subjected 10
tests but It fell below the requirement. It was
rejected and second lot was furnished. That was
also put 70 tests and rejected as was a third lot
Prof. Richardson. the expert OF the District
Commissioners, tested the cement and pro-
lOunced IL unit for the purpose or the
and put on record his opinion that it was not of
the quality needed With regard TO the ENCLOSURES