Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-14

METHODS OF TESTING MArkRIAIs-rHg BIG ExcA
| yATIoN-RAPID PROGRESS PR0MsED.
Though the progress OF construction of the
Congressional Library building has been slow &c
| the external observer, much has been accom-.
pliShed and is visible to one who takes pains to
| look for It. The high board fence which encloses
| the ground even conceals much more of work done
than a casual observer would note. For build
| ing OF such dimensions and pretensions the pre-.
liminary work done is matter Of no small con.
sheraton. II requires time and talent to make
preparations for building that Is to be second In
size and Importance only to the National Capitol
A STAR reporter assembled the stairs Of the old
"Iincoln" ausion, on the corner OF East Capitol
and I'd streets, and found Mr.. j. L. Smithmeyer
architect of the Library building. He cheerfuly con-
sented TO accompany the reporter over the ground
and point out what had been done toward rearing
this great building. Under his guidance tour Of
the house IN which the brain Work Of The enter
prise Is done was visited.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
In 1885 Congress appropriated 100000 for the
construction Of the Library. and OF this sum there
remains unexpended, outside of certain outstand.
sng liabilities, about $335, 200. The large area Of
ground purchased for the site has been cleared oil
al save i've OF the buildings that stood upon It,
Two OF these are in use for the storage OF Con-
greSsNOnal documents, the Others are used as
offices and stOre-rooms and Lighthouses for the
work in hand. The residence formerly occupied
r. Ii
the commission, is
THE WORKSHOP OF THE ARCHITECT.
From the attic She eye takes In the whole ex-
panse Of the site. The cellar excavation which +
400 by 1877 feet u she and 10 feet Deep represents
the size Of the projexed building It Will be cen.
w In ne sayg scs
OF about fifty or sixty est for an espanade or fol-
howers or other outdoor ornamentation. The ex-
cavationS for foundations extend from six to eleven
feet below the cellar the depth varying in accord
ance with the character or the SOIL These latter
excavations have been about half completed, and
laid ere now had not the unfortunate controversy
over the quality OF the cement sLpped by the con-
tractor arisen.
THE CEMENT TROUBLE.
Under sheds on the west side OF the ground are
several thousand barrels of cement, wEich were
delivered under contract for making the concrete
foundation. The architect insists that the cement
Is not up TO the standard that Is required that II
Is below the standard specif1ed in the CONTRACT as
demonstrated by tests, and he will not accept X.
The contractor maintains that 1t Is up to The re-
CURED mark and Efforts to compel It's acceptance
by the architect have consumed four months OF
valuable time which, had 1t been employed, would
have afforded the gratifying spectacle OF the
Library work showing itself above ground. The
foundation work Is now awaiting only the decision
OF this controversy. 1t only waits for cement that
Will meet the approval OF the architect to 60 for
ward. In the course Of the excavations 1t was dis
covered that creek had formerly run through
the site, and its bed was filled with old bricks,
stone and rubbish OF all sorts. In order to make
substantial foundations along the Old creek shafts
had TO be sunk to depth OF eleven feet where
solid soil was reached These shafts Will be filled
with concrete.
TESTING THE GROUND.
For the purpose OF testing the resisting strength
OF the soil upon which the foundations of the exte-
Nor walls must be laid, a travelling machine was
constructed. In the first place the bottom of the
trenches which were sunk feet below the cellar,
n hpf nyv ha ttrat,x
level Then the machine, consisting or Car, bear
Ing the required weight In pig lead, was placed in
the trenches and placed upon iron rails so that,
Notwithstanding the enormous weight carried, IL
could be moved along. These rails rested upon
four casliron pedestas, set feet apart each way,
each pedestal setting Nat upon and exactly cover
ing one square foot OF ground. Thus one-fOurth of
the entire weight was borne upon each pedestal,
and by permitting the weight to remain given
time, and then observing the effect OF the pressure
the resisting strength or the ground was deter
mined. This machine was applied as it was gradu-
foundation trenches and the same test will be ap-
phi q to the trenches yet to be dug. The tests
made demonstrated that the soil would stand a
maximum pressure OF l35 tons to the square foot,
whereas the pressure Of the walls will be but
%. But IL was only shown that there
was variation OF from One-quarter to one and a
quarter inches In the resisting strength OF the
soil, and II Is for this reason that the architect
Insists SO StrenuOusly upon having cement OF high
grade tensile strength that the concrete founda-
zion shall be so made TO erectually prevent any
sinking and consequent cracking OF walls because
OF inequalities OF soil The soil Is composed OF
yellow clay and sand, and promises to be strong
enough, but assurance should be made doubly
sure, the architect thinks by the proper Kind OF
cement foundation Besides the bed OF the old
creek several old wells and the foundations OF an
Old brewery were discovered in making the exca-
yationS. one OF the wells was 81 feet deep and
contained IL feet Of water.
SEWAGE PROVISION.
The drainage-pipes and cess-pools sxty-four In
number, have all been laid Ieet beneath the bot
tom OF the cellar. These pipes connect with a
sewer, extending around the four sides OF the site
outside the building line, which emptleS into a
public sewer at the corner of LIST and streets
southeast. There Will De no danger OF seWer-Qas
or similar evils within the library. At the corner
or East Capitol and I'd streets the cellar OF the
building will be on level with the street grade,
above grade. It is along there that the
80 feet Of the library ground be allowed, to widen
b street. Mr.. Snlitnmeyer says It would never do
TO take on so much OF the ground as It would de.
that the building cannot be set farther north
even though the cost OF additional excavation were
not considered As now projected the central and
move 1t farther north would throw the splendid
entrance to one Side Of the street. The architect
and as the sidewalk on that side is FL feet In
width, by reducing it to 10 the street could be
widened by % feet.
THE DETAILED PLANS.
Inc otCOuu StOIy VI lie building Is Occu.
pied by the assistants OF the architect. such as
draughtsmen, cOmputers, engineers, &C.. and the
work done there is Of an intricate and exacting
nature. For every fraction OF the building plans
are made; for each section OF wall crOss-waII
gagged upon the detailed plans OF the basement, or
first floor above the cellar. These are being hur-
red with the view OF getting contracts made so
that the work may begin with the earliest spring
weather. The plans ana drawings are made and
then by means OF the blueprint process as many
tained. The attic OF the house has been
ntted up for blue-printing, and provided
with all the modern appliances and ma
chinery. In the rear and nearly on a level
with the roof an open balcony has been con-
structed, where the printing is done by means OF
very soft light through cOlOred glass the paper is
prepared for the process. IL is then hung UP In a
dark closet, and when ready for printing Is care
fully laid In large frames andSeXposed TO the sun
through glass just as photographs are printed.
BY this means accurate copies are obtained at a
wall or other portion OF the building shows the
size, dimensions and shape OF each stone TO enter
into the construction, and as each stone is num-
bered, IT can be seen that IL Is important for the
contractors and all others who have anything to
do with the work to have a copy.
ODD-sHAPED STONES
are exhibited on the margin OF the drawings with
their respective numbers. These stones viii be cut
at the Quarrjes in accordance with the drawings
and numbered to correspond; then, when received
here each Is set In Its designated place according
TO the number II bears Not only are the dimen-
sions and numbers OF the stones set out I'm the
drawings but they entered In books prepared for
the purpose and by footing up the figures the ag-
gregate quantity OF stone entering into each small