New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-23
THE ASSEMBLY IN DANGER
NO TELLING WHEN THAT CEILING MAY
FALL.
SLIGHT PROSPECTS OF SAVING rr-wHAT Tm
CAPITOL COMMISSIONER THINKS

ALBANY jan 22-Tho Assembiymen, IL II clear. may
have to abandon the Assembly chamber at once Only
ignorance OF the danger they run BY longer sitting day
day beneath the Of massive blocks OF
the ceiling will keep them In the great hall But
when tbey learn from Assemblyman Ainsworth and
Senator Sloan hat the State officials who have charge
The Capitol and Leopold Eidlltz. the architect who do
signed the Assembly chamber. arc ali genuinely aprre
bensve that day portion OF the ponderous cen1
will fall to the floor eighty feet eath-then probably
they will consider the matter In a different manner from
what they do now. On Friday when Mr.. Ainsworth sub
mtted his resolution for the appointment OF a commits
OF architects and engineers to learn the actual
dition OF the ceiling. many OF the Assemblymen
suspicious that the inquiry was started as foundation
for big appropriation to resume work the Capitol.
The Republican Assemblymen thought from former
experiences that perhaps their political antagonist
Governor Hill. was secretly exciting alarm about thu
Assembly chamber with the aim OF getting appro
priaon for the building and this securing employment
for many Democratic workngmeu about election tins.
IL being the year OF Presidential election every appar.
ent political movement is keeny watched
NO JOB IN SIGHT THIS TIME
Careful inquiry made yesterday shows that the Gov.
ernor must be acquitted Of having any political motive
In the part that no had taken I'm nstituting an nves
CATION as to the condition of the Assembly chamber;
and that no has been acuated solely by feeling or
official responsibility. He was reluctant to believe tsi
instance that there great danger OF the ceeoraed
falling into ruins and perhaps killing some people but
personal inspection OF the staircase convincei him thai
the fears OF Mr. Perry the New Capitol commissioning
were well grounded, and he gave his consent TO tht
snoring up the staircase He was also sceptca IN ~
gard to the weak condition of the Assembly chamber ce
ing until after several interviews with Mr. Eidtz ani Nr
Perry that in their opinion MS architects the cell
ing was in dangerous condition. and that there
reason 10 think that some OF the stone ribs wers -
weakened by the tremendous pressure upon them that
might slip out OF one or another RID ana permit
the entire body OF ponerous blocks to fall to tho floor
Any one who has looked upward in the chamber at the
large sandstone blocks that form the ribs VIII UNDER
stand that Governor startled by the infornt
ton Mr. Edlltz and Mr.. Perry were so earnest IN ths
expression 0heir protest against the occupation OF no
Assembly chamber by the Assenblymen that the Cow
ernor could doubt but that there was grave danger
before any one who should the A stated ina
dispatch to THE TRIBUNE Friday. as soon a. tls
ohairmen of the committees OF the Legislature weco
appointed who have charge of drawing up the finance
bills the Governor sent for these menMessrs sloan ana
Ainsworh-and suggested that an appropriation be I'm
medatey made TO the expenses OF commission o.
architects who should learn whether It safe for tho
Assembly longer to meet in the Assembly chamber NJ
Sloan and Mr.. Answorth were convinced after alu
with Mr.. Perry AMI Mr. Eilitz that these architects
were not aarmst but that they had good reasons whe
they solemny warned the Assemblymeu not TO ths
Assembly chamber until its ceiling has been repaired
THE DANGER RECENT.
Tho Assembymen will learn when they nave IN tniry
that It has been suspected for six seven years that the
stone ceiling is in a weak condition But "a M
architect OF State reputation said yesterday II Dol
till within six months past that the ceiling has become
positively dangerous The ceiling NAV he said to ha''
never been rest from the moment that lt was liL
There has constantly been a movement. Constantly
fragments of have scaled Oft; both on the lower
and the upper portion OF the stone arches One reason
OF this was that the sandstone in the arches hal been
cut across the grain. You snow stone mas grain az
we'll as wood 1t will sustain five times as much weight
in one direction 1t will In another. Consequently
these weak stones broke and rag nents scaled or TIE
sandstone any 1t Is evident too weak to stand
the enormous pressure"
The AssemblyDen moved into the Assembly chamber
in 1879. In January 1881, Governor Cornell In his
annual message the Legislature made this statement
serious defect recently discovered in tho eronci
arch ABOVE the Assembly chamber large stone In ons
OF the ribs OF the arch was have been fractured
and completely severed. Notwithstanding thorough
Investigation the Capitol superintendent has been m
able to make any satisfactory explanation OF the Cause
broken has been removed and it Is hoped tp
no further trouble will |: viii be well. however.
the Legislature satisfy itself Of the present safety
of that porti)n of the building"
the LEGISLATURE WASN'T SCARED.
The legislature however was not scared and tho
Assembymen occupied the Assembly chamber AS usual
An architect said yesterday: IL at that time the Legs
lature had male large appropriation 10 Feely no
in the Assembly chamber ceiling there would Mt
have this trouble But the defects not having been
remeuied they have grown each year. until now
complete reconstruction OF the ceiling Is necessary
What would have cost $4,000 two years ago Will cost
$4,000 now to repair"
In 1882, however there was fresh alarm about the
ceiling, and the Legislature authorized Governor
Cornell to appoint commission OF architects 10 survey
and examine the different parts OF tho New Capitol a. U
the Assembly chamber and the ceiling there
OF" Governor Cornell appointed the members or tins
commission W. i. Trowbridge. Charles Babcock aud
George b. Post. These gentlemen made thorough cN-
animation OF the ceiling. scafoldng was erecte! 20
enable them TO inspect the ceiling at close hand They
caused of levels to he taken, from which IL
appeared ~ that although very unusual amount or
settlement" had occurred to the walls of the building
the settlement had not been uniform" Tie Naultcd
roof OF the Assembly chamber Is supported by largo
granite columns The footing courses directly under
these uncovered for the inspection OF the comis
sion discovered that the piers resting on
them had settled than the adjacent walls anu that
there difference III settlement between the piers
themselves.
CAUSE OF UNEQUAL SETTLING.
The members OF the commission made this interesting
statement regard TO the ceiling We md that Ons Of
the diagonal groin ribs is seriously cracked aud
also tho portions OF the vaung surface that rested
directly upon it; that the end walls over the maia
arches somewhat out OF plane and that tc
main side vaults in bad condition. We have tested
fha riba ~ al limo