Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08
DETERMINING THE LOSS.

A Fine Business Block May Replace the
Old MononEnheIa-A1uch Depends on
the Damage.
The owners of the Monongahela House
and the lessees met with the Board of Un-
derwriters yesterday afternoon, to appoint
appraisers to view the damage done by fire
and water and to fix the loss in dollars.
Charles Wilson, of the firm of contractors,
Wilson Brothers, was selected to represent
the owners Henry Shenk was chosen to
represent the underwriters. Both gentle
men are well known and experienced build
ers. Mr.. Shenk is the gentleman who built
the Duquesne Club and other large build
ings in this city. Messrs. Wilson and
Shenk will select third man, and they will
get to work tomorrow. Until those gentle
men complete their work the hotel will not
be cleaned up to any great extent. The APP
praisers will see in just what condition the
building and the furnishings were left by
the fire.
A great deal depends on the report of the
expert appraisers. Practically they have
the say whether the old Monongahela House
shall be repaired or whether it shall be
razed and replaced by modern, lsre, fire
proof business block. The interior walls of
the old hotel are in some places very soft,
and have been severely injured by the fire.
The floors are weakened by fire and water all
over the house. The structure is over 40
years old and is of very antique style of
construction.
If the report of the appraisers shows that
the cost of repairing the house will approach
very nearly what the building originally
cost, the owners of the property will prob
ably decide to tear it down even to the last
stone of the foundations, and erect a big
structure which shall be as nearly fre-proof
as modern buildings can be made.
Attorney Florence c. Miller said yester-
day afternoon: "The owners have not con-
sidered what they will do, and will not
until the insurance appraisement is con-
cluded. All will depend upon that. At
present know no more about what will be
done than you do"
Joseph Stillburg, the architect of the Ex-
position and the gentleman who planned
the works of improvement done in the
Monongahela House last summer, said yes
terday that, with a good force of men, he
could have the hotel in order in two months.
He expressed q fear that the new hard
wood ceiling of the north dining room,
which was put up at cost of $4,000, had
been spoiled by the water and would have
to come down. Every plaster ceiling in the
house will have to be removed.
The cafe was open yesterday in good order.
1t is on the ground floor, and had quite a
number of patrons. Yesterday afternoon
about two dozen women employed In the
house were paid off at the office. Clerk
Miller took their addresses, and if the hotel
reopens they will be sent for Some of them
had worked in the Monongahela::Hous for
periods running from 10 to 20 years, and on
going away, with possibility that they
might not return, they expressed great sor-
row, and even shed tears.
The police were not on duty at the house
yesterday. Clerk Charles Miller is to be
seen behind the desk, sadly and solemnly
gazing out over the ruin all around him.
He does not say much, but he gazes with
far-awsy look as if looking about 500 years
into futurIty. He Is thinking. He won
ders, he says, whether the fire would have
occurred had he remained another day in
Philadelphia. --. .......--