Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-06-14
Report Of Architect fright on the San
Francisco City Hall.
HANKS IS HANDLED ROUGHLY.
Grand Blowout Of Nevada City
and Grass Valley Knights
Of Pythias-Etc.
lsescIAI DISPATCHES TO TIE nsooRD-us1os.l
THOSE WALLS.
Architect Wright Presents his Report to
the Commission,

the commission,
SAN FRANCISCO, June 13th.-The CITY
Hall Commissioners held another special
meeting this morning for the purpose of
continuing the investigation into the
crooked work done in the walls of the
McAllister-street wing.
Architect Wright's report upon the con-
dition of the walls was then read. 1t is as
follows:
SAN Francisco June 70 1890
To the Honorable Board Of City Hall Commits
sioners-GENTLEMEN: Having been requested by
his houor. the Mayor, to examine into the pres
ent condition of the walls of the Larkin-street
or northwest wing of the New City Hail. beg
to state that there have been up TO the present
time about forty-three openings made in differ
ent parts of the structure. OF these about one
fourth have been found filled with rubbish in
greater or less quantity. In about one-ffth de-
of the work examined appeared to have been
properly laid. In most OF the places found de-
feetiye. the walls can be repaired and rendered
sufficiently strong for the weights they have to
carry, as there is an abundant margin of
strength to insure the stability of the structure.
The most serious defects, however have been
found to be in the four great piers supporting
the heavy iron girders, nearly 100 feet long,
which span the wing from side to side. These
piers Will have TO carry at least $50 tons each.
and must be well built from bottom To top.
They have been found filled with rubbish for a
part OF their hight, and should be taken down
10 the bottom OF the present steel beams on the
floor below and be rebuilt in the best manner in
cement mortar, in accordance with the strict
terms of the contract.
The two piers adjoining the old work have
also be. found filed with rubbish and should
be taken down and rebuilt so as to render the
connections of the new with the old work as
perfect as possible.
The work on the story below has been found
to be in good condition as regards the exterior
walls, and may be considered sound construc
ton.
The defective arch in this story in one of the
interior walls can be taken down and rebuilt
and the other defects in this portion of the
building can be remedied without difficulty.
have examined the work in the basement
of the building and found it of good materials
and workmanship throughout. Very respect
fully submitted, JOHN WRIGHT
communication from contractors Rich
ard McCann and Thomas G.. Riddell was
then read. 1t was devoted to explaining
Hanks connection with the disclosures.
We are satisfied that there has been
very little harm done, anyway" says the
communication, land we are now per-
fectly willing to do all in our power to
place the work in proper condition. Our
information enables US to say that Hanks
caused two barrels of stuffing to be placed
in few separate places within the brick
walls upon which he was employed and
that he intimated to some of his fellow
workmen that by doing so secretly it would
subsequently become source OF profit BY
selling the information to the newspapers" !"
After this the Commission heard the
testimony of various witnesses. all of which
was to the effect that Hanks was bad bad
man, and that it was he who stuffed the
walls. Affidavits TO the same eject were
read, sworn to by persons who could not
be present, including one by Hanks step
mother, who says that even in his boy
hood Hanks was vicious and malicious.
Mayor Pond expressed himself as being
strenuously opposed to the introduction of
such evidence. He thought Mccarthy had
hurt bis case by doing SO. "The proper
thing for Mccarthy to have DONE said
the Mayor, was to have had Hanks er-
rested when he discovered that crime had
been committed, and then the evidence of
his previous character would have been
proper"
At the conclusion of the taking of I'll
mony the Commission adjourned until
Monday.