St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-13
Chimney Of the Power House
on Hill Street Develops
Serious Cracks,
And the Oscillation Of the
Pile Is Sufficient to Scare
Experts.
Building Inspector Johnston
Has His Eye Upon the
Riekety Structure.
The Postmaster Of South st.
Paul Is Relieved From
Office.

Tom Lowry's 200-foot chimney at the
| power house on Hill street will, in all
| probability, be torn down and rebuilt,
| for it is in a most serious condition.
About two weeks ago small crack was
discovered at the base of the structure,
which has since spread upwards, and
yesterday was thirty feet long, The mat
ter was reported to Building Inspector
Johnston and he consulted with MIR.
Lowry, and as a result the chimney was
yesterday carefully examined by COM
inittee of expert engineers and archi-
tects, composed of George E. LoWeth.
engineer, who built the union depot:
City Engineer Rundlett; Charles A.
Reed, architect of the Metropolitan opera
house; George j. Grant. architect of
many city office buildings; Mathew
Taylor. of the firm of Taylor & Craig,
and Building Inspector Johnston. The
experts were shown around by Supt
Scott, of the city railway company,
and first inspected the crack in the
chimney. 1t was found to be half an
inch wide at the base, and extended in
crooked direction upward for thirty
feet. Careful measurements were made
with delicate instruments, and the re-
suit showed that the chimney Swayed
at the top for a distance of one feet foot
towards the river, and then in the OPP
posite direction for six inches. This
was the highest oscillation meas
ured, and showed that the
chimney top swayed eighteen inches
through the air. with tendency to
lean towards the river. As to the cause
OF the ominouS crack in the structure
and its Swaying more than is usual, no
definite opinion was arrived at.
Building Inspector Johnston. in
speaking of the matter to GLOBE re-
porter yesterday, said:
Just what is the trouble we could
not determine from the observations
made. Some of the experts thiuk that
the foundation IS sinking, while others
ale of the opinion that the contraction
and expansion of the
Fire Brick Inside
has caused the crack. 1t the latter
theory be correct the chimney can be
strengthened with stout iron bands on
the outside. and it will be perfectly safe
Though the committee of experts could
not agree upon the cause of the trouble
they all were of opinion that there was
no immediate danger. 1t is matter
that will brock of no delay, and Mr.
Lowry. who asked the experts to eX-
anime the chimney, has requested them
to continue their observations.
How much, in your opinion, should
a chimney 200 feet high oseillate at the
top?'
well, certainly not more than six
inches each way
Then the fact that it swayed twelve
inches yesterday towards the river and
six inches III the opposite direction
would indicate that there is some seri-
Gus trouble?"
Yes, that is my view of it''
Continuing. Mr.. Johnston said:
The experts will carefully take OBJ
SeryatlonS to find out what the real
trouble is, and they will report to Mr..
Lowry and to me. If they should de-
eide that the structure is III danger
Gus condition myzduty will be to con-
denim 1t. and it will have to be taken
down and rebuilt"
do you think there is any danger of
the chimney faliinE?o
''At present. no; but if it is pro-
nounced III dangerous condition by
the experts, there is no knowing what
might happen. OF course Mr.. Lowry is
very much concerned about the affair.
and he would have it taken nown with
out any intimatien from me if it is pro-
nounced dangerous
The chimney is 200 feet high. and "a
feet wide at It's base, with an opening
of IA feet. 1t is thought that the crack
extends from the outside through the
mass Of brick into the inner side of the
friedrich.