The critic., 1891-01-24

steep roof of red slate. In the interior
arrangement comfort has been con-
suited. A broad entrance hall, stairway
hall, reception room, consultation office,
laboratory and dining room are located on
the ground floor. The second story Is
given mp to parlor, library and wide stair.
case hall. On this floor arches and artistic
wood screens are employed with good
effect. The sleeping apartments have adj
Joining bath and dressing rooms. Ash,
oak and cherry will be used in the trim.
Steam heat, electric bells and gas-lighting
apparatus, speaking tubes and cabinet
mantels are among the appointments.
builders Exchange Notes.
J. D. Aiken has made application for
admission to the Exchange as corporate
member.
AT special meeting of the board of
directors held on Wednesday evening, the
feasibility Of being represented ut the fifth
annual convention of the National Asso-
citation of Builders which meets next
month in New York city, was discussed
1t was finally decided to call n special
meeting of the Exchange for Friday
night.
A committee has been appointed to
make arrangements for the banquet
which will follow the annual election on
Wednesday evening next.
The special meeting last night was well
attended. 1t was decided that the Ex-
change should be represented at the New
York convention, and Charles A. Langley,
| elected delegates, with Fred. Pilling,
Morgan Thomas and Albert Stephan as
| alternatos.
Secretary King will attend as member
| of the board Of directors of the National
| Association.
Those who attended the 81. Paul Con-
vention have a pleasant recollection OF
the comforts of travel over the B. " o.
| road and the kind attentions of Passenger
Agent $. b. Hegc, who accompanied
| them. The y. & o. people have. placed 9
Royal Blue Line train at the disposal of
| the Washington Exchange, and il is moro
than likely that offer will be accepted.
| Strengthening the Strong Building.
The big building at the southwest COR
ner of Twelfth and Il streets, on which n
portion of the exterior wall crushed dur
ing its construction, and which was re-
ferred to ut the time in these columns, is
now undergoing q systematic strengthen
ing, which will render II perfectly safe for
its required purpose.
Recently, at The request of the lessees
an engineer, whose reputation Is national,
made an examination of the entire
structure. In the course of his investiga-
tion 1t was found that the girders support
ing the floor joists on all the stories above
the second floor, and the girder support
ing the roof purlins had sagged consider
ably. 1t was further found that one piei
on the F-street front had curved inwardly
until il was six inches out of plumb
while pier on the east front or Twelfth
street side was three inches out Of plumb
The suggestions for strengthening the
structure made by this expert were ap
proved by the Inspector of Buildings.
In letter sent Colonel Henry Strong
the owner of the building on the 1ith in
stant, Inspector Entwisle among othe
things says: "The girders above th,
second story are sufficient for the load
The structure in every particular is safe
in my opinion, for any mercantile busi
ness, provided the loading on the floors
above the second does not exceed l0C
pounds to the square foot. l am satisfied
there is no danger from woight of 10t
pounds per square foot, distributed OF
| those floors.h