The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-22
OCCIDENTAL rs SAFE.
Architects and Builders Say
There Is No Danger.
ITS WALLS ARE ALL FIRM.
Only Two Non-wefght Bearing PfIasters
Observation-Disclosures Stops
Foolish Rumor.

A committee Of disinterested and competent
architects and builders yesterday made care
ful examination of the walls OF the Jesse w.
George building on the northeast ,orner of Main
Occidental hotel. and after completing their
veg signed statement to the effect that the
building was perfectly SAFE
Several days ago Mr.. Z. II. Fisher, architect OF
the building, set men to work replacing one Of
two pilasters on the Main street side and on the
second story, which had commenced to crumble
because Of the settling of the main bearing
away. This pier settled about half
an inch some mouths ago and
the two pilasters which divide the windows be-
tween the wall thar settled aud the next bearing
pier naturally had an increased load to carry,
and they commenced crumbling. Mr.. Fisher
became aware OF this Immediately after the
wall first settled, but a. the pilasters were not
material bearing parts of the wall and the
building was perfectly safe even IL they did
crumble away entirely, he was in no hurry to
repair the detective places. Having completed
the building Mr.. Fisher last Saturday had q
force Of men put to work replacing the cracked
pilasters. Wooden supports were put in the
windows to help support the girders while the
brick pilasters were being removed and iron
columns were being substituted. The crowd
passing by saw the supports in the windows,
the cry was raised that the Occidental hotel
building was fsiling down and the report spread
like wildfre. .
Messrs Willis & seagrave, who have expended
over $4,000 in making the Occidental the best
furnished and most comfortable hotel in the
Pacific Northwest, knowing the falsity Of the
rumor and Icing assured of the safety OF the
building, paid no attention to the wild stories
until yesterday. Then il was decided to .all In
q committee Of architects and practical builders,
none OF whom were to have any interest in the
matter, and to have them examine the building
and make report.
Such committee was appointed, its members
being Charles w. Saunders, of Saunders &
HOughton, architects; Otto Ranke, John
Megrath, James Spur, 81. II. Byrne and F. B.
Y0ungs
A Posr-INTELLIGENCER reporter was with the
COMMITTEES while It was pursuing its inyestiga-
tons. Each member of the committee at the
outset averred himself to be disinterested
party and Indifferent a. to the result SO far as
he was personally concerned The rear wall on
the Nam street corner was first examined, and
It was found to have settled about half an inch
for distance of thirty feet. The foundation
Of the next bearing pier on the Main street side,
between the settled wall and where the dam
aged pilasters were located, was found to be as
solid as ever. Continuing their Investigation,
the committee found that the settling of the
rear wall had thrown some additional weight
upon two pilasters between il and the next
bearing pier, and that they had not been able to
stand the strain. Each member of the commit
tee expressed the same opinion, however, viz,
that the pilasters could be taken away entirely
without endangering the building. The con-
mittee, after examining every wall in the house,
not one of which was cracked, decided that the
building was as firm as 1t had ever been, and
each man gladly signed his name to the follow
ing report:
Messrs. Wills & Stagraue: At your request we
have carefully examined the walls, foundations
and the condition Of the general construction OF
the Jesse w. George block, corner Main and
South Second streets, and find the building per
fectly safe. slight setting was found at the
base OF one pier, but the precautions that have
already been taken for the protection Of the
building are amply SUFFICIENT
CHARLES w. SAUNDElA
OTTO RANKE.
JOHN MEGRATH.
JAMES SPURR.
H. NJ. BYRNE.
+. B. YoUNGs.
Otto Ranke, when seen after the committee
adjourned, said: "The Occidental is as firm as
the Rock OF Ages There was no danger from the
crumbling of the pilasters, and the whole talk is
very foolish
John Megrath expressed the same opinion
last night in very forcible words, and Architect
Saunders said he could sec no danger whatever
in the building.
Architect Fisher did not go near the building
while the committee was making its report but
when seen last night said: 81 was perfectly