The record-union., 1891-06-16
THE old CITY HALL.
Not Only DeCaying, But Improperly
Constructed,
1t is Condemned by Architect Sead-
Ter and Builder Carle-Their Re-
port on the Subject.

James Seadler, the architect, and Silas
Carle, the well-known builder, who on
Saturday made an examination of the
old Water Works building, sometimes
favored with the title of City Hall-yes-
terday submitted to the City Trustees the
following report embodying the result of
their examination:
To the Honorable Board of Trustees of
the City Of SOtcTdnle7ltO-SIRS: AT your
request we have carefully examined into
the condition of the building used as the
City Prison, ETC., and from data taken in
our observations, have prepared, and
herewith submit, the following report:
We found the walls from top to bottom
badly cracked, out Of plumb, in wind,
and bulging from three to four inches
from their proper lines. The brick work
in the abutments and portions of the
wall carrying the main tank trusseS are
in places badly crushed. The hog chain
and anchorage in the several tiers are
strained to their utmost service strength,
which is evidenced by the fact that a
three-quarter or fiVe-inch anchor plate
has been bent, and is drawn into the
brickwOrk. The strain upon this is mo-
ment3ruy increasing, and should this
give way land nothing holds it but the
thread on a IL inch rod, the entire struc-
ture would collapse under the Immense
weight on top Of the root.
That your honorable body may have an
idea of the strain upon the walls, etc., of
this building, il may be of interest to
know that the tank, when filed eight feet
deep, holds about 235, 600 gallons of water,
or about $50 tons. The framework sup
porting said tank, including tank, viii
weigh little short Of 200 tons more Thus
you have 1850 tons resting on the crum-
bling ruines Of a once poorly erected and
never properly adapted building.
In examining the main sills upon
which the tank trusses are resting, we
found them badly warped, and in places
turned three inches OF so on their bed,
thus endangerlng the posts, ETC., by caus-
ing tendency for outer frame to slip
outward. Some of the posts and braces
are badly affected by dry rot, and liable
to give way at any moment.
The trusses and framework supporting
the tank never were Of proper material,
nor properly constructed TO carry the
present load upon them, which is evil
denced by the fact that the cords of the
trusses are in places broken in two. in
other places crushed out of all usefulness.
The very bulkiness of the timbering
eudangerS its strength by the usual
shrinkage. which in this framework is
not less than three inches in the six feet
of timbering, one above the other Thus.
instead of the usual crowning, they are
swayed to the centcrs about six inches,
and the virtue of all bracing has been
destroyed.
We have carefully examined the cracks
in the walls, and such as were only lately
patched up and covered are found re-
opened, thus convincing us that there is a
constant wear and rack to the walls
which no amount of bracing or patching
will affect.
The outer frame and end trusses are
dangerously out of plumb, and at this
time III no condition to support the i'm
mense weight Of the tank and it's con-
tents with any degree of reliability. The
tank, supported by once cumbersome
and now dilapidated and decaying frame
work, nearly twenty feet above the re-
mains of an Old-time and often-repaired
wall, is in a state OF constant vibration.
caused by the process Of filling and
emptying the same, and augmented by
the constantly passing trains, which vi
bratiOn, reinforced by .thOusand-ton
load, is accompanied by a constant grind
ing process, the magnitude Of which is
beyond given rules of calculation for us
to establish, and therefore we cannot pre-
dict just how soon the building may coll
lapse.
That the building never was properly
constructed to serve for the purpose used
is very evident, and that it is now unfit
for human tenancy is beyond dispute,
ana we report That, under the present
conditions, it is dangerous to life to enter
the premises and criminal to compel
tenancy therein.
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.
The Trustees took up the matter at
their afternoon session and Mr.. Conklin
said he thought the board should take
some official action in the matter. It did
not seem quite right to admit the pro-
priety of having some Of the offices
vacated and yet keep prisoners confined
in the building. If the structure is un-
safe for occupancy, some provision
should be made to accommodate the pris-
onerS in safe place.
The matter was discussed at some
length, and it was finally concluded that
but four feet Of water should be kept in
the tank, thus relieving the building of
much Ofthe strain upon it.
In the meantime the Trustees will en-
deayor to arrive at some conclusion as to
what shall be done about having City
Hall that can be occupied. They all APP
preciate the fact that the old building has
outliyed its usefulness, and that some
thing will have TO be done about erecting
a city Jail in the near future.
-.
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