Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-05-21
EXAMINED BY EXPERTS
The Lighthouse Block Found
Safe BY a Committee of
Architects
That Iron Column Found to Be
Six Times as Strong as 1t
Need Be
Not a Crack in the Masonry,
Nor Amy Evidence of
Settlement

A committee Of four competent archi
tects, after makinga thorough examina
ton of the Lighthouse block from tor
to bottom, yesterday submitted a
written report, finding t9e structure
perfectly safe. The investigation was
made Thursday afternoon by the fol.
lowing architects: James f.. Black
well, of Tacoma, and A. Lee, William
Cox and George n. Taylor, of New
Whatcom. The report is signed by
each architect, and il can
not reasonably be presumed that
these gentlemen would risk their
professional reputation by signing
the report if in their judgment there
was any possibility Of the building col
lapsing. The proprietors of the build
ing never had any doubt Of its safety,
but had the examination made to allay
public apprehension after statements
about the building made by the Rev
ellie. Following is the report in full:
New WHATo0M, Wash,
May 20, 1892.
Mr.. J. f.. Baker, Columbus Bank, New
Whatcom, Wash.
SIR: At your request, ia the interest
of Mr., j. G. Lighthouse, we have ex-
amined the Columbia Bank building
on Dock and Holly streets, as to its
in order 10 satisfy the news
paper Criticisms and the public thereon.
First We have personally examined
the building from bottom to top, in
side and outside, and can find no evil
dence whatever of any settlement or
cracks in the masonry or structural
portions Of the building.
The plans and specifications were
drawn by Otis d Crandall, architects,
Of Rochester, n. Y, and the erection
by James r.. Blackwell.
architect, Of Tacoma, Wash. It was
in February, 1891, and has
stood now without crack or any
signs Of defects for over fifteen months.
This should be an evidence to the com
mon sense and intelligence of the pub
lie, independent of the views Of
architects and builders, that its sta
)ility cannot be questioned, especially
'ince on many occasions, notably, the
Caledonian ball when it was opened at
he end Of January, 1891, il has been
;rowded to its utmost capacity, about
200 people being in the tbird-story
nall, and during the dancing and
the severest strain which can
De put upon building or bridge, not
.remor or vibration could be detected
~ competent and expert witnesses
who sat in one of the second-story
'ooms. The floor joists throughout are
ixl6 inches and l6 inches from center. |
Il il seldom that heavy jOists are put
ntO any building, either III the East or
he West. The estimated heaviest load
which can come upon a single jOist, |
blowing 80 pounds per square foot for
load and twenty-five
pounds per square foot for weight Of ]
construction Is 1880 pounds. The !
oists will safely bear 4 4,66s pounds with |
! factor of 3, that il the breaking load !
5 three times the latter quantity.
Second-As to the strength Of the |
ron columns resting on the four-inch /
quare Chuckanut blocks, about which !
here has been specific criticism, the |
acts are these, and we challenge any,
ne to make a personal examination |
nd calculations of the load and |
trengths and find that it is otherwise |
han represented: There are eight of
hese stone blocks; the two on the
Iorth side do not carry the weight of
he floors and roof trusses, as the iolsts
il run straight through the building,
ast and west, In two spans, one end
esting on stone or brick wall and the
ther on steel girders and iron columns.
assing longiLudinally through the
enter Of the building.
The weights are calculated for the
econd column from southwest end of
ullding, this being the greatest weight,
5 1t Is the largest column and in adj.
ion has one Of the roof trusses coming
over IL. The block will
ave to bear, beside the weight of the
'on column, the weight Of the girders
1all, floor and roof and truss TO one
alf Of the distance to the next sun.
ort on each side, which would make
myth of wall 9 feet s inches, and
oor and roof for one-half of span 10
entral girder IL feet.
ron column : inches dia x inch she'll
\ rs feet AZ inches high wag1Ie q ne, /