Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-12

AovaQ& brack BnttdeaG From 0na 6Afo TO
Anothey.
One Of the most disReult mechanical fsats
ever attempted Ia Baltimore is ths moving IT
lowering Hall, one Of the johns Hopkins Uni
versity buildings, from its present sits to
another half square away, says the Baltimore
Assertcaa. II Is to be moved to make room for
the Mccoy Hall The work was begun early
this week by the contractors and will be pushed
ahead steadily until the building rests upon its
new foundations 1t will require fully eight
weeks to move the building. lowering Hall 10
handsome brick edi6ce, Also feet, two stories
high and ornately trimmed with brown stone.
1t fronts ct present on Little Ross street about
midway between Howard and Eutaw. 1t will
be raised from its present foundation, turned
half around and moved up . sixteen-foot in
cline to q new foundation Of the corner Of
Eutaw and Little Ross streets, distance Of l94
feet inches.
This il the second brick building ii has ever
been attempted 10 move in Baltimore. 1t is an
ordinary thing 10 move frame houses, but
hauling brick buildings around, while it has
been done for several years in the north and
west IL something new in this section. The
task imposes many difficulties, which the exer-
else Of great ingenuity and engineering skill
must overcome. 1t Is interesting, too, in
demonstrating the triumph OF science over the
greatest mechanical difficulties. In this case,
for instance, is large two-story brick build
ing, which must be raised bodily from Its
foundation, turned around, carried half q
square up a steep hill. and settled upon new
foundations.
HOW THE WORK rs BEING DONE.
The details of the operation are interesting
First a row Of heavy Georgia timber, fifty feet
long and twelve inches square-each stick
weighing over half o TOMS placed crosswise
under the building, about five feet apart, These
timbers are to support the structure and re-
main immovable until the work is finished
Next, similar row OF timber is placed under
these, but running the length Of the hall These
sticks are sighty-nve feet long, Under these il
placed third row, running, like the first,
across the building. These two last rows are
movable and act as sort Of turntable, upon
which the structure turns. Jaekscrews are
placed under the end of the lower row Of timber
and the building is ready for hosting. This
work has already been accomplished
The next step will be TO raise the building
1t will be cut loose from its foundation Just be-
low the first floor ami above the upper row Of
supports. Then it will be raised by jsckscrews
about four feet preparatory to being turned, as
il now faces south, and in its new position will
face west, on Eutaw street. This raising and
turning is delicate and tedious operation.
One hundred and forty iackscrews will be used.
and there will be one man to operate every four
screws. beginning at the fret of his screws,
each man goes along the line and gives each
screw two turns; then. returning, gives two
more turns. This must be done In concert all
around the building. which, by the operation
is raised one and one-third inches. This will
be continued until the building will be raised
four feet, when it will be ready for turning.
The bottom of the first and the top Of the
second row of supports will be thoroughly
creased with tallOw. Then jackscrews will be
placed at the southeast and northwest corners
of the building to push it around. the bottom
supports being constantly changed as the work
progresses. No rollers will be used, the work
being done entirely by the screws and grease
When the building has been faced around in the
desired direction it will be carried forward up
the hill
sort Of railway of blocks of timber, piled
crosswise, some thing-on the order Of stacks Of
railroad ties, will be constructed along the
route of removal, and along this the building
will be pushed on its triple row Of supports
As this railway muet be perfectly level ii will
run into the hill about one-third the way up.
Then the building must be lacked up another
four feet and new railway constructed. Four
four-foot raises must be made to get the build
ing up the sixteen-foot incline to its new rest
ing place. After the structure has been turned
and started on the railway 1t can be pushed
forward by about eight men with twelve or four
teen jackserewa. A this structure weighs
about 1000 tons the delicacy and perfection Of
the mechanical means employed may be readily
seen. When the building arrives at its desti-
nation it will be suspended on the jackscrews
until the new foundation is built up under 1t.
The building will be raised and ready for
turning by the last of next week. Three weeks
will then be required to move it up the hill.
Altogether al9Dut eight weeks will elapse before
Leyering Hall is settled upon its new founda-
tions. The work of preparing its new site is
wen under way, the old plumbing shop and two
dwellings that formerly stood Ut the corner Of
Eutaw and Little Ross streets being now nearly
torn away.