New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-17
DISCUSSING THE WnGWAN'S STABILITY.
THE PROBLEM or TnF NEW ROOF POSSIBLE
D,NGDR FROM THE STAMPING or FEET.

THE PROBLEM or TnF NEW ROOF POSSIBLE
DANGER FROM THE STAMPING OF FEET.
Chicago. June 10 CSpecal.- There l. almost us
much uncertainty regarding the stability OF the Demo
critic Convention Wgvam IA exists In respect Ia tn
availa ltv " the candidate who t. y" nominated
w1tlhu II. From architectural point II view the
structure dos not commend Itself to The eve Of tie
critic az thing ~ beauty. It's exterior resembles
more nearly than anything cl,c d'strbaMc. Of IN"
huge icchouses which squat upon III, west bank u the
Hudson River Thus far It Is without n roof. The
storm Of Monday disposed {" That by rolling portions
~ II mp HE scroll and tearing the rr Into shrds
dlthDutlug The fragments AZ souvenirs. Opinion Is
also divided 20 what shall be done IN The ~
shutting out the light Of heaven from the delllcra
lions designed TO be- carried forward there during tn.
coming week. While there e already much wnnclng
over the question OF tickets OF admission the pigeons
that have thcr homes In the caves Of the Palmer
House. tho fremont House and other stately binding,
in that noIglLorhOod come daily In little n0c's perch
themselves npon the upper beams, and look down at
IN" vacant chairs below In the evident confidence that
their vantage ground ~ last Is secure.
Looked at on hot day Ike this. The wigwnm cor
laInly IL not suggestive Of comfort as a place OF oc
cupancy by ncarlv 1000 persons. packed together
tier upon tier from the focr to The roof. Standing
on the lake front just below the unroofcd walls Of the
Illinois central passenger station. the wigwam Is cx
posed 10 the heat OF the until 4
O'Clock in the afternoon: Willie the hot
wind, from the Duih. Hike tlosc which now
prevail. Will BE- intensified by the heat which is
it.dntcd from the Of unoccurict ground stretch
Ing fer half mile along the waters edge. Whllo
crowds may b. willing TO snGer discomfort. thcc do
not car, Ia take any Risks from unusual elements
Of danger. The storm OF Monday sounded a note Of
warning, and the secnrty of the building aglIn,
the dangers OF overcrowding Of complete collapse
in the midst of q tempest f. seriously doubted. The
builders Insist that the structure is secure. and that
the tmbcrs are strong and well braced and will b.
able to support the weight Of humanity they ara DE-
signed 10 carry.
The great problem to be- solvel however IS the ~,
plnccmcnt Of the roof II Ills should be made OF
boards oversprcad with tar and gravel II must have
something on which to rest The sides OF the build
Ing we're not planned TO bear this additional burden
put the architect has adopted the plan Of erecting
additional pillars. all Of them TO be connected with
substantial giriers. THIS be the only rpa
sonnble way Of overcoming the difficulty stin there
Will be tho additional requirement Of ventilation
The air spaces are limited In both number and en-
pacity Any enlargement OF the opening would
provle for increased draughts of wind ::
and this coming with the rushing fOrc Of a tornado
y,mla In all probability start the roof from It's
fnstenings and even draw upward the Cewly siip-
Illcd pillars, which are not planted In the ground
bur only rrst upon IT, An Inspection of the uadcr.
pInnng 81 Tho galleries does not inspire conhdenc,
n 10 their strength II view of the immense weight
that viii hs Imposed upon them.
Then again. a Democratic National Convention
naturally cngenders enthusiasm. especially in the gal
lerics The exercise Of lung power Is comparatively
harmless d tho vibrations producer by hand cappng
are not necessarily dangerous. but there will be
moments Of excitement when the people will probably
ind both hands and lungs insufficient for tho en-.