The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-09
DEFENDING THE PLASTER.
"A Letter From Wilson Il Huggins on the
Belmont School Work.

%
Belmont School Work
TO TIE EDITOR OF The TIMES: In YOUR
issues of toe 9th, 7th and Sth have sp.
peared editorials in regard TO the work
On the belmont school building which
are at variance with tho facts Of tho
case, and which are calculated to mis-
lead the public and to cast unwarr .nted
y fle ctioEs upon all connected with that
work, and a. We arc employed by tho
city 10 supcriEtcnG that building and
feeling cur responsibility to the public,
we offer the statement below us an OK.
PLANTATION Of the entire matter, which
we hope you will do us the Justice TO
publish, As prominently as the articles
referred to above.
On the night of Noyember %, all Of
the clustering then in the building. cx-
cept That on brick work, and u small
quantity of that, was frozen. so as TO be
utterly ruined On the 25th OF Noyen.
be we condemned it and so notified the
contractor. The sub-contractor, how.
ever, III the vain hope that it
would still set and harden, asked
that il be given 4 few days trial In
order tc De fair and reasonable with
him, We consented to this. 1t soon be.
came apparent, however, 10 tho con-
tractors, as well rs TO the architects,
that it would ali have 10 be removed
and thn orders were promptly given
by us and accepted by tpo contractors.
There was then Il delay of l. day or two
in I'd jus ing the loss between the con-
tractor and the sub, contractor before
the removal OF this work was COM
mcnced.
| During ibis interval THE TINES, on
| the lockout for = cheap sensation, made
this discovery, and in order that it
should not Go spoiled by having the
| light turned on and thus revealing the
gnost in is true character, no prctensc
was made at an inquiry into the facts
| or causes. But the TASTY conclusions,
together with vague insinuations, alto
| gether beneath honorable journalism
were published and the sensation seems
| to he success.
THE TINES goes further, however
and prefers Il very serious charge in
regard to the plastering, and one which
| is utterly without foundation in fact
1t is stated tina. the mortar is deficient
in both limo and hair; that all the
| plastering on the building is worth
less. 1t lacks strength and hair and
looks and acts like mud mortar. 1t is
| distinctly poor article.
We have examined this mortar care
fully from day to day, both in the NOR
tar and on the walls and We say unhes
itatingly that it is July up to the best
standard of lime clustering. We have
also examined the vouchers for lime de-
| lvered, and have incontrovcrtiLlc evil
dence as to thequantily of hair used, and
| the following statement should satisfy
anyone who has any practical or tbeo-
rctcal knowledge of the subject or who
has any confidence in tho established
authorities on the subject.
Tho work dono up to date amounts to
about 1850 yards, two coats. In this
6 to &c barrels of lime have boon used
and about 400 pounds OF hair. Esiima-
ting the amount of limo and hair re-
authorities, We have from M. f. E
kidder, c. e, in bis ''Architc IS and
Builders Pocket Book"
lair 225 pounds
From Mr.. Geo. II. Powell in his work
on Foundations" tho same estimate as
above.
From Mr.. Frank w. Vogdcs in his
Architects and builders Pocket Com
panion.'
Hair. 2G3 pounds
This last estimate corresponds closely
with tho practice OF the best
plastcrers here and with our
our own experience. the best evidence
hswover, is the very superior quality OF
ali plastering in tho building, which
has not frozen ana which has had time
TO set. We challenge q comparison OF
that with any lime plastcring.
The entire building was examined by
the board of public works on inc 7th and
they will Doubtless be heard from at the
proper time in RI gard TO the quality Of
the WORK.
TIE TINES futhor states that at the
request of the board of pubic worAs,
Wilson & Iluggins have condemned Ger.
tain work ana suggested its removal.
The work was condcnncl and ordered
removed at the proper time without
tho intorvo ntion of the board. Wa
heartily join TIE TINES in its request
for an investigation of The entire mat
ter. Ard we hope i'll justice to all par
ties c0nct r1cd, that the investigation
will be made thorough and searching,
and with no desire to whitowash any.
one, not oven THE TIMES
WILSON & HIGGINS.
Roanoke, December S, 1899.
II