The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-05-05

may prove unstable and as the precious HUes OF
your children and teachers are involved, we
cannot but feel conscientiously obliged to be
more than cautious
1 therefore am compelled to conclude that
the only absolutely safe course is to abandon
the use of the present building. In its present
! condition, without repairs, it is not fit to be
used for any other purpose and, should it
collapse, It might do serious damage, So il it is
decided to abandon it, il should be promptly
| taken down.
| If, however in view Of all the conditions, the
Board desire that the structure shall not be
sacrificed, would state that have considered
| several plans for it's rescue.
Should it be decided to endeavor to preserve
the whole structure, all the present foundation
walls should be removed, part at time, and
replaced with thoroughly good rubble masonry,
laid in the very best American cement mortar.
These new walls should be thick at base and
the upper walls should be substantially tied,
This work should not be done by contract but
by days work, by highly skilled masons under
constant and most competent supervision, all
of the materials being purchased by the Board.
Additional stone, also, would no doubt be re-
quired for headers, for in lack of bond, and
other respects, these foundations are perhaps
the worst / ever saw in a building Of this
character. I estimate that to do this work
properly would cost about 5000.
Another plan would be to remove the upper
story and lower the roof, thus altering the
building to a two story one, but l would moi
trust the present foundations with even this
diminished weight without extensive repairs tc
them, and therefore consider that the tota
cost would probably be about the same
have considered, also, plan for the re
I moval of the third and second stories and thei
replacement by two frame stories, forming
building similar to many that have been built
but have concluded that it would be bette
and more satisfactory to replace the who'll
structure with frame, than to adopt this plan.
If you decide upon the tearing down of tn
building and the substitution Of frame one
3 large number of the bricks should be used Il
, build proper fire escape. These himsy irol
stairways, passing in front Of windows iron
which volumes of flames are almost certain T.
issue, are sham and a fraud. After mucl
careful attention to this subject am convince
, that the only good practicable fire escape is
substantial brick tower with safe stairwa
! therein, the tower to be located far from tn
building and connected with each floor by opel
! bridges.
The balance of the bricks could be sold, an
luuCu Ol lLt OlutI IldIcIldl III lut pItStu
building used over again, thus diminishing tn
Q cost of a new one The cost OF a new fran
f building would depend largely upon it's styl
and finish, and estimates and designs can b
furnished as soon as these points are generall
determined.
j In conclusion 1 would say that I have neve
a had structural problem involving so muc
9 difficulty and uncertainty have tried hard t
It devise means to save your building and, wer
q there no doubt as to the stability OF the groun
=, underneath, believe it could be done with tn
assurance of permanent safety
Respectfully submitted,