Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1894-12-21
THE HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
The Stonemasons' Mo Report on tn,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Not
Followed,

IL eultsODs Union Report Oh Jhe
neutrality-suspicious. Not
Followed.
The following report has been handed
THE TRIBUNE with a request for its pub.
LEGATION from a committee of stone
masons who have been employed on the
high school building under Mckay Bros.
The report is endorsed by the Stone
masons' union:
GREAT FALLS, Dec. 10, 1894.
Editor of the Tribune:
AS it has been rumored that some of
the work on the new high school build
ing has been poor workmanship, and
this is attributed to mechanics working
on the building, and as we believe in JUS
tice to all, the Great Falls Stonemasons'
union has appointed a committee to ex-
anime the plans and specifications for
the new high school building, and Or
dered them to compare the work on the
building with the specifications. The
committee was composed Of masons
working on the building from the time
the work was started until the contractor
stopped work. These men, the Stone
masons' union think better qualified
to know how the work was
done. than any committee that can view
the work as it stands at present.
In regard to the footings ON said build
ing we would say that over two-thirds of
them are through stone, and a great
many of them are larger than the speci-
tications call for. All of the masons
working on said building agree that they
are the best lot OF footings aver used in
Great Falls. The specifications call for
two courses Of footings, n Is inches
and the other II inches in thickness.
Where the extra thick stone ia the upper
stone of IL inches is left off. W. con
slider that one stone 25 inches
thick is better than two stones
q inches in thickness. We would
further state that we do not consider
that footings we're necessary at all, as
they we're on bedrock. We will say that
there are three courses of footings under
the tower wall, and that the circle is not
a part of the tower.
In regard to mortar we would say that
in some instances the cement mortar was
not up to the specifications, and in
others it was over better than the epeci-
fications called for.
The specifications call for headers
every four feet in length and two feet i n
height. We would report as to headers,
that az it is sometimes impossible to get
stone to 60 through such thick walls.
There we're some lacking in this founda-
ton, but in such instances the
wall is bounded with a three
quarter bond which is considered equally
as good az through headers by all prac-
teal stonemasons.
The Trades and Labor council com
mittee report that some of the cut stone
is unfit to be used. We fail to agree
with them as regards the cut stone. We
think the quality OF the stone will cor.
respond favorably with other stone used
in buildings in this city.
We find that the joints in the cut
stone are in some instances larger than
the specifications call for.
We find the east wall ia not quite true
to the line, which is the fault OF the ma
sons, as owing to the high winds prevail
ing at the time the wall was built it wal
almost impossible to keep lines straight
In regard to the cut stone separating
from the backing, we fail to find it ex
ceptlng in mi place, and we attribute
that to the frost as this same pier is vel
bonded with anchor irons.
We find that the center partition wal
is out OF plumb on n end.
We would state further that it ia tn
opinion of the masons who have worke'
on the high school foundation that tn
foundation will carry a four-story build
ing; and w do not think there can b
found a competent and fair minded me
chanic to say otherwise.
JAMES Ericsson.
ROBERT II. H~EDDERMAN,
JOHN MAINLAND,
Committee.
Endorsed by the Stonemasons' unto
OF Great Falls.