Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-11
DO NOT DREAD DANGER
Employees of the Post Office Repair Shop
Continue at Work.
Measures Will Probably he Taken Mt
Once to Strengthen the
Unsafe Structure.

Some days ago Second Assistant Post
master General Nelson requested Building
Inspector Entwisle to examine the large
warehouse at 479 and 4Si street north
west, the five floors of which are used by
the Post Office Department for the purpose
of repairing the mail bs gs and the manu-
facture and repair of mail bag and post
office locks generally. Inspector Entwisle
complied with the request and also sent an
assistant, Mr.. Fermillion, to inspect the
two elevators in the building, and the fire
escape in the rear. The rerorts of these
officials were sent to Mr.. Nelson yester-
day. and shows that the result of their
joint examination has been to discover a
somewhat dangerous COZ 6ition of the struc-
ture.
The Inspectors Report.
Mr.. Entwjsle's report states that he found
the capacity of the floor joists would allow
the safe loading of 40 pc unds to the square
foot, and as hear as he ootid estimate the
second third and fourth floors are in p3r-
lions loaded far in excess of their capacity
They were therefore unsafe at those points
The Orders ard columns carrying the floor
are as far as he could determine sufficient
Tor the loading. The side and front walls
are slightly sprung at about the line of the
third floor. which he was satisfied occurred
before the brick work was entirely finished
There had not to his view been any mo-
ton since that time. The walls about that
floor are not Of sufficient thickness for the
extreme loading, and, not on account of
tEelr carrying power, but on account Of
their thickness, are liable to spring and be-
come dangerous considering the great num-
Der of persons employed in this building
1t was l1r. Entwisle's opinion that as the
building Is loaded at present the lives of the
people are endangered, and the building
should at once be relieved of the excessive
loading. The building being under the con-
troll of officers of the United States govern
ment 1t is under the law not in his power
to order any change.
Elevators Need Safeguards.
Mr.. Vermilllons report, which was for
warded with the building inspectors recited
that he had inspected the elevators and
found that they were used for passenger
service, and that the platforms on the cars
should be inclosed. The elevator shafts
did not have proper Enclosure. At present
they had sliding frames about three feet
six incnes in height. MIR. Vermillion recon-
mended that this evil should be remedied
by substituting iron telescope doors and
frames. More attention is necessary to OIL
ing and care of moving parts of the ma
chlnery. The hosting cable and slipper
rope in north elevator are defective The
south car Is In good condition except loose
sheave overhead. which has not been oiled
The fire escapes appear to be ample II
does not agree with the District regulations
was not erected under the supervision of
TINS once. and consequently the assistant
inspector could not vouch for its strength.
Work Going on as Usual.
A visit to the building this morning did
not discover any feeling of dread or appre-
hens'on of danger on the part of the en-
ployes in the mail bag repair rooms or In the
icck repairing department, which, with its
machinery, occupies a large portion of the
NTH floor. Superintendent Cullen said he
had heard no employe express any alarm
ABOUT remaining at work in the building,
ana that the regular daily routine was being
prosecuted as usual. To-Day was the time set
for the annual sale of old and abandoned ma
terial that collects In the raoair shops dur
ing the year, and Auctioneer Walter Il
Williams was holding forth to a thick crowd
OF persons who had assembled to bid for
bargains, undeterred by fear of falling walls
or sinking floors. The rows of large iron pill
lars supporting the center of the various
floors. and continuing from the ground floor
TO the roof, are regarded by the employees
as being abundantly able to support ali the
weight that Is ever placed upon them, and.
consequently, Mr.. Entwisle's report was not
given the serious attention it deserved by
the men and women most interested in the
safety of the structure.
Immediate improvements Probable.
At the Post Office Department, Acting
Second Assistant Postmaster General Stone
said that the repoit is of Messrs Entwisle
and Nermtllion were received yesterday
while Mr.. Nelson was absent, and as he
expressed 1t, were warm yet"
Mr.. Stone said Mr.. Nelson had been NOV
ed TO have the expert examination of the c.
street building made because of the album
can't caution he desired to exercise in behalf
or the employees who worked in it, and that
ne had every reason to believe that upon
Mr.. Nelson's return measures would be
taken to insure the future safety of the
structure I'm every respect