New-York tribune., 1895-10-02
THE DIsINTEGRATION OF SToNEwORK

IT-AMERICAN INGENUITY SUCCESS
FUL IN CHECKING 1T.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In your issue Of the 18th inst. appeared an
article respecting the destruction of the stonework
OF ancient buildings monuments etc, and referring
partIcularly to the grand old European cathedras,
obesks" otc naming Winchester and Salisbury
cathedrsls and the Houses of Parliament OF Eng
land / have examined these buildings and many
others OF like character in England and Europe and
bear witness to the sad rayases caused by the
weather on their exposed surfaces IL is even feared
that splendid spire Of Salisbury Cathedral Is de-
cayed and weakened to such extent that II can
not be repaired. For this same reason the two
brownstone spires of St Georges Church. New-York,
recently removed.
But IN climates like those Of Europe and OF this
country ought any other result to be expected? The
decay" OF stone is the action OF a natural law. The
everlasting hills apparently so indesructble are
only the grea; storehouses in which Is locked up
the food supply Of all vegetable and animal lie:
II stone had been some desire, ndestructibe and
insoluble then this earth would have been simply
sphere OF rock and water vegetation could not have
existed. any animal life. hence man could not
have been: therefore. zee that these 'ravages
OF time and actually necessary 10 begin
and carry the purposes OF The Creator. and HIS
great wisdom is also shown In the fact that. as a
rue. only the exposed surfaces acted upon
so that year by year thin layer Is dsintegrated by
the action OF water frost etc. and carried by rain
falls the earths surface TO supply the n eds
OF animal and vegetable life required. seemingly
In to the Chrst-taught prayer. Give this
day daily bread"
II the inorganic elements OF the earth necessary
to support vegetation. had been all soluble at the
same time. they would have been dissolved ages
ago and made the earth's surface level saturated
hud. In which scarcely anything could have lived
certainly not men nor dry land animals and vegeta-
ton All the Inorganic elements of what is called
soil" also those OF clays. sandstones etc, we're
solid rock
The "frlghfully poisonous" air OF cities Increases
the resolving functions OF water stone through
the presence OF suphurous and carbonc acid gases
siven of by the burning OF coal, which gases are
absorbed and brought down by the rain. hut for
the presence OF water these gases would not affect
stone. Taking stone from the quarry and putting
II into buildings exposes 1t at once 10 the desruc
I've action Of the moisture In the ar and decay"
results.
Paris Rome and New-York' and say they have
presented few ravages Of time until lately: thar Is
Il solely due difference OF climate Egyp; Is dry
and warm whereas the cities referred TO are sub
jsct to wet and cold atmospheric conditions hence
You further say that "tho authorities are en-
deavoring in vain to md means for arres;!ng the
which were hewn out OF Egyptian granite more
than three thousand years age" That !; quite cor
many lneneciual attempts have been made to save
their; but happily II is not so with ours. As usual
American energy ana enterprise ahead, and, OF
ove- nfty ooeilsks taken from Egypt. New-York
enjoys The d.s,lncton o. no, only rossessing the
OF it's having alto the only one ~ thoroughly pre-,
ssrvod that even tiis climate has no Injurious ef
feet uron 1t. though II is unquestonsbly. more
we're on s,ene than tha, q any other country pos
sessIng an Egyptian cbelisk.
Erected & n %i ~ the t tUsatrsi rSgS ,h,s .o Ssars
we. @ found to be rapidly failing to piece1 By The