Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-15

strengthen the floors where IL IL neces-
sary to use them for the accumulated
weights OF a library: Very cordisiy'
(Signcd) w. T.. CUTSHAW.
City Engineer.
I heard nothing more from this until
between ~ and | o'clock on Saturday. the
18th. when Il was explained TO he by you
tina the second hoor of the building was
the one I'm question. and that the ladies
were already preparing this room for the
banquet. and that Mr.. Thomas. the
builder. had assured you that there was
no danger In using this room In his re-
port. as follows:
RICHMOND, VA.
Mrs. James Lyons.-At your request
I would state the floor Will carry more
than double the weight of the sixty-four
persons tha wanted to he seated In room.
VERY respectfully.
(Signed) JOSEPH w. THOMAS"
After talking that matter over with
yourself. Mrs. Robinson. and Mrs. Camni,
and learning that II was the second noor
you wished to know about. and not the
third floor. I stated that | would send
Mr.. Bates and Mr. Baskerville to the build
ing by . o'clock. and after their examine
ton and. report ! advised you 90 be- gov
crned 10y Il. Their report was as follows.
RICHMOND. VA. Jan. Il. 1895.
Mrs. Russell Robinson, President:
"My Dear Madam. Pursuant to Colonel
Cutsnaw's instructions, MIR. Bates' and ]
have made an examination of the second
floor of the Virginia Historical Society
building, with results as follows:
Size OF floor joists. 2l-2xl2.
Centre to centre OF joists In front-room.
1-6.
centre to entire Of joists in baok-room.
Is.
distance between bearings OF joists.
49,.
safe load for each joist DISTRIBUTED.
1866 pounds.
LOAD N each joist:
weight OF ioist. l3j pounds.
weight Of floor. 1862 pounds.
weight OF plaster, 10S pounds.
Live load. at 100 pounds per square
foot. 3.0ii pounds. Total. .. H9 pounds.
Excess OF possible load over safe load
for each joist. 73 pounds.
Il. therefore. conclude that the floor is
not safe for any large assemblage, though
1t is amply so for the purpose for which
1t was b~uilt-that is. as a dwelling.
"Mr. Bates's report OF the 9Th instant.
as reported by Colonel Cutshaw TO Mrs.
Lyons, only referred to the third floor.
as he understood that the question YOU
wished settled was whether that floor
was overloaded with books.
VERY truly yours.
CSigned) "HENRY T.. BASKERVILLE"
I believe that this is as complete a state
ment as / can make Of the matter.
Very respectfully.
W. T.. CUTSHAW.
As soon as Mrs. Lyons, who besides be-
ing vice-president OF the society was the
active and efficient chairman Of the Com
mittee of Arrangements for the ban
Quet. had received Colonel Cut
shaW's letter of the 9th. she
went to Ny. Joseph w. Thomas. builder.
and he gave her his opinion. as stated
in above letter. She also saw the secre-
tary of the Virginia Historical Society.
Mr.. Bruce. about moving the books in
third story, and made arrangements with
him to have the weight on part Of the
floor removed. This was done. and the
following letter explains itself:
RICHMOND. VA. Jan. II, 1895.
Mrs. James Lyons:
Dear Malam-At your request I make
the following statement:
ION Saturday. at the time Of making
the examinations Of the second floor Of
the Virginia Historical building. | inform
ed you that If YOU would remove certain
bookcases and books in the rooms on
the third floor. and would lock these
rooms and prevent any one from going
IN them. that there could be no danger
from this floor. You at once employed
men. and the cases and books were re-
moved under my direction.
VERY respectfully, s. ED. BATES"