Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-09
TAMPERING WITH THE WORK
What Has Been Done by the Government
Printing Office Engineer.
The Terra Gotta Covering of the Steel
Columns Removed as Well as
the Tie Rods Cut.

The fact that some of the tie rods binding
the steel pillars in the new portion of the
government printing office nave been cut by
the engineer in charge of the building, as
shown in The Star Saturday, is giving
rise to considerable comment regarding the
safety of that portion of the building. The
mere fact that five sets of these tie rods
have been taken out is not regarded SO
important as the declaration of Engineer
Reid. in effect that these tie rods answer no
useful purpose and might all have been dis
pensed with.
Purpose of the Tie Rods.
On the other hand, the tie rods were
placed in the iron work an important part
of the plan of construction, and it Is de-
clared that the iron work was made with
sufficient strength to secure safety only in
connection with the steel rods that bind it
together The construction of the building
is declared ample for all perpendicular
strains to which it is likely to be subjected
without the aid of the tie rods these rods
being used to counteract horizontal strains
that might be encountered because of a
heavy wind from the south.
AS related in The Star in addition to the
three sets of tie rods taken from the fourth
story of the building, which fact had been
called to the attention of Col. Wilson, super
intendent of public buildings and grounds,
by the engineer who designed and con-
structed the building. two sets of these rods
were taken from the third floor, one set
from each side OF the building. These ad-
ditional developments in the work of tam
perng with the building will be called to
the attention of Col Wilson in an official
way, and will doubtless be laid before Gen.
Craighll, chief of engineers of the army.
While it cost very little to cut the tie rods
from the iron work, it is said it will be an
expensive job to restore them, If 1t should
be decided to do SO. To replace the rods
Ln toar rfn Of
the flooring. brick arches and, perhaps, an
interference with the work of the walls
themselves
Terra Gotta Covering Removed.
Not only has the work of the new portion
of the building been tampered with in the
manner indicated, but the terra Gotta COW
erings of two of the steel pillars on the
fifth floor of the building have been re-
moved in order to make more room for
TIE machinery placed there. The steel pill
lars of the new building were covered With
terra Gotta SO that in case of a large fire
they might be protected from excessive
heat, which might cause them to bend, and
in the event of pillars carrying great
weight collapse of the structure would
be possible from that cause. =. 49,, ---l
1t is not likely that any official action
will be taken regarding the changes that
have been made in the construction of the
new building because Of the method pro-
vided for carrying the work. The
money for the construction was appropriat-
ed by Congress with the provision that 1t
should be carried on III. der the chief of en-
gineers. who should make report to the
joint committee on printing, of which Sena-
tor German Of Maryland is the chairman.
There is no doubt that the facts regarding
the printing office building, related in
The Star, will be called to the attention of
the committee, and 1t may result in legisia-
ton placing the responsibility for the safety
of public buildings under some reliable
engineer, while a penalty may be provided
for any case where an official not authoriZ-
ed to make changes IN the buildings
tanlpers with them in any way that may
result in weakening them. ...