The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-26

Visitors viewing the ruins Of College
Hall, at the State Agricultural School on
the slope of Kingston Hill, are impressed
by the CHASTITY appearance OF the front
wall, the only IN now standing, which
was preserved by the bracing effect OF
two bow windows extending from the
base TO the summit. Although washed
by recent heavy rains, the eastern
side is blackened by smoke in many
places; while the other, which was
largely protected from smoke by the
strong westerly breeze blowing at the
time of the fire, is Of the pale ashen-gray
colorof granite which has been subjected
to unusual heat. Already the action of
the elements has begun to slowly crum-
BILE many OF the stones. From some of
them one can separate scales with his
fingers.
In this wall, above and a little 10 the
south of what vas the front porch, is a
gaping crack, nearly vertical, several feet
in length, and but slightly zigzag. Above
and below it the wall is intact, showing
that it is a structural fault. Its mere
existence shows that the workmen laid
several courses of stone without break
ing joints in this particular place, and
also that their work was not care
fully watched by a competent su-
pervisor. Its present prominence shows
that the stones were shrunk by the fer
vent heat, the crack opening as i'm a
piece OF wood held too near a stove.
The fact that the fire was wholly on the
east side while the heat on the west side
was somewhat diminished by the cold
wind blowing toward it, shows that the
two sides of the wall were subjected to
unequal degrees of heat, and hence that
every stone was more or less wrenched,
just as a board is warped. The more
unequal the heat was, the greater was
the wrenching or warping.
Not far from the lower end OF this
crack is a long stone which serves as a
window coping, n end of which rests
but slightly, perhaps not more than two
inches, upon its supporting stone. Had
the crack reached the end of this coping
and the latter become loosened from its
slight support, it is quite probable that
no serious results would have occurred
under ordinary conditions; but IL such a
thing had occurred when College Hall
was crowded at a reception, especially
IL any rush or panic had ensued, the
possibilities are not pleasant to contem-
plate.
This was by no means the only evil
dence Of poor work in the building. Two
the chimneys, as Don as the fire re-
leased them from the support of the
toppled over, but not in the
direction of the strong west wind blow
ing at the time. One tumbled almost
at right angles to the wind, taking with
it a large part of the north wall.
A third chimney. it is said,
until the FIRE had
smouldered to a heap of ashes. and even
then, although swayed visibly by a stiff
breeze, remained erect until demolished
by dynamite. IL the three chimneys
were all properly built, it does not seem
that two would have fallen so quickly,
while the third remained SO long. Pos
'ibly one Of these chimneys Is RESPONSE
Die for the fire.
1t will be remembered that all bids
or constructing the old dormitory were
and the work was done under
he direction of those connected with
he school, causing considerable dissat-
among the contractors, who
Ifterward made comments not wholly
ommendatory Of the work done.
1t is said that the attempted rebuilding
( the dormitory is progressing in some
hing Of the old happy-go-lucky way,
nd that some Of the roasted stones are
Lsed in the new walls. Surely the
ublic has a right to demand greater
are and judgment in the erection of a
Of this kind. 1t is not
nough that the laborers are honest, un-
'ss the supervision is competent, care
al and constant. 1t was not enough
nat BUDDENsIEK did not plan, or even
nat he did not wish, for his buildings
, collapse. They should have been
properly. No chances should be
,ken in such matters.
Besides, nobody has any authority to
the rebuilding that is now
Ding on.