The morning call., 1895-01-25
THE SITE ALL RIGHT.
Colonel George II. Mendell
Says It Is Solid.
is HARD CLAY and sand.
1t Will Bear Amy Structure Placed
Upon 1t.
no EXTRA PILING TO BE REQUIRED.
A Further Test Will Not Change the
COlOnels Opinion The Building
Will Surely Go Up.
is HARD CLAY And SAND.
10 EXTRA PILING TO Be REQUIRED.

Colonel George n. Mendell, division
engineer of the Pacific Coast, does not
consider the Postoff1ce site bad one.
In fact, he says it is far better than some
of the foundations upon which Chicago's
big warehouses are built, and equal to any
of the foundations to be found east of
Kearny street in this city. He thinks there
are no difficulties to overcome, and that
considering the large area the building
will cover it will not be necessary to even
pile small portion of the space.
When Colonel Mendell was seen at his
residence last night he was not aware that
the site was again under fire. Having been
away the greater portion of the day he had
not seen the morning papers and conse-
quently did not know what was being done
in Washington. He was handed copy of
THE CALL, and read aloud the following
from an interview with Mr.. Loud: "My
colleague, Judge Mcguire, and myself
reluctantly consented to the appointment
of commission to bore the lot again. and
while we are satisfied and all reasonable
people are satisfied that the lot is a suitable
one, we consented to further examination
in order to secure this mere pittance of
S0U,OOU.
''The House then passed the item appro-
priating $4,000, with the proviso that
board of army engineers shall examine the
site and report before work is commenced"
After considering the above for few
seconds Colonel Mendell said: 81 have
received no instructions from Washington.
If am to make a thorough examination
of the Postoffice site 1 will get my orders
from the War Department. The chances
are, however, that there is a mistake some
where. The Treasury Department has its
own engineers and they may be detailed to
do the work instead of the corps of engi-
neers. If the army officers are wanted the
orders will have to come through the Sec
rotary of War;"
"Were you present at any of the previous
borings and tests made on the Postoffice
site, colonel?"
time that they were going on. The foun-
dation is as good as most of those in this
city. 1t is composed of sand and clay, and
while not as good as rock, still it is good
enough to build upon without piling. 1t
is certainly not bog, and when some of
the newspapers called it swamp they
were exaggerating. The site covers large
area, and as the structure will not be as
tall as the Mills building it is as safe and
desirable a site, in my opinion, as any in
San Francisco. Of course I think that
more money was paid for the lot than it
was or is worth, but then that is only my
opinion. If / am ordered to make another
examination of course 1 will do So but
Judging from what I saw when the former
borings were made I think the foundation
is all right"
''You formed your opinion then from
what you saw while the last tests were be-
ing nader"
"Wen, what else would I have to go
upon? saw what the drills brought up,
and judged accordingly. No piling will
be necessary, and a good solid building can
be erected without much trouble. Even if
plies had to be used good foundation
could be made. Many of our warehouses
east of Kearny are on pile foundations and
they are as stable as any structures in the
city. 1 do not think a further test will
change my opinion, although one never
knows what will happen"
Colonel Mendell has formed his opinion
as to the suitableness of the Postoffice site
from actual observations. If ordered to do
SO he will make further test of the land,
but he does not expect to discover any
thing that will make him change his mind.
In that event the whole matter will be set
tied in short order and work on the build
ing will begin at once,