The San Francisco call., 1898-05-19

gendered by number of stoves recently placed in the quarters Of the heavy ar building had not been occupied for some time the wooden stringerS and pillars supporting the different floors had ab- sorbed considerable moisture which the heat of the stoves, together with the ven- tilation of the building, caused to evap- crate rapidly and in so doing the shrink ing of the timbers naturally resulted in their becoming checked.
 Lieutenant Colonel w. J. Fife, com manding the First and Second Battalions of Washington Volunteers, together with a number of carpenters and maSonS, made a hurried inspection Of the quarters, and after consulting with the officers of the two battalions concluded that there was no danger of the building collapsing, and were soon wrapped in peaceful Slumber glad to know that the comforts which they have enjoyed since coming here will not be taken from them. Colonel Fife even sent a request to General Merriam asking that the Washington troops be permitted to remain in their present guar ters, which request General Merriam granted as soon as he aScertained the safety of the building.
 The removal of the heavy artillery was done before any insspecti4n n, of the prem, prem caused by the checking of the timbers was first brought to Captain Geary's at tention he deemed 1t wise to use every exist and was perhaps Representative for the safety of his men, as subsequent events C1SclOSSQ-
 The removal of the four batteries of the heavy artillery to the Presidio Barracks yesterday was in compliance with in- structions heretofore received by Major Rice. the commanding officer of the bat talion, to take station at the Presidio inn mediately upon receipt of uniforms. As the men were supplied yesterday the or der was necessarily obeyed.
 As soon as the matter of the supposed insecurity of the warehouse was brought a thorough tnVaStipatinO n be made by Captain Ruhen, who, after fully satisfying himself from an expert inspection of the premises, made the fol- lowing detailed report:
 Headquarters Department of Calfornia-Office
 of the Chief Quartermaster.
 SAN FRANCISCO, May 1S 1S9S
 The Adjutant- General, Department of Cali forna-Sir: I have the honor to report that, in company with F. J. H. Rickon civil en- 1 proceeded ito the Fontana x Co. warehouse. near Fort Mason, in this city. to investigate certain reports relative to alleged deficiencies in the strength of that building.
 I examined every floor of the building, accom- 1nanding the First and Second Battalions of Washington Volunteers, now quartered there, and by Mir. Rickon, from the basement to the top, and found nowhere any indication of weak ness.
 The walls of the first story of hard brick, laid in cement mortar, and are 27 inches thick; those on the fourth story are IT inches thick. The wooden columns supporting the floor beams tar, capped with large stone.
 The building is constructed on the best sys- tenn of so-caled mill construction. All it's walls. floor beams and trusses of extraor dinary strength, and in my judgment it will accommodate on each floor, with perfect com fort and safety, regiment of 1000 men.
 The supports of the floor beams heavy wooden columns extending from the basement piers to the third hoor.s Owing to the fact that the building has been unoecupied for some time these columns and some of the beams have become damp. The checking caused by shrtnkage due to the heat from adjacent stoves probably produced the cracking noises said to have been heard by some of the occupants.
 Colonel Fife authorizes me to say that pre- vous to my arrival he had caused examina- tion to be made by some of the men of his command who are experienced mill contractors, lumbermen and builders. and had arrived at cause for alarm, and he fully concurs in the opinion herein expressed that the building is not Hs, only safe' but unusnaly gEnyc strong Captain and Assistant Quartermaster. U. s. A.
 Chief Quartermaster of the Department of
 California.
 Yesterday before the army inspection was made The Calls expert was n- structed to examine the building and pre- sent report. An examination was made according to instructions and the follow ing report submitted:
 All the posts of Oregon pine, 12 inches in diameter and perfectly sound There are 27 posts that show season cracks. possibly caused by the heat from stoves. The floor above is supported by stringers, 12x12. resting on the tops of the posts and only one of these shows point where 1t was heavily ironed Each post Is single tree and the cracks in no place ex- tend beyond the heart of the tree and 1t would be impossible for them to collapse
 The first floor is not occupied. The artillery troops were on the second floor. The two floors above are occupied by the Washington troops Major Carr of the Washington Battalion. who is a practical builder, pronounces the building Company F, First Regiment Washington Vol unteers, says he has entire confidence in inc Oregon fir posts to hold up even under twice