Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-17

Last evening a special meeting of the
Board of Education was held to take up
ing, about which there has been more
or less alarm for some time past among
the people of the district.
The Commissioners from Centre sub
mitted a very brief report, transmitting
the following preliminary report from
the experts whose names are appended:
wheeling, w. Va, January 16, '99.
"To the Commissioners of Centre Dis
trict.
"Gentlemen:-We made on Saturday,
January 14th, and Monday, January
18th, a joint examination of the school
building in Centre district, and re-
spectfully submit the following report:
1.-THE foundation of the building
rests upon two-inch planks about two
feet below the paving of the cellar.
Where the foundation has been opened
these plankS have decayed, and in
some cases have turned into a soft
pulp. Where the ground is wet the
plank show a fair state of preservation;
but where the ground is dry the plank
have entirely d~ecayed. The soil on
which the building stands is of swamp
formation, containing considerable
quantities of sand, which in places
closely approaches qu%icksand. While
such a formation does not afford an
ideal foundation, yet with proper plans
and careful construction it is entirely
practicable to construct a foundation
on such soil that will insure the per-
feet safety of the superstructure.
considering the nature of the
foundation, the building is in a much
better condition than might have been
anticipated. The accompanying dia-
gram showing the levels Of the foun-
dation at different points entirely
around the building, will show quite a
uniform settlement. There is a varia-
ton of one and three-quarter inches in
the base course, the highest point be-
ing at the east side of the north en-
trance, and the lowest point at the west
wall of room No. 1, at the southwest
corner of the building. The second
story sill course, as far as a~scertained,
is practically parallel with the base
course, which shows a settlement OF
the building after erection.
"The tower leans three-quarters of
an inch to the south. and the southwest
n Of the building leans south
about two and one-half inches. The
north corner of the building leans
south about half an inch, and the wall
at the south entrance leans south
about one inch.
This also shows that the settle
ment has been greater toward the
southwest. While it is impossible to
determine the total settlement of the
building or any part of the same, 1t Is
probable that the entire building has
settled so uniformly as to cause no
serious vertical fractures in the walls.
The building has acted very much as
a solid pier of masonry in it's settle
ment. The uniform settlement of an
isolated building causes little or no
damage. 1t is the unequal settlement
that causes the damage.
"The foundation wall on the north
side OF room No. l shows a slight
crack running from a point ten feet
east of the front wall OF the room. up
diagonally towards the front Of the
building.
we found in the foundation a cur
ious and unexpected condition of af-
fairs to exist. In some places. the
planking is not in contact with the
earth beneath. In others the fOoters
were not in contact with the planking,
and in still others the foOters were not
in contact with the foundation walls
above. In our opinion, three causes
have been operating to undermine or
settle the building. First, the settle
ment of the ground, which could be
caused by one Or more Subterranean
water courses, which, operating for
many years, have carried out the par
ticles of sand and earth; second, the
foundation has insufficient width of
base, thus causing the planking to set
tie in the soft earth; third, the decay
of the planking in many places.
"The building, with the exception of
the foundation, is in good condition.
and proper action taken promptly will
preserve it and render it perfectly safe
and secure.
1--WE make the following recommend
atoms: First, that a more complete
examination of the foundation be auth
orized.
Second, where the conditions of the
1OdAbiIAOh 4 cdCl 40 ~ CIIudlSS1 llle
safety and permanancy of the build
ing, it be remedied Immediately.
Third, that the foundation be I'M
derpinned and a broad foundation.
composed of steel beams and concrete,
be constructed.
IN. F. GIESEY. Architect.
"a. L. WHITE, City Engineer"
At the conclusion of the reading Mr..
Noble asked Engineer White if the
walls could be put back into plumb, to
which Mr.. White responded that it
could be done. but the expense would
scarcely Justify the work, as the walls
were very little out of line. Mr.. Noble
then asked if there would be any
trouble about putting a new foundation
under the building. and Mr.. White said
no; that the building could be moved
to another location, if that was desir-
able.
Mr.. Dudley moved that rule 10 of the
Board be suspended for the appoint
mont IF oOpo nittooc fho+ tho 1,o44o-