The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-08
BACK TO WORK.
Santa Fe Office Walls Are Now
Considered Safe.
Force of Men Completed Work
at Midnight.
MR.. NUDGE EXPLAINS.
Says That the Building Is Now
Absolutely Safe.
Heavy Timbers Are Used For
Temporary Supports.

Work in all departments of the Santa
Fe general offices was resumed at eight
o'clock this morning after officials,
clerks and other employees of the COM
pany within the buileing had been sent
home Monday forenoon in order 10
avoid any serious consequence that
might result from the possible collapse
of a portion of the wall in the east side
eff the central hallway. A force Of
hriclz-masons and laborers We're kept
busy Monday until midnight, when
such repairs had been made as in the
opinion of the Officers rendered the
place safe
In a statement today General Man
ageF Nudge said that there had been
a no time any danger to the building
as a whole. but there was a possibility
that me wall reaching from the base
ment to the first floor might have
fallen and owing to the prominence of
the locality In which the breach ex-
listed it was thought prudent to let the
entire offices force go home. The
building" said he is absolutely safe
and has been so all the time There
has been no danger whats War except i'll
the immediate vicinity of that wall. 1t
was feared that 1t might fall one way
or the other although other parts of
the structure were safe. The only req
son for dismissing the whole force was
that the defect was in prominent
place and there. were those more or less
curious who were likely to stop and be
in the way if there should be any col
lapse. Further than that there was not
the least reason for alarm"
Nar. Nudge worked in his office all
Monday afternoon.
J. NJ. Hayes, custodian of the build
ing, declares it is all right now so far
as safety is concerned. Heavy timber
supports have been placed in the space
formerly occupied by the wall which
had to be- torn away in order that the
ing might be removed. From state
ments gathered here and there it is evil
dent that the buekling of this section
OF the wall has been known to a few
for some time Sunday however the de-
feet became SO apparent that there was
apprehension that it might give way a
any time, and worknlen We're at once
hunted up and put to the job of re-
before the wall viii have been rebuilt
and strengthened. as little of the new
material had arrived today
Seven people in the cashiers depart
ment carried on their duties Monday
afternoon in the Offices of the Mount
Carmel CCal company on West Ninth
street, adjoining the general offices
grounds Today the young women
clerks in the treasurer's Office are wear
ing hastily improvised bonnets made
from newspapers and shaped much like
the headgear. of a British admiral in or
der that their hair may not become
powdered with the flying dust of dried
mortar which the workmen are stirring
uD.
This incident regarding the weakness
of the building has given rise to a ru-
NOR that eventually the company will
construct a steel fire-proof building to
the east Of the Offices to be used for the
storage of the voluninous documents
which are responsible for much of the
additional weight that has been put
upon the structure within the last few
years. It is said that the Santa Fe
owns sufficient ground on the east to
give room for such a building and it
could be easily made to connect with
the present building.
The Santa Fe general offices head
quarters was built more than 20 years
ago when the company was badly in
need of a home, and the work was nee
essarily carried on with all possible
speed. 1t is related that a Leavenworth
firm was offered the contract provided
it would complete it within a specified
time, a penalty of $500 to be imposed
for every day over this time consumed
in finishing the building. The .contrac-
tors reversed the proposition agreeing to
undertake the job within the desired
time, provided they received $500 a day
for the work. This was agreed to and
the edifice was brought to completion 30
I days before the agreement stipulated.
For it the builders received the sum of
/ $4,000.