The Washington times., 1902-08-18
Dynamite Not to Be Used
Until Top of Stack
Is Removed.
WORK NOT TO BE DELAYED
Fears of Residents Adjacent to the Old
Power House Square Responsible for
Postponement-How Some Monsters
Have Been Razed to Ground.

Postponement-How Some Monster,
Have Been Razed to Ground.
No date has yet been set when the
huge chimney which towers 14O feet
into the air on the ruins of the ole
powerhouse site is to be razed to the
ground. but it will probably not be un-
til the latter part of the week 1t has
been decided that all the debris shall be
removed from the square where the mu-
ncipal building is to be erected before
the Grand Army meets here early in Oc-
tober and it is desired that there be no
further delay in carrying out the plans.
Mr. James l.. Karrick. who secured
the contract for clearing the square on
which the chimney stands, is ready 10
fulfill his part of the transaction, and
has all plans prepared. 1t was intended
at first to raze the tower just as 1t
stands by the use of dynamite but some
of the residents in the neighborhood be-
came anxious and appealed to the Com
missioners. who in turn referred the
matter to Mr.. Karrick. The suggestion
was made that he remove a part OF the
chimney before throwing it over.
Commissioners Caused Delay.
Counter propositions were then made.
and the contractor accepted a proposal
made by the Commissioners. They
failed, however. to notify him of the re-
ceipt of his answer prior to leaving the
city to attend Senator McMillan's fu-
neral II is expected they will take final
action tomorrow. and work will imme-
diately be commenced removing about
twenty or thirty feet of the top OF the
chimney by hand.
AS the chimney is 40 feet in height.
this will leave about 10 or 120 feet still
standing, which will give good fall.
The chimney is fifteen feet square at
ten feet at the top.
While the work is gcing on at the top
mechanics will be engaged drilling holes
in the northeast and northwest corners
of the chimney about six feet from the
ground. These will be three feet in
height ana will extend about six feet
along the eastern and western wall from
the north end. BY cutting out about
five feet of the brick from both corners
on the north wall pier about five feet
in width Will be left 10 support this
side of the chimney.
Half-Pound Charges of Dynamite.
Three or four small holes will be
drilled in this pier and into these will
be put small charges of dynamite. about
half a pound in each hole. Only one
OF these will be fired at time, and
while ii is expected the first will topple
the chimney, in case it does not the
others will be ready The dynamite
will not cause loud explosion, but 1t is
expected the huge mass of brick viii
fall with crash.
In order TO afford further safety. guy
ropes viii be attached to the chimney
near the top and stretched toward the
north. Without this precaution. how
ever, Mr.. karrick says there is no doubt
that the chimney would fall in that di-
rection. He has no fear of any of the
bricks flying ont on the adjoining
streets. The fall will probably be given
ir midday.
Where Mistake Cost Lives.
The destruction OF a great chimney
Is often as skillful piece of engineer |
ing as was the construction of the same |
chimney \ defective chimney in Eng
land. falling. killed ifty-fo persons |
as it fell and destroyed 800. 600 OF prop |
erty, so that the matter of throwing |
one down without injury to life or prop
erty is not simple. II is thrilling
thing to see one of these giants fall. |
either accidentally or otherwise.
One Of the most daring feats of this
sort was performed in Manchester
England, few years ago monster
chimney $50 feet in height was to be |
destroyed. and the space for its fall was
only 200 feet in length. The chimney
had to telescope or injure something, |
and the something which was in d..cger |
was some valuable mill property
The lower walls Of :he stack were
cut away. leaving piers strong enough |
10 bear the superstructure Dynamite
sticks connected with a battery were
then employed. and so cleverly and so
safely was the work done that the mill |
hands were not sent out OF the mill save
for the few minutes of the explosion.
Scene Was Dramatic.
The scene was dramatic. The day
was very still. for the least breath of
wind might have done terrible damage.
The electric spark flashed 10 the dy-
Mantle and with a dreadful. deafening
roar the giant leaped as if in a death
agony. crumbled and fell in a heap. a
great pillar OF dust and mortar as
cended two hundred feet in the air and
formed fiat cloud, while dust scattered
for blocks around.
The debris covered an area not over
150 to I60 feet in width and not the least
damage was done TO life or property Il
was brilliant success.
Cleaned the Bricks of Mortar.
Ole curious incident noted was that
the friction of the falling bricks cleaned
them perfectly from mortar and other
matter. so that when they reached the
ground four ifths Of them were as clean
and ready for uss as when they first
came from the kiln. Yet the mortar
used was very high class. equal to mid
die class cement.
Another great shaft about 90n fea. In | {