The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-07
CRUMBLING.
Walls of Santa Fe Office Build
ing Giving Way.
Clerks and Employees Dismissed
Before Noon.
FEARED CATASTROPHE.
General Manager Nudge Issued
the Order.
Condition Was First Noticed in
Treasurer's Office.
GUARDS ARE STATIONED
No One is Allowed to Enter the
Building.
Efforts Being Made to Repair
the Walls.
Temporary Quarters May Have
to Be Secured
GUARDS ARE STATIONED

Every clerk and employe in the Santa
Fe general office building was told to
quietly leave the building at Il O'Clock
today. A few Of the curious We're told
when they asked that the building was
settling and was considered unsafe.
Very few knew that The magnificent
structure-the pride of Topeka-was in
imminent danger of collapse. Few knew
that if they remained an appalling ca
tastrophe which would bring sorrow and
suffering to thousands of people
might ensue.
The men and women passed out Of the
building and in careless nonehalance
passed down Kansas avenue and to
their homes. The officials who knew the
true state Of affairs breathed easier. The
big building had been cleared and the
danger of a fatal calamity had passed.
FOUNDATION CRUMBLEs.
The middle wall of the building is sup
ported by mere shell Of brick and NOR
ter In the hasement The building was
abandoned this morning at II o'clock,
the 500 employees being dismissed.
The foundation of the center wall was
found to be crumbling away this morn
ing on account Of the enormous weight
above it. There is great danger of the
walls falling and General Manager H.
u. Nudge this morning decided that it
was unsafe for the building to be oceu-
pied and ordered all the offices, except
the telegraph room. closed indefinitely.
All the officials and employees. except the
operators, left the building at IL o'clock
this morning.
The danger to the building is caused
by the foundation OF the center wall of
the building crumbling beneath the
enormous weight Of the stationery and
Office fixtures in the five stories above
The weakened wall is being supported
by jacks and beams and a large force
of workmen is endeavoring to rebuild
the foundation before the walls crumble
TELEGRAPHERs REMAIN.
Only the telegraphers remain in the
building. The weakest part of the wall
which is in danger, is directly under the
main hall and the treasurer's office of
the first floor and is the east wall Of the
main hallway. The telegraphers' room
is on the fourth floor in the southwest
corner of the building. the most remote
Offices from the danger point 1t
was impossible to stop the work of the
telegraph department. They are not
thought to be in any immediate danger.
The weakened wall is in the basement
of the building near the boiler room A
portion of the wall about 20 feet long
between two openings is buckIing which
means it is sprung out. The wall is
about IS inches thick and built of brick
The bricks are soft and suddenly began
crumbling and buckling. The weakness
was first noticed Saturday and a force
or men Went to work on the wall Sun
day, while the Offices We're vacant. hop
ing TO stop further crumbling
The tearing away of part of the wall
TO allow the temporary jacks and beams
10 be placed IN position weakened the
wall still more and necessitated aban-
doning the building. The shelves and
cases, used for storing records and sta
tionery of various kinds in the offices
aDONer were placed on either side of the
wall, that being the strongest portion of
the floors. The weight of paper has
gradually been increasing until it is too
great for the weakened wall
MR.. NUDGE EXPLAINS.
General Manager Nudge left the
building with the rest and was at his
home at noon when seen by a State
Journal reporter. Il decided that il
was best to abandon the building this
AAAo- ll-4-E DcNAllSt OF LHe danger to the
people in the offices. The danger is caus-
cd by wall in the basement, about IS
feet long l should Judge, buckling. The
doorWays to the offices above We're di-
rectly over this weakened wall and peo-
pie We're continually passing in and out
of the Offices over this wea kened por-
ton For that reason it was best to
abandon the building. I hope that we
win be able to use the building to1nor-
row, as hope by that time the neces-
sary repairs can be made and that the
building viii be safe. It was necessary
of course to stop the work in the offices
but I do not think it viii be for anv
length of time. The building except
the one portion where the wall has
weakened. is safe enough. I think there
is no danger Of the building couapsing
and do not believe it viii be neces-
sary to seek other quarters as I hope
we- viii be able TO occupy the offices
within a few days. If we can not I do
not know what viii be done
The weakened condition of the wall
may have been caused by the addition
Of the fifth story to the building which
was built after the fire in 1888 At the
time Of the fire, which was in the upper