The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-10-31

PRUNE
WAREHOUSE
City Authorities Ex-
erCiSed Over a
Large Building
The Posts and Foundation Ex-
amined and Appear to
Be All Right and Per-
fectly Safe

The city authorities were this morn.
ing notified that the brick building
known as the old agricultural works
and occupied by the Willamette Val.
ley Prune Association as a local ware.
house, was in an unsafe condition. At
times over 100 persons work there.
Chairman Pohle, of the committee
on streets and public property, togeth.
er with Chief of Police Gibson, Alder
man Burrows, Fire Chief Johnson and
Street Commissioner Grlswold, at once
repaired to the building and made an
examination of It.
The building has brick outside walls,
the interior, from the ground up, be-
ing built on timbers. The floors of
the building have sunk slightly in the
center, and Chairman Pohle holds
that, from the appearance of the stTuc-
ture. some of the timbers underneath
must be decaying, causing the set
tllng. Tho building is filled with this
years fruit crop, Of nearly 100000
pounds of prunes, making a heavy
load for the floors.
Some of the city officers say the
structure is unsafe. Mr.. Pohle, in
speaking about the matter, said he
feared If prompt steps we're not TAX
en- TO repair and strengthen the build
ing, it would collapse, causing gleat
property damage, and, If filed at the
time with workmen. a frightful loss
of life would result. He advised the
lessees of the building to at once
strengthen the floors by putting new
timbers under the structure, where.
he stated, some of the timbers would
be found in extremely bad condition.
This bailding was burned out some
20 years ago. when the brick walls
were saved. The structure was re-
built, the inside being constructed of
lumber and Mr.. Pohle's theory is that
the lower portion Of this wooden
structure has slowly decayed until 1t
is impossible for it to longer bear the
weight on the second floors.
The Building Safe.
Manager Gile of the Willamette Val
ley Prunegrowers' association was
seen and showed a Journal reporter
all through the building. He declares
there is no cause for alarm, that there
Is less load in the building than there
has been at other times and that
prunes are going faster than they are
coming in. Mr. Pohle admits the out
side walls are in good condition and
the slightest settling OF the pillars
on wood In the center is nothing. Mr..
Gile says, but what takes place each
year. and has taken place this year
in the new warehouses that the COM
pany has built at Roseburg and Van,
couver Last year the same settling
was noticed and some became alarm
ed and quit work, but soon returned.
Investigation showed that the cement
piers under the upright posts had set.
tied in some places and the foundation
was reinforced. Superintendent Brown
OF the Water Co, who owns the build
ing, gave the foundation thorough
ovs srhauling and pronounced It safe.
The principal load is now in the base
ment within few inches OF the
ground. The settlement OF the build
Ing has been so slight this year that
Il has not affected the shafting that
carries power TO all parts OF the
building
The reporter found that in many
places the Basement ct the building
has been reinforced with heavy tim.
bers, and apparently every precau,
ton has been taken TO make the
structure safe. As the heaviest load |
has been carried for this season, and |
The prunes are soing cut faster than
they are coming in, there seems n be |
no danger at present OF a collapse |
With the crop growing each year, the
building will have 10 be given
thorough reconstruction next season
before the crop of 1904 is packed |
The building has been filled with |
wheat In the past and that is
heavier product than prunes and stood
he strain without injury