The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-22
MAKING A SKYSCRAPER
ELEMENTS THAT GO TO THE CON-
sTRUCTIoN OF OFFICE BUILDINGS.
Engineer Has to Contend-Views
on Labor.
New York Evening Post.

business structures that have become the
dominant architectural features of down.
town New York, the tall buildings that
distinguished foreigners are asked to be-
come wonder-stricken before while coming
up the bay there are four primary factors.
In the beginning there is the man with the
money TO buy the ground, and pay for the
building when IT is erected-the capitalist.
Next comes the architect, who executes
the plans, prescribing definitely and COM
prehensively what manner of building is to
be erected, how many floors, OF what
height and width, saying where stone shall
be put and where iron. He draws plans
showing the exterior appearance of the
building. Then the third factor, the de-
signing engineer. takes charge. Before his
share ia the work is explained it must be
understood that modern steel-frame build
ing is constructed on the same architec-
fural principles as a canvas canoe-a light,
tough co-er on a rigid, secure frame. Given
the dimensions OF the cover, the engineer
designs a steel frame over which the hull
of stone. brick and cement may be reared.
in a steel-frame building the only purpose
the outer walls serve is to keep out the
weather. When the designing engineer has
made his shop drawings and sent them to
the rolling mills his work is ended.
The site cleared and the steel framework
ready to be delivered, the fourth and most
Interesting factor-the engineer Of con-
etruction-takes the work in hand. Be-
cause these men in habit speech and man
ner, In mental alertness, in their power 10
grapple with and master problems and OBJ
stacles, IN their ability TO turn keen,
untroubled face home to the instant need
OF things, typify what we are all proud
TO call the American spirit, the days Work
OF one OF them is chronicled here:
ESSENTIALS TO AN ENGINEERS Sue
CESS.
First, he must be a master OF men, know
ing the sluggards from the workers, and
the malcontents from the trustworthy, and
able to bend them all to his will In erect
ing g. big ''skyscraper" employment is
given daily for many months to from four
hundred to eight hundred men, represent
ing from thirty to sixty-fve trades. Each
of these trades has it's union, and each of
these unions has precise ideas as to the
limitations of a days work and the price
to be paid therefor. and In the present state
of fallen world these ideas are subject
TO change without notice." as the pro-
grammeS in the vaudeville houses put il.
The construction engineer must have the
tact and the knowledge of human nature
necessary to keep these men OF diverse in
terests working in harmony. He will, if he
IS man of the first class, seek to establish
such relations with his men that they will
know his interest is their interest and that
any delay in the work is "a throw down
for the boss"
In one building that 1 know of the esti-
mated cost or the outside marblework alone
was 81. 100000. One day, when every marble
worker in New York was busy, the men of
that trade on this particular job decided
they must have so cents added to their
daily wage. The lockout lasted a week be-
fore the men were taken back and their de-
mands granted. The enforced concession
cost the contractors, in round numbers,
just $4,000. And that didn't do me a bit
OF good" commented, in rueful tones, the
engineer who told me the story. The incl
dent throws sidelight on one of his mani
fold responsibilities.
Sometimes il happens that men of two
trades claim the privilege OF doing certain
kind of work. The engineer must decide
which trade Is TO have tae job, and must
make his decision plain and deal such
ever.-handed justice to satisfy the dis
appointed artisans. Practically not a week
passes that Is not marked by some labor
dispute that, however trivial in it's begin
ming, has in 1t potentialities for danger
and delay. So IL has come about that one
of the prime requisites of a construction
engineer is an ability TO handle men. This
must be considered apart from his execu-
tive ability, as shown in well-ordered plan
of work. supply Of materials, and the direc-
ton of the activities of his laborers and ar
tisanS.
When an engineer is assigned to a build
ing he takes the plans of the designing
engineer and the architects and studies
them until he has mastered and carries in
his mind the last intricate detail of each
truss and beam and angle-untfl he knows
each physical detail OF the building to be
erected, as a man may know his own chill
dren. An engineer coming into New York
one morning recently from his New Jersey
home pointed to string of fiat a
siding loaded with iron beams and pillars:
There's that Section c stuff l have been
waiting for" he said He had recognized
II from the plans.
prcrNNTNSf, TUE yyopLy
Carrying the entire plans for the build
ing engraved on the plates of his mind. the
engineer is ready to begin work. When the
iron workers and the riggers have showed
the framework up three or four stories the
masons, stone cutters, steam filters, fire.
proofers. tile layers, carpenters and what
Z not are called in and the work of putting on
the hill of the structure begins. The engi.
neer is in daily consultation with the archi-
tect; he lives on the building, and as soon
as possible establishes lis office in it,
Here he installs clerk to receive ma
terials. a timekeeper, a stenographer and
maybe a clerk AT a certain hour each
day he requires his division foremen, that
Is, the foreman of each trade, TO report
He questions them regarding the progress
or the work, the number OF meI employed
and their needs. But decisive action is
never taken until he has made personal In
spection. The engineer must know as much
about the work of each trade as the best
man in that trade knows. He notes the
number of men employed on each task
and he must know whether or not they are
doing their full stint
When the boss steam filter comes to him
with the demand that a hole be cut through
an angle iron that certain pipe may be
placed, he must know whether the hole is
necessary or not. He must be able TO tell
q stone cutter mason with equal posi-
tiveness wherein his work is lacking.
He must look far ahead and keep con-
stantly before his eye mental picture OF
the completed building. When a pipe is
once placed or a beam laid and riveted the
work must not be undone again to make
place for something that should have gone
before. Mr.. Kipling has written of thai
board OF London directors who destroyed
half an acre OF calculations by decreeing
at the eleventh hour that Findlayson':
bridge should be half a foot wider thar
the original plans specified. The engineel
must uphold the plans OF his architect.
Sometimes IL happens. when haste is de-
slrabie. that a building is started befort
the architect has completed his detailed
plans; when none of the inside work
Is laid out. Then the engineers work be
comes doubly difficult. He must antici
pate the plans of the architect, and DC
many important pieces OF work on his owl
responsibility. Told that certain heatius
system is to be installed. work must be
directed In such way that the steam ol
hot-air pipes Will not mar the inside archi
tectural beauties OF the building Every
question the engineer decides means a saw
ing or a loss in time and money TO hi,
siderable sum. They all agree that m,
man who can farfhaSf fnfO fba f,,.,,r,