The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-07-29
THE AUDITORIUM WALLS.
Mr. AIbin Explains Their Dam
aged Condition and Offers
Gratuitous Advice to this
People.

NJIIGHS
Gratuitous Advice to this
People.
The News has received the follow
ing letter from the gentleman who
maze the cement walls to the Audi.
forum.
Westport, Conn, July 18th, 1904
Editor PALATKA News:
In a recent issue of your paper. 9
copy OF which has been forwarded Il
me, notice an article in the Ores.
cent City department referring t.
the new auditorium building, the ma
ture OF which las | interpret it, was
intended as a reflection upon eithel
myself or Mr.. Gilbert, or perhaps
both.
In the article referred to you men.
non the fact that pieces of cement
had TAXED off on the north side OF
the building and that other places
had also faxed and was ready to fall
or words to that effect
The article further stated that tht
cause was due to an inferior grade OF
cement used in the first coat. etc.
etc, while a much better grade OF
cement was used for a thin outside
coat, ana had the same grade of ce-
ment been used in both coats, the
walls would have stood for an indeti-
mite time.
This view Of the matter shows the
Ignorance OF the author of the article
Of the matter under consideration
for as II matter of fact the same
grade of cement was used in both
coats throughout the building and
the same proportions Of sand were
also used. hence had nothing to dc
with the tlali4R of the cement.
There are different causes which,
might produce the same results
For instance, the varying of u
sheathen board under the extreme
hot rays of the sun; the shrinking OF
some heavy timber, or the settling OF
Il pier, would cause the cement to
buckle and flake. An investigation
Will be necessary to determine which
is the real cause of the trouble.
One thing, however, is sure-the
cause will be found, the damage re-
paired, and the building made com
pletely sound and applied to the use
for which it was intended; provided
the people of Crescent City have a
sufficient degree of appreciation tC
accept it as such when completed
as believe the donor, Mr.. Gilbert
has no other object IN view than tC
leave the building to Crescent City
AS indicated in his original plans, as
Il debt of gratitude he owes to the
plac" for the prolonging of his life by
its health giving climate.
And since Mr.. Gilbert furnished
all material for the building, and as
my part of the work was done by
| days work, there could be no motive
for his buying inferior material, non
for me to slight the work, and as the
present condition of the building is
only what might happen to any
building under the same conditions
it seems to me that the article pub
lished in your paper casts an unjust
reflection upon both myself and Mr.
| Gilbert, and ! feel it due to us both
that you should publish this letter in
your paper as matter of defence to
us who are not present to defend
ourselves.
Very respectfully yours,
w. f.. ALBIN,
Mason and Builder
In its issue of July Sth the News
did publish as matter of informa-
/ ton the fact that the cement walls OF
the new auditorium were falling
away. At that time there was Il
bare space some six feet long by two
deep on the north side of the build
ing Now portion of the wall on
| the same side extending the entire
length of the building has bnIged and
! it is only question of time when it
| falls. There are other places where
the wall has either fallen or is get
ting ready to drop.
The item also stated that the
work was done by "A man whom Mr.
/ Gilbert brought down from COnnec-
ticut and who was heralded as an ex-
pert in this class Of work. Perhaps
| il would have been more proper had
we said "self-heralded' for it was
from Mr.. Albin's own printed card
that we got the idea that he was an
expert in cement veneering
Mr.. Albin is partially right in his
Interpretation of the "retlection
The character of the work is retiec-
ton on Mr.. Albin's Workmanship
The News intended to make that
point clear. There was, however,
no reflection on Mr.. Gilbert and the
News has no hesitancy in expressing
the opinion that no one save Mr.. Al
hin could gather any such idea-and
he only to crafty his vanity by coup
ling their names in print. Mr., Gil
bert is in different class. He bought
the cement aud paid Mr.. AIbin tC
mix it. The latter furnished toe
much sand.
The News pleads guilty to ignor-
ance of the plasterers trade, but when
it sees piece of broken cement wall
if thinks it can tell a hard substance
from one that crumbles. The inside
Iof this broken wall next to the wire
can be powdered with the finger nail
it requires mallet and chisel to cut
the outside surface.
The News is also willing to adml'
that the settling ola pier MIGHT have
caused the wall to crack, and SC
vIcnr an earthquake, but neither