St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1905-04-29
THE WATERWORKS
TANK UNSAFE !!
II Stands Tower Of Danger TO Life and
Property.
WELL-KNOWN EXPERTS OPINION
Says II Might Collapse In Less Than
Two Years.

solicited by good citizens to call at
tention to the unmistakable sinking
condition of the foundation of the
waterworks tank, located on the
courthouse square. But tho it was
plain that such was the case, we re-
Trained criticism, because, while we
thought there was danger, we did not
know it to be fact. In other words,
we did not want to advance an opin-
ion in matter in which we were not
absolutely positive.
But now we are backed by the
opinion Of one who knows his busi-
ess-Who has been in that line of
business for over twenty years, and
who has climbed the ladder until to-
day he is at the head in the superyi-
sion and constructing work in this
State of one of the largest establish
ments Of it's kind in the United States
the Pauly Jail Co.
We refer to Mr.. Sam Ewing, now
constructing the Jail here. While
his headquarters at present are here,
he has the supervision over several
similar buildings and courthouses in
various parts of the State. This shows
the confidence his house has in him.
Mr.. Ewing started excavating for
the purpose Of putting down sewer
from the Jail, and when he got to
the water tank he found that at the
depth of six feet, as far as he went,
the ground was water-soaked and
firm ground entirely absent.
Asked if he considered the tank
unsafe and dangerous, Mr.. Ewing
promptly replled:
II most certainly do. It can not
be otherwise but extremely dangerous.
The foundation is getting weaker and
weaker every day, and especially is
this the case concerning the two
pillars on the east side, the strain
being necessarily more pronounced
on them on account, first, OF their
showing more inclination to sink, and,
second, having already sunken several
inches
4.Mr. Ewing, to what do you attri-
butte this condition. 9
We'll" he replied: 1T is not my
purpose to criticize the work of
other men in the same line of busi-
ness that is not my mission here.
But, ifSyou admit that the proper
ty, and perhaps, life Of our people,
are endangered by this condition,
don't you think that it is somewhat
incumbent on you to give US all the
information you can, to the end that
a catastrophe may be averted.
20. if you put it in that way, will
have to put aside my disinclination in
the matter. First and foremost, the
foundation is not substantial enough
not of sufficient depth and bredth.
Then the material used is not of the
sort that would use 1t yerges very
strongly on inferiority. The ground
is water-soaked to the depth Of six
feet, as far as went, caused by
leakage and overfowing.0
For what length of time do you
think the tank can stand in the pres
ent condition.
Il do not see how it can stand
over two years. Now a strong wind
may cause it TO fall. 1t does not
take much tilt to cause a structure
like that to fall
I'm what direction in your opinion,
the tank would fall?
Most probably in northeasterly
direction; but in the fall it is possible
for it to take another course.
And the seapage extends much
further than the tank. Across the
street cemented cellar under Mr.. V.
Vilaseca's store building has three
feet of water in it, which Mr. M.
attributes to seapage from the tank.
Now, in the face of this, can there
be any more delay in the way of a
thorough Investigation?
Judge Adoiphe Guillory swan 4he
: "a - ....l-,, J4Yo ol,.ol.x A.