Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-03

The condition of st. Paufs cathedral
is eminently unsatisfactory.
The Daily Mirror CLondon) has fire.
auently published articles showing
that the cracks and assures when
occur generally througout the struc-
ture constitute a danger, not only to
the cathedral, but to the public.
The foundations of the great edi-
flee are insecure; the building may
last for years. or 1t may fall like a
pack of cards tomorrow.
Many of it's towers are out or
numb to an extent alarming to the
mind of engineers. The great dome,
supported by cracked pillars and but
tresses, in u condition which would pc
condemned by any ordinary borough
council surveyor, is a constant menace
to the safety of the people VINO Wor-
ship beneath it's majestic roof.
A. j. Barry, the engineer appointed
by the dean and capter to inquire in
to the condition of the cathedral. was
interviewed by the Daily Mirror yes
terday. He explained in detail the
reason for the existence of the cracks
and assures and the curious and
alarming buildings.
'rrhe cathedral said Mr.. Barry, is
for the most part built on potters
clay, When Wren started on his work
he found that toward the east of the
site the potter's clay has been removed
and ordinary rubbish substituted. rms
rubbish was, of course, an Impossible
foundation.
so the east end of the structure
is built on London clay. and rests on Il
foundation lower than the rest OF the
cathedral; it IL significant that in this
portion of the building there is no sign
of weakness.
'',rhe rest of the mighty structure
is founded on .potters cay. Even
the dome, the heaviest part of the
building, rests on this foundation. Be
meath the potters clay there Is a
strata of gravel: below this is the
London clay.
Gravel, of course. is water-bearing.
Water percolates through this strata
of gravel, and as the gravel contains
or releases the water so Is the dem
sity of the strata affected"
When you remember that the great
weight of the cathedral building is
supported by the clay which lies
above this gravel, it can easily be
understood that such weight must
be affected by density of the strata
below the foundation pillars.
"Of course" continued Mr.. Barry,
THE weight of the cathedral is un-
evenly distributed. The dome and the
towers are heavier than the body OF
the building. All rest on the same
foundation The alternating condt-
tons of the gravel--now waterlog-
ged. now dry-tend to give the build
ing a condition of unstable equilibri-
UNI.
Various parts of the structure set
tie because though resting on the
same foundation, they differ in weight
from other parts. AS witness, partic,-
ularly the dome and the west towers,
Mr.. Barry would not commit him
| self to a statement as to whether the
cathedral is safe or unsafe.
at is no use INDUCING in theories
| We are going to put the matter to
| practical test. We have recommended
| that metal disks should be placed II
| the pillars in the crypt and elsewhere
| and by accurate measurement We
| shall be able to determine whether OF
| not the building is stable"
/ The fact remains that serious sub
| sidences have occurred. st. PauIs
cathedral is built on a shifting foun'
| dalton.
| The buttresses and pillars have moi
| vet been strained TO breaking point
| No one knows--no one can know-hoM
| far they are off breaking point.
There is only one way OF insurine
| the soundness of the great edihce. the
| foundation must be carried dowr
| through the potter's clay and the
| gravel TO the London clay. costly
| and lengthy business. but one which
| must be carried out.
The great cathedral, which cos
f3,000,000 to build, Is insured FOL