The Elbert County tribune., 1908-02-06
ARCHITECTS
REPOR T.
OF the Condition Of the Ebert
School House = Recon-
mends Many Repairs.
Ebert, Colo, Jan. 20, 1903.
Mr.. J. A. Boston,
Sec. School Dist. No. II.

Sec. School Dist. No. II,
Elbert, Colo.
Dear Sir: Agreeable to the
wishes of the school board | have
carefully examined the school
building in your city, and wish
to report as follows:
The numerous cracks in the
brick walls are due principally to
the poor soil, as well as to insult
ficient depths of the footings,
which in places are down only Is
inches below the surface, and
has made it possible for the
moisture to interfere with the
foundation, and the brick being
Of inferior quality, they have not
been able to withstand the set
tlement.
THE CRACKs:-I have been un-
able to locate any cracks of re-
cent date, which would indicate
that no settlement has taken
place lately. 1t appears that no
cracks are to be found in the
piers themselves, but nearly all
between the window openings
and the piers, showing that the
piers, carrying the heaviest
weight, have settled, leaving the
intermediate brickwork stan d.
If the main piers had cracked, |
should consider the building un-
safe, but this not being the case,
it is my opinion that some much
needed repairs will suffice, as fol-
lows:
CEMENT Work = All outside
walls, from the bottom of the
footings to the top of the first
story window sills, should be
plastered with cement mortar
made in proportion of one part
Portland cement to two parts
sharp, clean sand. Before ce-
menting, the joints must be
raked out and loose mortar re-
moved. The mortar to be thor
oughly slushed in so as to fill all
joints, holes and cracks, and then
finished smooth and true, g-inch
in thickness, and leveled on top
edges. This work must be done
by a first-class experienced man.
Fill back to the walls and tramp
down the earth a little at the
time, also raise the grade in
against the building at least one
foot for the purpose of prevent
ing the water from seeping down
to the footingS. The cracks in
the super-structure should be
raked out and thoroughly filled
and pointed with cement. The
chimney tops to be repaired and
cemented. Their washed out
condition renders them unsafe.
PLASTERING:- The ceilings and
walls should be examined, and
all loose and doubtful plaster re-
moved and the places replastered.
ANCHORS Star anchors, with
10 x 10 plate washers should be
provided on the second-story
joists, one long anchor through
each pier between the windows.
The anchors should be not less
than four feet long and secured
to side of joists with three screws
to each anchor. Two similar
anchors ought to be provided
over the front entrance arch and
secured to the top of the second
story joists.
BELL:-The supports for the
bell are not sufficiently rigid, and
the using of the bell causes a
constant jar to the building. |
recommend that the bell be taken
out and placed outside the build
ing, and the bell-tower removed.
Among the items mentioned
above | recommend that the bell
be removed without delay, and
not used any more in its present
position; also that the plastering
be looked after at once. 1t
would also be well to have the
cement work done before the
heavy spring storms set in, al
though no cement work should
be done in freezing weather. To
put the anchors in place will
necessitate some pockets in the
second story floor, but this work
could no doubt be done on Satur-
days. In conclusion will state
that either should the above men,
toned work be done without de-
lay and in a first class manner,
or else steps taken for the erec-
tion of a new building.