New-York tribune., 1909-12-24
NAY BUILD ON SAND
STEPHENSON URGES
SUCH ACTION.
admits Northerly End of Mu-
nicipal Building Cannot Rest
on Rock Foundation.

fsrlGCe Department 70 rnd rock folirl-
sstion for the northerlv end - the NAM
moth Municipal Building. which. when
Trished. win have cost the city fully
Sl0Oa0e00 was obtained yesterday.
Commissioner Stevenson sent letter
- ne Board - Estimate and Appor-
tionueut asking permission 20 change
80 plans Cor tho northerly foundation
ard lav the foundation on sand. The
rlsus and specifications oan for fCun-
dattor reaching 20 bedrock.
commissioner Stevenson and r. L.
rerrer. ~ McKiui. Mead & White, the
architects. were on hand AZ the meet
iur ~ the board 20 explain the need %
Tho -hsnEe ~ plan
TIE members 81 the hoard appeared 70
10 much surprised. and decided 20 lay
tre whole matter over for a week. pend
fnr an investigation and report by chief
Engineer Lewis of the board
-0--r1issioner Stevenson said ~ was
unwilling 20 assume responsibility for
changing the plans without the sanction
90 the Board of Estimate.
we have had three eminent engineers
rrar-ine the foundation plans" said the
Commissioner. and they have reported
thaf There is not the least danger 20 he
tesred through LAYING part of the foun-
dsuon on sand.
ROCK I77 FEET DoWN.
"-re reason that Ne have beer forced
- favor the LAYING Of the northerly
foundations on sand Is that We are not
shre % End rock until Nc get IL feet
below the curb line. and az that depth II
Is frrvrs Ctics ble 10 work with compressed
s- We took horings In fve different
sections - the plot on which the build
f-r IS 30 Re put and found rock az %
md 1o0 feet
when the Foundation Company. con-
tractors Tor the foundation. came 70
check up our boriugs they confirmed the
presence ~ the rock IN tour places The
boring thst they took in the northerly
.r---ror was sbout twenty feet from the
one made by us A. = depth ~ 10 feet
-.e- found eirrt-foor hovlders. Bed-
ro-k was not found until IL feet below
curb ~ l20 feet below water level
We cannot 20 down thst far With
rheumatic pressure, and therefore we
snail he compelled 70 build the founda-
rous m sand ~ that particular point.
b increasing rhe sres ~ the forty eight
csfs~ons in the section where the sand Is
,ve wiz 50 distribute the load that the
ssrd viz carry n safely.
SAYS PLAN Is SAFE
We viii load the soil 50 IS 20 not ex-
-eed SIX tons 20 the square foot, and that
leaves ample leeWsy against al possible
fus-a5ilitv. There Is no question In my
rt1l or m that ~ the architect that the
plan is entirely safe"
AS stated IN The Tribune yesterday, IL
s. probable that all provisions now made
fo- mo eutrsnce or the Centre street sub
way loop through the foundations and
under rhe buildings viii have 10 be
changed o. suit the new kind of founda-
r1rs which il has been discovered viii
|e necessary.
Bridge Commissioner Stevenson has
nor ss vet announced any change in the
r.su NJ lsyinE the cornerstone next Mon
oar A pyramid ~ brick is being erected
f-0~ tre top ~ the steel reinforced Gals
SIN m the level az the curh upon which
Dr. rs PROPOSED 20 lay the cornerstone. II
frs uIau Is uot abandoned. the corner
stone v.i1 be laid ou its pyramid before
tr IS known thst tho foundations of the
s--1~frre can be put in according 80 con
r~s-r sper-hCarious
THE Foundation Company took tho
CONTRACT 20 sink foundation 80 bedrock
f0r 81 4aouio. r. asserts that the test
fe-irrs - determine the character of
rr. soil under the entire area should
r-ra been made months ago. before the
.rri-s-t was awarded.
WF DoTGHERTY'S STATEMENT.
r9r,uertlng on Bridge Coumissioner
S.ave-s0r's statement r. Hampden
1raurh@rf,- counsel for william JAY
S.rfereun ir the taxpayers sCtiou 20
rr~rrafu the COMMISSIONS from accept
bids for the construction 90 the
building said yesterday % Tribune
rrrn~ff~
"~re Bridge Commission now a.
rre what both 10 and ms engineers
..rr previously refused % admit-that
part - the foundations ~ The new
H'~-~rI~c win have 20 rest upon sand
rrr-ru whether that fact VIII inter
f.-e 0lrh THE stability of the building is
. w7rrer for experts % decide.
rfflIH flfAlf4Nr tiftf.f.hrff A-lh' Afi~
complete change in the layout ~ the
'rurlau0us made necessary hy this sud
f.r G.rrolsre be- bound 10 make it i'm
f.-F..'e for any successful bidder under
t.r ren-rt cali for tenders Tor the erec-
f"r of the superstucture - complete
flr work within the time specified in the
proposals
THie would mean thar ~ the contract
awarded o. any one ~ the bidders
whose bios are now fn the Commission
rF hands. and DELAY iu tho completion
"f tIe foundations interfered with the
carrying our ~ the contract. There
would be- good ground for action for
Damages on the part - The contractor
against the city.
The Bridge Commissioner SAYS that
ih' change in the plans for the founda-
'ons viii not mean any further expense
M tho city. If that b. the case, h viii be-
thf FIRST time the city hss escaped from
such situation without having % pay
extra costs. and I am not disposed 20
pace much reliance IN any such state
snent
HASTE u AWARDS