The log cabin Democrat., 1909-10-13
CAPITOL JOB
 IS CONDEMNED

Declaring that some parts of the construction work removed from the new state capitol building by the new state capitol commi ssion were found to be much more defective than was expected, and that more work has had to be removed than was expected, but stating that he is very well pleased with the progress made on the capitol thus far and that the commission will soon be able to let the contract for the completion of the building, Cass Gil bert of New York, architect, who is planning the completion of the new capitol, last night gave out a thorough review of the status of the work on the state capitol, the first of the kind he has given out since taking up the work, according to this mornings Lit tie Rock Gazette. He emphatically de- clared that the building will be ready for the next legislature. MT. Gilbert closed his statement by referring in
 
 aghey, whose efforts are responsible for the completion of the statehouse, and complmented the governors en- ergy and ability in connection with the completion of the state capitol.
 Excellent progress is being made in the work on the capitol" declared MT. Gilbert, although we found that the old work in some respects was more defective than it appeared to be on the surface. Cast-iron columns were found to be split, cracked, full of sand holes and entirely unsafe. Those de fleets could not be discovered until the concrete that covered them was remov- ed. Some of this material still re- mains to be removed. It was found that reinforcing rods in the floor con struction were even more infrequent and inefficient in construction than was evident at the beginning. In some cases there were no reinforcing rods at all. In some cases they were spaced as much as six feet apart and they were only half-inch rods. In nearly all instances these rods were spliced by simply bending the ends together forming kind of hook, and when the cement was removed the rods are exposed, showing these conditions eX- istent throughout all sections of the building.
 It has therefore become necessary to remove all floor and roof construc- ton throughout the building. In re- gard to the steel work, adjusting of beams, girders, columns, etc, we found it too light and badly put together in some cases badly out of plumb. It averages about 35 per cent below standard requirement for strength. In some cases the connecting angles be tween columns and girders were inn properly riveted, and in many cases rivets were omitted.
 "The cement used seems to have been generally of excellent quality, but the concrete was so largely composed of cinders containing deleterious mat ter, such as unburned coal, which is sometimes found in pieces anywhere from the size of walnut to the size of a hen egg, that it was improper ma terial for such building or for any etr,,ctura yhara sound narmanent cOn- struction is required These conditions have had to be met as ascertained, and reinforcing material has had to be provided or new beams and columns substituted for old ones. This portion of the work is now approaching com pletion, and We expect within a few days to commence the concrete and terra cotta floor construction. A large