The Washington herald., 1909-03-21

avenue. So far as is known this was the
first steel frame structure or distinctly
modern type to be demolished. II did
not stand long enough TO afford a basis
for safe generalizations, but considering
that Is was poorly built of generally in
terror materials and that in it's construc-
ton many or the precautions deemed
essential in good practice were neglected
the viclssitudes of It's four years Of life
were probably as great as need have been
experienced IN twenty-five under more
favorable conditions.
Results Satisfactory.
Critical study Of the structural mem
bers as they were taken apart showed
that no other corrosion OF consequence
existed than had begun before the build
Ing was covered in. A few joints indi-
Gated tendency to rust. but this was ap-
parently due 10 defects in the inclosing
walls and was so slight as 10 cause no
uneasiness.
Two or three years ago the old Plaza
Hotel at Fifth avenue and Fifty-ninth
street was torn down 10 make way for the
new eighteen story hotel OF the same
name that now faces the southeast corner
OF Central Park The superintendent Of
the construction company that had under
taken the job Of demolishing the old
building and erecting the new one was
quoted at the time as saying:
There is not a scale on the beams and
pillars that make up the framework Of
the old hotel II some one wanted 10
put ND new building Of the same style
and dimensions as the old Plaza Hotel
he
piece Of steel or iron. The old metal Is
In state OF perfect preservation. al
though II was assembled twenty years
ago hundred years from now the old
Plaza would have been as solid and as
safe as X was when torn down. The
wreckers who are getting out the last
OF the iron and steel that rose from the
original foundations are not having an
easy job. Dynamite is being used TO
loosen the old iron uprights.'
Longevity of Construction.
These instances would seem TO show
that apprehensions entertained of the sta
bility Of steel frame buildings apparently
are without substantial foundation. Good
paint conscientiously applied 10 clean sur
faces will eneetuaIIy protect columns,
beams and girders Of upper stories. and
concrete will as effectually guard those
Of lower tiers. where greater dampness
is encountered. Steel frames have stood
the tests Of fire and wind and are standing
that Of corrosion much better than any
one had reason 10 suspect
The actual building OF g modern sky
scraper may aptIy be compared with the
building OF a modern American watch.
Il is IN IT'S final analysis simply a matter
Of assembling the parts. or the "mem4
bers" as they are known in the vernacu-
lar OF the trade AS a matter Of fact
very little Of the steel work is done on
the site OF the building as in the old days
Of stone construction. The digging OF the
cellar and the sinking Of caissons 70 find
a solid bed for the ironwork are really
the only engineering features of the work
done on the spot The rest OF the con-
structIon IS done ir the Office Of the con
structiOn company that is bossing the job.
Forty Trades Represented.
Forty trades. more or less. are engaged
at one time or another IN constructing a
skyscraper. -Four great departments Of
engineering are involved in the structural
designing. To bring all these together
under a single head, 10 smooth over, dis
putes between rival contractors. 20 pro-
vide all the material and assemble each
part in sequence at just the time required
this is no easy task.
The big construction companies Of to-
day seek only the work Of building class
A buildings. which are required on very
valuable land. Such undertakings involve
the expenditure OF a large sum ont each
operation and require a total suspension
Of all income on the cost OF the site while
work is going on. Therefore they de-
mand as q first essential speed. so that
interest charges may be reduced 10
minimum. and oftentines so that the
renting season may be safely met.
Must Save Time.
The saving OF time may be said there
fore 10 be ateSuteIy essential in the con
struction Of 4 skyscraper. The old sys-
TEN was found 10 be a time saver only
under conditions where expense was no
object II is IN response 10 the demand
for economy combined with time saving
that the present organization has grown.
Some idea OF the scope Of a big con
struction company may be cleaned from
the statement that fl is divided into three
heads. executive. accounting, and legal
A certain company in this city handles
under its payroll work fourteen different
trades. Subcontractors employ as many
more. A record OF the number OF men
who were employed On a Broadway Office
building by this concern shows more than
1000 men on its pay roll They were dis
tributed in the following order: Laborers.
800: carpenters. 100; concrete layers. 30;
-iggers and riveters. $50; stOnemssOns, Is;
tile layers, 80; electricians, 90; plumbers.
20: bricklayers. %; plasterers, 50; marble
workers. 20; housesmiths, %; painters. 25:
steamfitters. .: roofers, 30; sheet metal
workers, %; elevator workers. 80; boiler
and engine erectors. 30; mail chute work
ers. 20; stationary engineers, and fremen,
n