Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-24
FINDS ONLY SEVEN BAD R1vnTs
Latenser Reports on Structural Work
mt New Court House.

- ~ W.
Mt New Court House.
Only seven imperfect rlvets were dis
covered in the steel work Of the new court
house by Architect John Latenser and the
two structural engineers ana two draughts-
men, who examined every inch of the
work together.
Mr.. Latenser has filed his formal report
with the Board OF County Commissioners
and the belief of that body is that this
examination and report will about end the
talk of poor construction. .
The communication Of the architect is
as follows:
Only the columns of the endorsement
and basement and the floor over the sub
basement were examined.
The specifications provide as follows;
WorkmEnship-All workmanship shall be
Of such character that the connections
shall posses strength and durability equal
to the plain portions between them. They
are to be riveted wherever practicable,
where not, bolts may be Used with nuts
drawn up tight and tho END Of bolts upset.
All holes must be spaced so accurately
that when the parts are assembled hot
rivets will enter without being distorted
and shall completely I'LL the holes after
upsetting, have standard heads concentrio
with rivets. with full bearing on plates
and shall be tight. Where holes need en-
larging it must be done by roaming. II it is
necessary to use bolts the holes are to be
Of the exact size and spaced so that the
work can be assembled without distorting
the metal by the use OF drift pin.
Every rivet and every bolt was inspected
and every beam and every member Of
the steel columns were verified as to size
and weight.
The column connections were found to
fully develop the strength called for by
the first portion of the above specification.
The result OF the inspection as to rivets
and bolts is as follows:
As to Rivets and Bolts.
/. Rlvets have been driven in Ill instances
where practicable and where not practi-
cable bolts have been used.
covered and marked. and twenty-two 11sN
bolts were not drawn as tight as they could
have been.
Attached to this report find the exact
location Of the rivets and bolts above re-
ferred to.
The result of the inspection as to the
weight and size OF the material is as fol-
lows;
/. In the case Of beam No. 1a2 a 12-foot
beam, Weighing thirty-one and one-half
(S1h) pounds per foot, was used in place
Of a R-foot beam. Weighing forty (N
pounds per foot.
2. In the case OF beams Nos. 274 and 25
l2-foot steel beams, weighing forty (4ol
pounds per foot, were used in place Of
12-foot beams, weighing thirty-one and
one-half (SlhO pounds per foot.
l2-foot beams, Weighing thlrry-one and one
half (3l1D pounds per foot, were used in
place Of iO-foot beams. weighing thirty
five 1861 pounds per foot.
The above first two items you will see
is an interchange OF beams by mistake.
the third item Is a substitution Of a l2-foot
AAn-. ~ wluAn - n a co. - -
sum total shows fifty-eight (5s) more
pounds Of steel in place snan called for
by the plans n specifications.
With the exceptions above noted all of
the steel work examined is In accordance
with the plans and specifications and fully
up to standard.
the connections are finished, and the floor
therefore not ready for examination. As
soon as the contractors report this floor
finished an examination will be made.
In order to give due weight to the above
report the following facts should be con-
sidered:
port on rivetins only, but ] thought best
to Included the weight Of the steel, char
aeter OF shop work, bolting and connec-
q Every connection and all of the steel
and iron is visible and will be left visible
for at least ten days.
& The examination herein reported, al
though complete, will not be final. The
tightening Of tie rods viii be examined
yoIOIo plhCLnH the lHS afCneS ana the
final coat OF paint has not yet been applied
on portions OF the work.
T. In order to examine the support Of
the steel beams In the north and south
walls holes were broken into the wall.
B. Connections OF that part OF the steel
which is covered up by the wagon run
way or drive through the center OF build
Ing Is not included In this report, except
that the weight OF the steel beams has
been verified.
6. The work uni amounts to about
four hundred 600 tons OF steel at a value
Of about sixty $500 dollars per ton, OF a
total Of twenty-four thousand (324,O00) dol
herein mentioned good will amount 70
about ten W10 or fifteen Sl5) dollars.
me for a report IN this matter.
The superintendent at the building, Mr..
ID. J.. Shane, and myself desire any in
at any tins.