Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-12-22
THE AUSTINE INSTITUTION INSPECTED
Prof. J. W votey Of Burlington Expert Engineer, Reports
Satisfactory Conditions

order to ascertain the quality of the
materials being used and the character
of the work.
The cement being used at the time was
the Atlas brand-one of the best of the
Portland cements; another brand was
used earlier in the work and the concrete
of the foundation wall made from this
cement was found to be in a sound,
hard condition, indicating a good cement
No tests of the cement, l was informed
had been made, or were required but
the appearance of the walls Indicated that
this material was of satisfactory char
acter.
The brick being delivered on the work
was unusually good in color, hardness,
uniformity in size and accuracy in shape.
These | understand, were from a Green
field kiln. The Putney brick, of which
the walls are mainly built, are somewhat
less regular in shape and size and have
more variation in color but in the most
important quality of hardness they APP
pear to be equally satisfactory. They
are apparently made from a different
clay and perhaps have had a somewhat
d1fferent treatment in the process of
manufacture. An examination of the
exterior walls showed that these were
built entirely of hard brick, no soft
brick being noticed.
The exterior trim of the building is of
concrete, or cast stone as commonly
termed, instead of natural stone This
Is in accordance with modern practice as
large percentage of buildings erected
at the present time are trimmed with
either terra Gotta or cast stone. The
blocks of this material were sound, hard
and should be durable. Attention should
be called to the fact that a number of
these blocks in the walls were clipped
on the edges or corners apparently
through carelessness in handling in
shipping or erecting. These should be
replaced or repaired. This material does
not attain its full strength until long
after building is completed and con-
sequently needs to be handled with much
more care than natural stone.
The walls of the building where exam
lned were plumb and true to line there
was more or less variation in the smooth
ness of the face-work ard the care with
which the joints have been struck in
different parts of the walls, due possibly
to differences in workmen or to wea Their
conditions but nothing that will depre-
ciate the final appearance or value of
the work. 1t should be noted here that
brickwork laid in winter weather or
where work is being rushed to avoid
winter conditions is never quite the
same in appearance on close inspection
as where laid under the more favorabl
summer conditions.
My attention has been called to the
fact that there are no window caps in
the walls. In regard to this | may say
that the majority or modern brick
buildings do not have stone window caps
as they are not feature of modern
design. Such caps add practically moth
ing to the strength of the building as
the load over the window is carried by
an arch metal shape back of the
cap. In the present building the window
loads are carried by steel angles and
arches. Whether the building would
look better with or without caps is a
matter for discussion with the architect.
AS a result of my examination of the
building | may say that ] see no reason
why you are not securing a good, sub
stantial structure of satisfactory APP
pearance and very appropriate for the
location and the purpose for which the
building is being erected, Any criticism
of the appearance of the building should
be reserved until the walls are pointed
and cleaned down, as all brickwork in
process of construction is unsightly and
its final appearance cannot be determin-
ed except by those familiar with such
work. How successful the architect has
been in his design of the building both as
regards its general features and its de
tails can only be determined after the
building is completed In judging of
this, however it might be well to note
that this building is situated on an emf
hence and will be viewed from distance
with a background Of pasture, lodges and
woods. \ pressed brick front, suitable
for a city or village street would be en-
tirely out of place here-a rough stone
building, if it could have been afforded,
would have been more in keeping with
the surroundings.
Very truly yours,
]. w. VOTEY.