New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-08
FEAR GRANTS TOMB
MAY Be UNDERMINED
Park Commissioner Worried
Over Possibility of Cave-In
on Riverside Drive.
A NOTICEABLE SETTLING
Slower Thinks Water Has Work
ed Under the Foundations, and
Asks $4,000 for Immediate
Safeguarding of Structure.

Park Commissioner Slower has grave
fears that Grants Tomb is being under
mined. The frequent cracking of the
pavement around the tomb, the breaking
off Of parts Of the steps and the cop
ings and the noticeable settling of the
tomb may be. the Commissioner thinks.
the result Of undermining by bad drain
age.
So serious is considered the condition
Of the ediflce that the chief engineer OF
the Park Department. Edward Miller,
and John II. Duncan, architect of the
tomb, will make an investigation at
once. Mr.. Miller and the architect &C
companied Commissioner Slower in a
visit to the tomb yesterday. where the
large rents in the pavement and the
sunken areas of it, as we'll as the broken
copings, were shown to them by the
Commissioner.
II already have asked for an appro-
priation Of $4,000" 'said Commissioner
Slower after his visit to the tomb. TO
make needed repairs. which include the
relaying of the coping. repairing Of the
steps and the replacing of new tagging.
The tomb is not built on a rock, ac-
cording TO persons who are in a position
TO know about its foundation. but is
reared on a sandy mound. Rock was
touched in only one place during the ex-
cavation for the tomb. and that was at
depth of one hundred feet.
For a long time the drainage has
been very bad about the tomb. and the
question is whether the water has got
under the foundations. The large pieces
Of stone which have been broken off
in the copines are the result of the set
ting of the edifce.
According TO Mr.. Duncan the founda-
lions are many feet below the surface Of
the street. and for that reason may have
escaped injury from the bad drainage
but it will necessitate thorough investi-
cation to determine whether such is the
case There is no doubt that the tomb
has been settling, and there must he
some cause for it,
Commissioner Slower said that he
wanted to call the attention Of the pub
lie TO the condition of the tomb because
he wanted no misunderstanding TO go
abroad about 1t.
Everything will be done 10 insure its
safety, and if it is found necessary to
strengthen its foundations that will be
done as soon as it is possible"
Commissioned Slower pointed out the
fine quality OF the stone used in the erec-
ton Of the edifice, saving it had never
been necessary TO repoint il, except 70
a slight degree, since il was erected
The Park Commissioner attributes the
tomb's surroundings
Water stands in large pools for days
after a hard rain" said the Commits
sioner. The heavy rains Of the last
few days have shown more than in any
time in the last two years the need for
quick repairs. II the monument stands
on sandy foundation then there is lit
tie doubt but what the poor drainage is
effecting the settling of the structure"
The chief engineer recently said it
would cost $4,000 alone to put the pave
ment around the tomb in good order
The cornerstone of the tomb was laid
in 1892 by President Harrison 1t was
dedicated on April 81. 1897. General
Monument Association. which built the
tomb from the funds raised by ninety
thousand subscriptions.