The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-05-08
81.
RETAINING WALL
EXPECTED TOTAL
Sewer That Runs Down
Old Ravine Believed to
Be the Cause.
DAMAGE MAY RESULT
Street Has Been Ordered
Fenced Off By City
Authorities.
Damage may RESULT

The big eighteen foot stone wall on
washington street which supports the
properties Of Henry Shcmulbach and
q portion Of the property OF Jack
Fleming is. It is believed about to
cave in, and this morning, following
trip Of inspection, made by the
members OF the City Board of Affairs
Chief OF Police, Fred S. Harr ana
Ralph poolittle, assistant fire chief,
the place was ordered fenced off for
distance Of some so feet in order
to protect pedestrians and vehicles
passing along this street.
Yesterday members Of the city
Board OF Affairs had their attention
allied to large racks which appeared
IN the paving adjacent to this wall
and It was then feared that the wall
which showed signs OF disintergra-
ton would eventually crumbte in.
THIS morning the cracks, or assures,
had widened precipitabiy and It was
thought advisable to fence off the
the portion Of the surface which
would in all probability be affected
by the falling Of this wall.
Members Of the Board expressed
themselves as fearful that the wall
might crunble at any time and that
the dtsintergration might extend as
far back as the centre Of the street,
Large fissures are to be found
around telegraph poles at the point
where the street paving Joins the
cutters across the sidewalk for a dis,
lance Of some 40, feet and these fis.
sures some Of them as much as an
inch wide are believed to be widening
hourly.
A large storm sewer runs through
this stone wall which was originally
deep ravine which carried off waste
waters from high points m this vicin.
ity.
A number of years ago this ravine
was boxed over and is used by the
city as a storm sewer and it is beliey-
ed that there are a number of sewer
Ines n the city which empty also into
this sewer. The sewer extends from
Madison street IN the vicinity of ST
Peters Catholic church down. that
thoroughfare through the Harrison
store property thence through the
Gould property across Washington
street through the Skinner tavern
property and thence to the river
where 1t empties. |
The theory is advanced that the
foundation which supports the sewe,
was not strong enough and that this
mas probably c-unbled and allowed
the surface to sink together with the
sewer and that the stone wall was of
poor construction and has Welded Ia
heavy pressure from above. The wall
mas buldged out considerably. between
the Fleming barn and the shcumul-
oacn property on the corner of Wash
lnEtcn and Madison streets.
Inc heavy rains are thought nv
some 70 be responsible for the gradua-
Evms away CT the wall as al the
point where the surface crackins
seems to be the worst Is very low, and
rams wash down Washington street
settle here and probably cause dssin.
tergration. >''A
Persons owning property in this
vicinity believe the disinterrrat;a ,n
mas been going on for a period Of two
years as pavement built by Mr..
Fleming several years ago and at thai
time on level has sunken perceptfbly
since that time.
:, II the wall should go out as is con-
udently expected it will perhaps car.
~ large telephone pole on which
are number OF connections with II
and might couse considerable damage,
Dominick the city's right hand wat.
er man was given instructions this
morning to do anything possible to
protect the sewer at the foot OF the
wall SO that the derbis falling across
10 would not obstruct It as this would
cause property In the vicinity of the
Tavern to be flooded. Should the
mouth OF the sewer become clogEed
the property owners whose sewerage
drains into this main would have
trouble as the waters would back up
ana have no way Of escape.
Wormen who were working about
the wall today were warned to be
careful as the wall was in danger of
railing any time. Mr.. Fleming had q
force OF worhmen at work this morn.
Ing beneath the stone wall laying a
dne for fence which he proposes to
enclose his property and tnAtde OF
which he proposes TO build a sled for
washing automobiles etc. A lean too
on the barn which Is now used as a
garage Is also being torn down today,
to these improvements.