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under the head of incompetency, we might refer to the slate roof shown in the testimony to have been put on the Treasury extension, which proved an utter failure, and had to be taken off again. In justice to Mr. Clark, we will state that he was a mere clerk at the time, and not engineer in charge; but it seems hard to understand how the supervising architect could allow the government to be put to thousands of dollars expense in so simple a matter as the slating of a roof, in the damage by the injured interior of the building, as well as the cost of another roof. Mr. Curtis explains that the slate was laid without breaking the joints, and, of course, it leaked as soon as rain fell.

In the same category would come the expensive heating apparatus of the Treasury extension, which proved an entire failure, and has been abandoned, though the iron perforated wash-board laid down for a mile or so through the rooms and passages still bears witness to the vagaries of the architect.

Perhaps a reference to the huge, unsightly gate-posts that obscure the view of the south front, and the swelled columns on the extension, when those of the original building are straight, might be mere criticism. The government might excuse a want of taste, provided it got a strong, durable building-a fit depository of its archives for the centuries. Upon this point your committee are compelled reluc tantly to report that, in their opinion, the vast sums which have been and are being invested in the Treasury extension are nearly thrown away; that a structure is being erected superficial in all its pretensions to durability, and in violation of all safe or received rules of architecture. We are aware that the tall antaes or pilasters which stud the building; the slabs of granite between the antaes, set endwise, extending from the sill-course to the caps; and the wall face between the antaes or pilasters at the angles of the building-with two exceptions, made by setting a slab of granite endwise of the same length as the antae, (36 feet 6 inches)-have an imposing effect, and it may be difficult to make a superficial observer understand how such vast masses of granite can make the building insecure; but the system of putting in these large stones for the benefit of a contractor, or for any other motive, is a fatal mistake. The finish at the sides, over. under, and between the windows, simply butts against the antaes, making a continuous vertical joint from the base course to the facia of the architrave of the cornice, a height of full thirty-three feet. By this character of work all headers and binders are excluded from the walls, which prevents any bonding with the brick backing and the cross walls, and makes the whole unsubstantial. To illustrate by a simple figure: Had the work been done in ashlar, as it is in all the other public buildings, in the Merchants' Exchange, in New York, &c., it would resemble the brick work in a wall where each brick laps on to and is held by its neighbor. As it is, each brick would exactly fit upon the one below and above it, with a vertical joint from bottom to top, and evidently insecure. The longer the antaes the more insecure the structure. The brick work behind is merely butted up to the granite; the granite cannot be bonded into the brick work,

for its back is smooth, instead of projecting, as it should, at frequent points into the brick work. The antae in the old front on Fifteenth street were in a number of pieces, and could thus be bonded into the wall, but they were not laid in ashlar work, as they should have been, and as is done in all structures designed for ponderousness and durability. The matter was at the time made the subject of congressional inquiry, and an able report upon the subject was made by a select committee to the 25th Congress. That report embraces the opinion. of Thomas U. Walter, Esq., of Philadelphia, an architect of great distinction, and superintendent of the construction of the Girard College. in that city. Referring to this matter, Mr. Walter says:

"The second objection advanced is the weakness of the structure. My decided opinion in reference to this subject is that all the outside walls are entirely too thin and too weak for so large a vaulted building as the one in question. These walls should have been at least three and a half feet thick, exclusively of the projection of the antae, (or pilasters, as they are commonly called,) instead of which they are only two feet three inches. And here permit me to remark that the strength which would have been derived from these antaes, had they been constructed according to the principles of stereotomy, is not only lost by the manner in which they have been built, but the walls, which would have been too weak without them, are actually rendered weaker by their introduction. These antae, one of which occurs in every eleven feet around the building, should have been constructed. in courses corresponding with those of the ashlar, so as to have formed a bond with it. But under existing circumstances, the whole bond of ashlar is cut off, from the bottom to the top of the building, on each side of every one of the antae, while the antae themselves afford little or no resistance to lateral pressure, being composed of large stones set on the end of each other, without a single cramp or tie to hold them to the ashlar, or a dowel to keep them in their places. We have therefore a straight joint on each side of every antae, extending its whole height, by which all the horizontal bond of the wall is destroyed, except that which is obtained from the filling in of the brick work, which is so reduced by the thickness of the ashlar as to afford but little strength."

If any member of this House has any doubts after the testimony produced by the committee, and the authority cited, reference might be made to standard works of architecture; or he might be referred to the Patent Office or the Post Office extension, the Girard College, or the Merchants' Exchange, of New York, where the antæs are in ashlar. By studying either of those buildings the observer can plainly discern why books of masonry require that such work shall be bonded with headers, binders, and stretchers, and how insecurity arises from a neglect of these rules.

The question arises, why the government maintains a supervising architect to waste its treasure in the construction of expensive, insecure buildings-a person who never raises a voice of warning when a costly structure is erected upon architectural principles condemned

by every canon of his craft? In matters of taste he might be excused for heresy; but where questions of solidity and safety are involved, and the most obvious duties of his station are neglected, what censure is too severe? When he advises or tolerates such mischief, ought he to be tolerated? Such a building, constructed upon proper principles, would survive a considerable shock of an earthquake; as it is constructed, the slightest settling would precipitate its granite mask to the ground.

The House will have no difficulty in arriving at a decision upon the question submitted to us as to the competency of Mr. Young, the supervising architect, in the light of the facts we have exhibited. If any doubt is left as to the competency or professional skill of Mr. Clark, the engineer in charge, to have the engineering control of all the public works of the United States, a brief chapter from his history, as detailed by himself, will solve it. That history is found in the opening of his testimony. It thereby appears that he is neither an architect nor an engineer. That he once built a mill at Hartford, Connecticut, 120 by 60 feet, of one story, the foundation of stone and the rest of wood, costing from $12,000 to $15,000. He also built a mill at Brattleborough, Vermont, of what dimensions does not appear, and has been consulted about dwellings. But he states he never had any connexion with any public work until Mr. Bowman made him his chief clerk, from which position he has been advanced to that of engineer in charge of all public buildings. Can it be a matter of wonder that when the country is full of competent engineers who desire employment, that the government is ill-served, when they are rejected and a man, by his own confession, of no experience or capacity is employed? Such a man cannot be blamed for not knowing that marble capitals in five pieces, like those he accepted at Hastings, are unfit for use. Mr. Young concurs in the statement of other witnesses that Clark is not an engineer.

Your committee, for specific answers to the resolution, state that, in their opinion, the cost of the Treasury extension, at the present rate of expense, will reach $5,000,000. They have not had time to inquire into the cost of the Capitol extension. The work on the Treasury extension is illy done, insecure, and unsubstantial. The original designs are not being carried out, but are varied from in many particulars, which largely increase the cost to the government and lessen the value of the building. They believe that "the same objects," that is, the construction of a durable, handsome building. can be attained with far less expense to the government. The officers of the Bureau of Construction referred to, A. B. Young and S. M. Clark, in the judgment of the committee, are not qualified for their positions, or abuse them, and should be removed. They are further of the opinion that it is for the interest of the government that the Bureau of Construction be placed in the Interior Department, which, from the general nature of its duties, is best calculated to supervise the public works.

COMMITTEE ROOM, February 14, 1862.

Present: Messrs. Lazear, Kelley, Perry, Chamberlain, and Wall.

S. M. CLARK sworn:

Question. What is your name and office?

Answer. S. M. Clark; I am acting engineer in charge of the Bureau of Construction under Treasury Department.

Question. How long have you held that position, and what is your salary?

Answer. I have twice held it; my last appointment dated June 1, 1860; my salary is $3,000 a year.

Question. What was the date of your first appointment, and how long did you act under it?

Answer. I think it was May, 1860, and I was reappointed after an interval of about two months.

Question. What was your business prior to this?

Answer. Prior and back to August, 1856, I was chief clerk of the bureau.

Question. Are you an engineer by profession?

Answer. I have qualified myself for duties of engineer, but never adopted it as a profession.

Question. Have you ever been engaged in practical duties of engineer?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Where and when?

Answer. In Brattleboro', Vermont, Hartford, Connecticut, and New York city.

Question. In what connexion at Brattleboro', Vermont?

Answer. In planning, laying out, and erecting a water-power and factory.

Question. What factory?

Answer. One for the manufacture of rules and mathematical instruments; the first of its kind started in this country.

Question. How long were you so engaged there?

Answer. I think about six years in Brattleboro', in constructing water power, in building factory, making machinery for carrying on the business, and then carrying on the business. The rest of the time that I was in Brattleboro, I was cashier of a bank.

Question. Were you ever employed by anybody as an engineer while in Brattleboro'?

Answer. I was frequently consulted upon engineering, but never professionally employed.

Question. In what public work were you engaged at Hartford, Connecticut?

Answer. No public work; there was none building there.

Question. In what were you engaged as an engineer in that city? Answer. In planning and building a mill for the reduction and separation of ores from copper mines in that vicinity, and also in designing some private dwellings, but not professionally.

Question. Do you remember the size of the mill?

Answer. I think it was about 120 by 60 feet, but it is only a matter of recollection. It had two steam engines, one of 12 and one of 20 horse power, running day and night.

Question. What was its height?

Answer. It was all in one story.

Question. Do you remember how long you were engaged on the work?

Answer. On the work and superintending running of machinery for about two years.

Question. How long in constructing the building?

Answer. Somewhere between six months and a year.

Question. Of what material was the building, and what its cost? Answer. The basement portion was of stone; the upper portion of wood. I think the building and its appurtenances cost from 12,000 to 15,000 dollars.

Question. How high above the ground line did masonry work extend?

Answer. About six feet.

Question. Were you interested as owner or proprietor of business in the factory?

Answer. I was to have been interested as a compensation, but my employers failed in carrying out their enterprise, and no interest has ever been awarded to me.

Question. Were you engaged on any public work in New York? Answer. My occupation of this character there was confined to consultation with others in reference to dwellings.

Question. Do you remember to have been consulted officially about any public work then going on in New York?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Had you the professional charge of any public building or work there?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. What was your salary at Brattleboro', Vermont, or your pay for construction of building?

Answer. It was my own.

I first began it in connexion with a partner, and subsequently acquired full title.

Question. Then the Treasury extension was the first public work of which you had charge?

Answer. My position as engineer in charge gives me general control over all buildings constructed under the Treasury Department, of which the Treasury extension is one, and each one has its local superintendent, who attends to the details, subject to my general order. Question. Do these local superintendents all report to you, and com.nunicate through you to the several branches of government? Answer. The local superintendents report direct to the Secretary of the Treasury, who, in the ordinary course of business, refers these reports to me for examination and comment.

Question. Did you occupy the position you now do when the but

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