714 REPORT OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 



The heavy projecting cornice of the south tower had fallen down, in part, 

 and the remainder was unfit to receive a new roof. 



The high brick columns, extending from the cellar to the eaves of the main 

 building, and supporting the northern wall of the south tower, were so much 

 damaged by the fire as to require to be removed, and, consequently, with them 

 the above-mentioned wall itself. The lining of the upper story of the main 

 building was also so much injured that the greater portion of this will require 

 renewal. But the most instable portion of the building, and that which gave 

 rise to most anxiety, was the principal northern tower. This, which is one hun- 

 dred and forty feet high, starts from a square base, and is gradually transformed 

 into a regular octagon of smaller dimensions. Four sides of this octagon rest 

 upon the sides of the original square, but project into the interior, while its 

 other four sides extend diagonally across the angles of the square, and are sup- 

 ported by rough and imperfect corbel work, consisting of masses of bluestoue 

 very seriously affected by the fire. The tower was originally divided into a 

 series of stories by transverse wooden beams and plank floors, which were en- 

 tirely destroyed. The anxiety in regard to this tower was increased by ob- 

 serving a vertical crack extending a considerable portion of the height of the 

 tower, but whether this had previously been produced by unequal settling, and 

 had merely been increased by the unequal expansion of the exterior and inte- 

 rior walls, due to the fire, or entirely produced by the latter cause, could not be 

 definitely ascertained. As this part of the building imperatively demanded im- 

 mediate care, the architect was directed to give it his first attention. After a 

 due consideration of its then present condition and its future use as a receptacle 

 of heavy articles, it was considered necessary to erect within it a lining of solid 

 brick-work nine inches thick, laid in cement, from the bottom to the top, firmly 

 united to the original wall, and serving as the support to iron beams of the brick 

 floors. And, furthermore, it was concluded to fill up, in brick-work, a number 

 of the high, narrow windows in each story, which would add to the strength of 

 the structure without affecting externally its architectural appearance. 



A similar construction was directed in the other principal north tower, and 

 the work in both has been executed in such a manner as to give assurance that 

 these parts of the building will not merely be restored, but will also be rendered 

 more stable than they were before the conflagration. The crack above men- 

 tioned has been found, by the undisturbed condition of a thin stratum of plaster 

 placed over it, to have remained the same, and the walls, for several months 

 previous and during the winter, have not undergone any perceptible change. 



While the work immediately required for the safety of the front towers was 

 in progress, plans were discussed and prepared for the interior of these as well 

 as for that of the south tower, with a view to their better adaptation to the 

 wants of the establishment. 



The original plan of the building included four principal staircases leading to 

 the upper story of the edifice, one on each side of the north entrance, and a 

 similar arrangement on the right and another on the left of the south entrance. 

 As these occupied a large portion of useful space, it was thought best to increase 

 the size of those at the north entrance, dispense with those on the southern, and 

 so arrange the heights of the stories of all the towers as to render them more 

 available for the business operations of the establishment. 



The work which has been done on the southern tower consists in the removal 

 of the north wall and a considerable part of the upper portion of the other 

 three walls ; the preparation of a part of the freestone, from which to reconstruct 

 the exterior wall ; the greater portion of the brick- work of the basement, and 

 the furnishing of the cast-iron columns intended to replace the brick piers which 

 supported the northern wall of this tower. 



Immediately after the fire, measures were taken by the Secretary to secure 

 the property from the weather by a temporary roof over the main building, and 



