14 TOWERS AND TANKS FOR WATER-WORKS. 



was native rock, laid irregularly in lo-in. courses; the mortal 

 was composed of one-half cement and one-half lime, \vith a 

 fairly good quality of 'Torpedo' sand, laid in the usual pro- 

 portions of hydraulic cement. 



" After 50 feet of this work had been completed, more or less, 

 cool weather was encountered during the first few days of Decem- 

 ber. About Dec. i5th the work was stopped pending a change 

 in the weather, 85 feet of the tower being then completed. 



" On Dec. 23d a sudden thaw set in, accompanied by a driv- 

 ing rain, which lasted all night. The frost came out of the stone 

 and mortar and the rain washed out considerable quantities 

 of soft mortar, and on Dec. 24th a large section of the tower 

 on the south side (the direction from which the rain came) gave 

 way extending down to the 5o-ft. mark. 



" The cause of the trouble was, in the first place, due to the 

 contractor taking chances in having continued cold weather. 

 Had this been the case for a few weeks, the accident would not 

 have occurred. 



" The contractor not being financially responsible, the U. S. 

 Wind Engine fr 3 Pump Co. tore down the wall and built it anew 

 in regular courses, 50 feet of stone, and the upper 50 feet of 

 pressed brick, and placed the tank thereon, since which time 

 it has been in satisfactory working order in every particular. 



" The tower was completed on the same design so far as the 

 proportions were concerned, except that we used Portland cement 

 in rebuilding. It was also thought best to continue the founda- 

 tion work down to the solid rock and 15 feet farther. We do 

 not think, however, that this made any difference in the safety 

 of the structure, as the bed of clay was amply sufficient to support 

 superimposed weight, as was demonstrated by examination of 

 the foundations when the second excavations were made; it 

 showed no trace of having settled." 



Garden City, Kan., April 30, 1896. During a high wind a 

 ioX i3o-ft. stand-pipe (material not stated) failed. E. C. Murphy, 



