The truss was laid bare, and then it was discovered that the sole support for the roof of the great building consisted of three iron rods one and one half inches in diameter.
The cross rods were of no use, because the wood had shrunk away and the bolts could be rattled. The upper and lower chords of the truss were made of eight two‐inch planks, and where the cross rods had been put through and clinched the auger had cut off one plank and part of another, weakening the truss by one‐eighth.
The lower chord of the truss was cut completely through in two places. It is said that it will cost nearly $200,000 to repair the church, which is one of the largest in the city.
It would not be a bad idea for the trustees of other churches to have the trusses carefully examined.
Cedar Pavements.
To pave a city with cedar would seem to be a luxury, but it appears that in the city of Chicago, out of 277.71 miles of paved streets, there are 213.35 miles of cedar blocks, of which nearly forty miles was laid last year, and the Chicago Tribune says it is the cheapest pavement laid in the city. Dead cedar brought from the vicinity of Green Bay, Wis., was first used, but it was found that it did not wear well, and live timber is now required. The cedar is a tree which does not taper rapidly, and one of good size should furnish a stick 30 ft. long. The logs are brought here by boats in lengths of about 6 ft., with the bark still on, peeled, and cut into blocks 5 in. long. The blocks range in diameter from 3 in. to 9 in., and cost 50 to 60 cents a yard, measurement being made after they are laid. The process of paving a street with cedar blocks is much the same as was used with the Nicholson pavement. A sand foundation is first provided, and on this are laid boards which serve as stringers. On the stringers planks are placed parallel with the curb, and the cedar blocks are stood on end on the planks. The interstices between the blocks are filled with gravel and coal tar.
For the last three years block pavement has cost in Chicago from $1.00 to $1.30 a yard. The life of cedar block pavement is three to seven years, and it is an excellent pavement when first laid. It is believed by many to be detrimental to health from the fact that it absorbs all liquids falling upon it, gives them back in the shape of vapor under the influence of the sun, and is itself constantly decaying. It is stated as a curious fact that this pavement wears out faster on streets where traffic is light than where it is heavy. Cedar blocks are used for paving all through the West, but more freely probably in Chicago than in any other city in the world. They are cheap, and that is a great point in their favor.