ST. PAUL'S SUBSIDENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 50, 22 November 1907, Page 7

ST. PAUL'S SUBSIDENCE.

OPINIONS DIFFER. . IS THE DANGER URGENT? BV TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGIiT, London, November 20. Mr. Mervyn Mncartnoy, tho well-known architect, asserts that tho piers supporting St. Paul's Cathedral dome have sunk, eome by over six inches, others by less. While Mr. Macartnoy does not oonsidor the situation serious, othor eminent architects differ strongly from his opinion, and urge that tho strictest precautions should be taken.

The following is-the ropoi-t presented by tho committee of eminent architects appointed by the Dean and Chapter to iuqnird into the condition of St. Paul's Cathedral :-"Aftor mature deliberations and a thorough examination of the Cathedral and its foundations, we aro of opinion that, in spito of tho settlements, thero is no iminodiard necessity for any extensive remedial measures to his undortakeii, but this coholusioh is bn6ed oh the assumption thnt the present conditions of the subsoil and the present water level will bo maintained. We aro strongly of opinion that the sensitive condition oi the straoturo makes it necessary that the church should bq kept under constant observation, and wo understand that a schemo for this has been formulated bv Messrs. Barry and Leslie, your 'engineers. We recommend that your surveyor be instructed to make tho necessary arrangements' for its adoption, and for readings to bo taken every three months. Wo also recommend that the conditions of tho subsoil and tlio state of tho water lovol be carefully, watched and periodically recorded; as all official investigations point to tho same conclusion—that in them lie tho possibilities of future danger. In this connection attention should bo given to all building operations in the neighbourhood, or raiecliiof of a more serious nature may arise. We may mention that wo have carefully considered the various safeguards and remedies brought forward at our meetings and published by the press and others interested in tlio building, but wo do not advise works of underpinning or of soreehing tho foundations of tho church. Wo consider that such operations would only bo attended by fresh dangers. On the othor hand, we consider that thero is a largo amount of structural work required in repairing tho fabric, which should bo proceeded with without delay."