Moving a Chimney.

Evening Star, Issue 6727, 8 October 1885, Page 3

Moving a Chimney.

The mythical feat ascribed to Yankee engineers of moving a house and its cellar has almost been rivalled. According to the 'Builder' the rather risky operation of moving a tall chimney was successfully performed recently in the tannery yard of Mr James Riley, Salem, Massachusetts. The chimney Js 90ft high, and measures at its base 6ft 6in in diameter, that at the top being only Ift 6in less. It weighs about 130 tons, and contains 70,000 bricks. The first part of the operation was to build a foundation, which was to form tlie principal part of the " carriage," out of hen vy beams 9in by lOin, and to place it in readinees for the chimney to upon wJiou the bottom of its brick base was removed. The next work was to .construct supports or braces extending up the sides at distances of 23ft, They were erected at the back and front obliquely, and fastenod at the top with iron rods, which held them in side carriage witf- thus formed, slanting from the side of ftlu; chimney down to the timbers which f-nnn-d the rest at the bottom. As an additional another " carriage " was built mi tho inside of the outer one ki a similar manner. The irorkm»-n then began to make an opening in tho baso of tho chimney, through which f-uir larrje beams were passed at each aide, giving a support, under which thirty-fqur jacks vvuro placed. The task of moving was accomElished in the ordinary manner of moving a uilding on rollers, but two windlasses and a large number of rollers worcemployed, aoas to prevent any jar. The chimney was moved slowly* bnt surely, towards its new site* Where it was finally settled. The journey Was but short—only 100ft —but the moving was attended with much labor and a certain amount of danger; for, had the brick tower settled 3in, or become to that extent out of the perpendicular, an immediate collapse would probably have followed. Six nun and two horses were required to do the work.