Lewiston is currently considering the future of Bates Mill No.5. I must express my assessment of this building.

I am a registered professional engineer, and was chief engineer for Bates from 1954 to 1985, and an engineering consultant to Bates until 2000. This structure, erected in 1912, was an early example of reinforced concrete sawtooth roof construction, designed and built to then current standards and methods, which today are woefully inadequate.

Too many years of exposure to high humidity required for weaving, severe vibration from looms, and extreme temperature differentials, indoors to outdoors, have resulted in widespread cracks in the concrete roof, leakage, and subsequent reinforcing bar corrosion. Concrete from the roof has fallen on the weave room floor. Rusted reinforcing bars are visable throughout the area. Snow load capacity is now less than designed, which is less than today’s building code requirements.

The building was erected on filled land next to the canal system, and suffers from settling foundations. This has resulted in the severe cracking of concrete at floor beam to column joints in one area. Extensive floor settlement has occurred in several areas.

An old Lewiston main sewer, bypassed in the 1970s, runs underneath the main canal and the middle of No. 5 Mill. Serious cave-ins have occurred in like environments at Bates Manufacturing’s former Androscoggin, Bates, Hill and Edwards mills.

In my opinion, despite understandable sentimental feelings, this building should be demolished to make way for new construction meeting today’s building codes and tomorrow’s needs.

William B. Lewis, Auburn