But a class of structures fraught with much greater evils exist in great abundance throughout the country-namely, those in which the faults of an unscientific design have been so far counteracted by massive strength, good materials, and careful workmanship, that a temporary stability has been produced, but which contain within themselves sources of weakness, obvious to a scientific examination... that must inevitably cause their destruction within a limited number of years. (William John Macquorn Rankine)

But a class of structures fraught with much greater evils exist in great abundance throughout the country-namely, those in which the faults of an unscientific design have been so far counteracted by massive strength, good materials, and careful workmanship, that a temporary stability has been produced, but which contain within themselves sources of weakness, obvious to a scientific examination... that must inevitably cause their destruction within a limited number of years.

William John Macquorn Rankine

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abundance cause class design destruction examination far fraught good great limited massive number stability strength temporary weakness workmanship years

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