The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-20


use of improper materials, in building, have lately
become frightfully common in this country, and
have been attended, in some instances, with such
melancholy loss of life as well serious destruc-
ton of property, as to suggest the necessity of
stringent laws upon the subject, to guard against
their recurrence The testimony before the Como
YER, in relation TO the late terrible calamity at
Lawrence-in comparison with which all the tales
of horror that we have ever read, concerning fires
and shipwrecks, steamboat and railroad dis
asters, seem tame and insigniicant-goes strongly
to show that the fall of the Mills owing to the
weakness and bad quality of the iron pillars used
to sustain the fabric. But short time previous,
we had occasion to note the falling of railroad
depot somewhere in New York, we believe, from
precisely similar causes 1t is but a few weeks
since a warehouse in New York, fell-hury-
ing several persons in It's ruin, some of whom
died from their injuries. The accident occurred
at an early hour in the evening, when the streets
were filed with people, and after the building had
been vacated and closed in anticipation of some
such catastrophe; and the persons injured were
standing or passing on the sidewalk at the time.
Now we have an account Of two accidents
'NS'NHAi
of them strikingly resembling in character, though
happily not in consequences, the late one at Law
renee. One day last week, building in Men,
pills. in Tennessee, used as a slave-mart fell,
buryng six slaves-two of whom were killed,
and two others badly hurt The same day,
new building three stories HIGH designed 10 be
occupied as the printng-office of the Memphis
appeal, fell, and carpenter was covered by the
rubbish to the depth of ten feet, but fortunately
escaped without serious harm. In our own city,
where land for building purposes is comparatively
cheap, and eligible sites are to be had in alum
dance, the fashion of running up warehouses to
the height of five, six and seven stores has not
vet been carried to the extent it has gone at the
North; nor has the demand for rapid improve
ment been such as TO give rise to the habit of
hasty construction which prevails at the West.
But even here there have been accidents enough
during the last ten years, happening from these
causes, to admonsh us of the necessity of legs-
lative safe guards against the perls of careless
building. That it is clearly a case for the inter-
position of the State, through its law-making
power and by the appointment of competent
persons to enforce the laws when made, cannot
use of worthless materials, can be safely left
to the correction which the interest of individuals
is sure to apply. The tradesman, who sells goods
that will not wear, or the mechanic, who
botches the work committed to his care, will be
sufficiently punished by the loss of custom, and
the community protected by the experience that is
gained and which is generally diffused. Not so
with the work of the mason and the house-carpen-
Ter In their case-at least, when it extends to
the construction of buildings intended for the use
or habitation of men, any discovery or exposure
which may be made of the unsoundness of their
work comes too late, and is purchased at too
high price, to render the experience gained
either an equivalent or a protection. As in the
case of the Lawrence calamity, what avails the
damage done to the business and reputation of
the founder who furnished the defective castings,
when weighed in the scale against the consequent
ces his ignorance or his fraud has entailed 1t is
the right Of every man, woman and child who
walks our Streets TO be protected, as far as posi-
BILE from the danger of being crushed TO death by
falling walls or lapsing foundations. On the
same principle that we prohibit within the limits
of the city trades and manufactures which are con-
SlUefcQ 10 nave an lnlu erect publlC
health, we both may and ought TO restrain and
prevent carelessness and recklessness in the con-
struction of buildings. Formerly, it was attempt
ed to secure the community against the conse-
quences of empiricism in the professions and
unskilfulness in the handicrafs, by dplo-
gone very much out Of vogue, and both
have failed to answer the end proposed, some
other means must be substituted in their
stead. The only course consistent with the spirit
of modern legislation, and which would be likely
to be at all eiectua would be the passage of we'll
considered laws on the subject of Building I'M
provementS-their enforcement to be entrusted
either to the general police authorities of the city,
or to inspectors especially appointed for the pur-
pose. In the case of public buildings, and those
designed for meetings, lectures, concerts, theatre
cal exhibitions and TIE like the necessity for such
legislative restraints is imperative. 1t is a duty
which the State owes to the people, to provide for
the public security 10 that extent. The recent
melancholy cases we have quoted demonstrate the
propriety of extending similar watchful super
vision over buildings designed to be used work.
shops and factories, or for private and accom-
mediation.