New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-22
CITY RNILUING.

There were during the year looO liOiV ptul"-
ings commenced in this city, of which number
1,129 wero completed while 87S, which had
been begun in 1865, were completed in 1866.
The abstract which we publish elsewhere OF
the report of Mr. Macgegor, Superintendent
of Buildings, will be examined with care by
the statistician, the social economist and the
taxpayer. AS might be expected, the extent
Of building in 1866 greatly exceeds that Of the
preceding years since 1860 This increase does
not keep pace with the increase of the popula-
ton which virtually belongs to this city. The
evils of our City Government, the msmanage-
ment Of our streets and our markets and the
amount of taxation necessary to support the
harpies Of the City Hall, have caused those
whose business has drawn them 10 this city
to look outside the limits of tho city for their
dwelling places The result is seen in the
greater ratio of increase of population in the
suburban towns than in this city. Brooklyn,
Westchester County, and Ncw-Jersey, get the
principal benefit of tho influx of families
whose heads are to DO found in our ware
houses and offices.
Complaint which must be considered just, is
made by the head of the Building Department
that the law has been uniformly hinderance TO
the execution of such policy as public safety
demands. Too much time is allowed for the
laws delay IN enforcing necessary repairs upon
unsafe buildings, which may at any time during
such delay be the cause of disaster and death.
In this matter, as in all others concerning our
city, the influence of spectators is too power
full at Albany. The members Of the Legislature,
who are unacquantcd with the necessities of the
case, and consequently Indifferent to the re-
quests of the Superintendent for additional
legislation, are brought under the influence of
bribery, or of party allegiance, and fail to give
the attention and the support which the pro
posed amendments require.
The discussions concerning unsafe buildings
and modes of fire escape are timely. 1t is not
enough that our tenement houses, which may
contain from score to one hundred persons,
should be provided with some way of escape
in case of fire; they should be 80 built, in the
first place, as to make Il ConflagTation almost
impossible At comparatively small cost, brick
partition walls could be constructed from the
foundation to tho roof, iron floOr-bcams could
take the place Of wood, and brick arches be-
tween those beams could supplant the present
card board style of lath and plaster In such a
case, every part of the building would be
strengthened to such degree that even if a
fire should occur the increased stability of the
walls and their availability for future use
would be ample compensation for the increase
in the original cost. If such radical i'm
provements were enforced throughout this
city, with the additional precaution OF
iron partitions between tho wood and
coal bins in the cellar, the danger
to life and property by fire would be reduced
at least three -fourths. So long as We have a
department for inspection of buildings, and
withhold from that department the power to
enforce its requirements promptly, we shall
never reach that degree Of public safety to in
sure which that supervision was created.
The days of wooden buildings in this city
should be numbered. Theresno good reason why
every man living south of a line 100 feet north
of Eighty -sixth-st. should be required to erect
his house of brick or stone while those north
of that line arc permitted to use wood. Much
OF that portion of the island will be cOmpactly
built up in ten years time, and those who may
erect substantial buildings should not DO en-
dangered by the shells which arc allowed under
the present regulation. Only fire-proof material
should be permitted in the walls and roofs OF
any Of the houses this side of Harlem River,