The New York herald., 1869-03-13
ANNUAL REPORT OF TIE SUPERINTENDENT
OF BUILDINGS.

ANNUAL REPORT OF TIE SUPERINTENDENT
OF BUILDINGS.
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After an unusually long delay the report Of the
Superintendent Of Buildings for 1868 has come to
light. IL was submitted to the Board OF Supervisors
during the prevalence Of the printers strike and to
the existence Of the strike must be ascribed the nom
appearance Of the report before the present time.
MIR. Macgregor. the superintendent, has given q
report which differs from the majority OF of1icial
reports inasmuch as he has prepared book which
Is not only interesting because Of the subject on
which it treats but is arranged In readable and
entertaining manner.
The Superintendent commences his report by call
ing the attention Of the Supervisors and Others TO
the tnsnficiency and neflcency Of the law govern
ing the department. and the frequent unsatisfactory
results OF the manner in which the courts are
Obliged TO adJudicate on the matter when brought
before them. He says
Local prejudces and the desire to conciate conflicting
rnssn building laws Sy he @
enss sna s on ns 81 sas e
"the greatest good to the greatest number"
The Superintendent suggests that the ofdcer en-
trusted with the execution OF the law should be
clothed with power to act promptly and decisivey
in his hands, to great extent, the lives and pro-
peryo our citizens, he should have power to crush
out completely any agent coming under ms direction
by which the lives or properly OF our citizens might
be endangered. On the other hand, he should be
held personally and even cr1minay responsible for
The report then calls attention to the amend
ments adopted by the LEGISLATURE OF lsos. S Section
snyo1e o. len chapter S1S o. the Laws o. 1885, was
Before the erection construction alteration repair Of
any Sudns Of building IN the Sy q New Hos
Department for the Survey and Inspection Of BaIdng and
s ss wS 2.
pair OF such building any thereof and record Of
portion y H. sy s isa ssS SoTS md We:
s o e. from as s n ah s % g
westerly line OF Eighth avenue running norhery
Commenting on the above, the Superintendent
says:-
That the above section was loosely constructed and passed
by the Legislature without obtaining the careful condsra
ton TO which should be entitled, will be- evident TO
Il previous sssson Of the orbddng the
esp on from S R
above quoted, doubt intended 70 exempt those who
mentioned but owing careless wording oi clause
from n he ne Of s he
laws. go - - -
chapter 93s OF the Laws Of 1857 In regard TO means
Of escape IN case OF lire, and Is as follows:-
Az y v e
@ and s dwelling sS9sss M % so than
sha placed thereon prsscsl nrsprOof are escape
Commenting on this section the superintendent
says
The provisions OF this section may on strict construction
n many cases appear 70 ee ~ ne m s ssc
lappsn there % sOud sme. he
other hand house ye stories ia height; the owner occu
the nrs door store The second noor for psriors
and he fourth and hh hs families
one mol s ~ e
6ashsaa shCas6 are general, y 4, from ys.:
wen &
o s aw should BE- smended 70 allow such
considerston Il WIN Be seen o. law conicts
with the objects sought TO be obtained.
The following selections from the report win ex-
plain t9emselves:--
ssr y sSs sasua: sss.rss sssmu.a BY N. n.p.
tors and reported az requiring means OF escape 10 case OF
The necessary notifications and proceeding. required by
law such duly given and entered into and on
w ss sss s~ rsposd
The present subject Of Gre escapes does NOT de-
gnss wh.s kind Of Are :ss b put
%
ne % % :: S ::s y Su
merit e Susns Ps0T b.eP ss
practical simple and at the time the least
Ss a e ST Ss S
s ss %
the escape put up in asubstausai and workmsnks
Sy ussss: s
III il their free from
ton but having special authority IN tho matter are no.
pgllplsas !, m = .To, s,,ss,n ssronTyD T gssAys r. =
and acted qgSn s
iwsaiyxo @ ~ the suildns oSimnsys walls Sc,
posS Two hundred % and Srs,vs q The buildings A thus re-
o @ ere a. he q
making this report, IN process Of removal Or repair.
buildings aas a Sai were originally bun and occupied dwsns
the alterations were pfnepas made ia sbs Interior Of Ss
5adnss and s attention M sny .e9 ,s 70
and causes in few days became unsafe and danger
QUA
After relating in detail the case Of the spInger
House, and the act that although It was found on
careful survey TO be In q dangerous condition the
officers were compelled to allow Is to remain 50, the
Instances like this demonstrate the necessity Of placing
his department. such summary power ss .hs, s gye ,
secure securs. : ''''
FIRE detectors ana heating. and warming apparatus
1nd place in the report and are commented ON at
length - - -
THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT.,
other than as above mentioned, during the past year
| "A given rs folows:--
Nine hundred and slxtyfour sets Of plans and
specifications. for new buildings examined. These
plans represent 2ol2 buildings classified and divided
| as follows
FIRST class dwelngs $40
second class dwellings. $50
Third class dwellings tenement houses SoS
First class stores ................. ~
second class stores. IA
Third class stOres.... 81
Manufactures and workshops. leo
Qchc c,ni6 nm