The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-19
OUR riRCTCAL BUIIDIYG Law.

OF what Use n superintendent Of Build
ings 1.-THE Owner Of any shanty that can
stand Alteration allowed to Erect upon
any Portion Of IL n new Frame House 10
Feet Hiah-Let the City be made n vast
Tinder-Box.
Mr.. ;. l.. Russell, the hardware merchant, is
raising and so altering frame house. at Bedford and
Commerce streets, to make 1t in effect new
building A few days ago he bitterly complained Of
the injustice that had been done him by Sun re-
porter who had accused him Of stretching, lar as
It would bear stretching, the law on the erection
and alteration OF frame houses.
Sun reporter was accordingly sent to consult
Mr.. MacWogor, from whom Mr.. Russell had oh.
tanned his permit for II the charge which had been
made against tile latter was unjust, II was more
than fair that II should be retracted Mr.. Mac
gregor absent. but in his place was Mr.. Arm
strong, from whom II was ascertained that by pro-
vision OF the law q man may raise a frame house
that has peaked roof to height OF not more than
forty feet provided the roof II then receives IL fiat.
Mr.. Armstrong said that one reason why frame
houses were prohibited that their peaked roofs
Afforded no foothold TO the fremen. II this we're so.
the law would be directed against the roofs and not
against the houses. The main reason undoubtedly
tbat frame houses dangerous by OF the
rapidy with which fire will, destroy them.
The provision under which Mr.. Russell received
bis permit TO great extent nulihes the Fire law.
II allows the OF frame shanty In the city,
provided any portion Of 1t IL In durable condition.
10 tear down much OF II as he thinks bost and
the remainder TO build now frame house.
The facts In Mr. Russei's case simply these. lie
mad small shanty whicn was n nuisance In the
neghborhood OF Bedford and Commerce streets.
II had high peaked roof, whose gutter was not
more than 10 feet from the pavement. II was oc-
cupied by two colored families, who made noisome
den OF II. his alone speaks anything but well OF
Mr. Russell. II is even sai1 that Lo was going to
turn 1t into stable, an ice house. or something Of
that nature. For some reason, however. he con-
cluded not 10 do this neither did lie wish to let
the shanty remain as 1t then stood.
One would have thought ne would then tear II
down, and erect substantial brick building IN its
place. The site would Lave been excellent for
only brick house IL Is the oppo-
site corner. Mr.. Russell would certainly have
done this had he been good citizen.
But instead, lie obtained permit Tor alleriug his
proaches tire house now, It looks entirely new on
reaching II and examining II closely, one finds that
the first story really Is new entirely AID so also tho
third stov The second story is Old, except on tho
outside. This h hardly In compliance with the law,
! which SAYS tait every house within the FIRE
limits rust have its walls OF stone, bIiek or iron"
Mr.. Russell says that tue people OF the ueghhor-
hood are glad of the alteration he has made, which
g. true. They prefer the altered frame house to the
nuisance which stood there before hut that does
not say that they would not have ike brick house
better The basement OF MIR Russo = new house IL
| also old but there is hardly any merit In leaving
that. That IL OF brick aud could not have been OF
| wood. N might also have served tor brick s1ptr
structure: that really the only Cxcu there was
for building wooden first and thir story was the
! saving Of the interior OF the second story.
Mr.. Macgre COR and his inspectors cannot be
blamed Tor this. They merely allow Cd Nj. Russell
| what the law allows him ami this law Mr.. Russell
Las stretched Eat IS he could without breaking H.