New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-30
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
THE HOUSE THAT HALE BUILT.

CONCLUSION OF THE INvEsTIGATION-TEsTIM
OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND INSPECTORS
OF BUILDINGs-THE PRESENT BUILDING LAW
CONDEMNED BY TIE JURY.
Coroner keenan, and the jury impanneled to
inquire into the OF the fall Of Mr. Hales building
In West Thirty closed their Investigations yester
day. Bernard NJ Sweeney OF No 27 West Twenyeighth-
st. Of the Inspectors attached 10 the Building De-
partment testified that be had been FOR 20 years
and builder ia Inspector OF the district in which the
building fell had been shown the plnos and pecfca-
ons visited the building every second day, and Occa'
sionally oftener while the work In progress; the
materials and work hrst-cass at no time did no
think tho building in danger OF FALLING the wind
may blow over any building IN course Of erection
thought that more liable 70 blow over than
many others OF the same hight In bis District the cause
Of the fan was The action 81 the win no, on
too hurriedly had the windows been closed II might
have the m DO 6Gt THINK as fG n9 inches wf
thicker they might have resisted more but w3ud hoI
have prevented the fall saw Mr. Hale after the building
was up two stories and he then wanted beams I,s
in the wall for platform; did not give permission, Dut
referred him to the Departments OF BuIdgs ana ne OO
tanned permission, because 1t was thQugh tnat 9eas
passing through the walls would strengthen mem
he paid nothing to witness for his trouble In bringing the
Edward r. Fitzpatrick, Sergeant Inspector OF the
Building Department by trade builder and joiner had
and sraghtness OF the wals and found everything In
hrsclass condition never saw better rough walls; had
no Thought of danger when examining the building -
Walter W. Adams, Deputy superintendent OF Buiu,
ings, Is by trade mason and builder the pan anu
specifications were found to be III ACCORDANCE WIN uc
law, and witness signed certificate 70 that eneC the
Department has nothing to do with the plan elthet 70
approve dsapproye OF it, but merely to certify that II
Is or IN accordance with the law; heard no more OF
the building until after 1t fell; a copy OF me
certificate was given TO the inspector OF the
district; under Section Of the Building law,
the building could have been. put mp any
length; thought the building was safe under the pan;
think the wind struck the nOrhery part Of tho building,
raised the roof threw it partly of. and when II FELL y
carried the walls under II; do not think cross wall
would have prevented it, the walls that were LETT after
the fall stood firmly; they were straight ana ia every
way well built had the floors been in, think the building
world have stood; they would have bound the entre
structure together; double n00s are dld thch
the first one is put down before the roof Is on.
lanes NJ Macgregur, Superintendent Of Buildings
under the Department of Buildings in this city test-
fed: Was appointed in May, 1862 and have held the
noscn ever since: am hy trade house caFpentcr the
law provides that builder intending to erect building
must furnish q detailed statement of what lie intends 10
do before tls law plans were submitted TO the Depart
mont, but builders Objected To making ther pans pun
lie; witness then prepared printed blanks on which
they could state the PARTICULARS he then ccrnes tnat
the plans according to law; have frequently slg-
gcstcd to builders thar thicker walls should be made
and they have complied; have no power TO MAKE
builder less lime in constructing bmldngi
the building that fell was reported Dht h0tnhB was
said about its not being in accordance with the law
the city is divided into 26 districts; building IN
spectOr is in charge OF each; these must pass an Exam
inatOn and receive certificate from the Board OF the
American Institute Of Architects; their duties are TO ex
anime all buildings in course OF erection or repair ana
report all violations of the law and also to report an
unsafe buildings, chimncys or other matters tha may
require attentions they report the time OF commence
mcut and completion OF buIldngs the sergeant inspect
the others, ana make monthly rcuOltSj
they must follow up any violation Of the law reported
by the district inHpGctOrs there violation OF the
Jaw reported in connection with the building IN lIiiy
nuubef 81 buildings begun since Jan j. 20ll ana lloo
have been altered IN all OF "iUessS Lo'
ports he had called attention O. ias 9e
iects ia the Building law; examined the
building that fell and found it had been constructed
according 10 law the mortar green; would not use
mortar for such high walls, but cement; s the law was
compiled with. would not have made cross wall, Dul
used cOuutrrfOrs eight inches from the wall ana two
feet on the face 90 30 feet apart the beams rest
the roof was very heavy about pounds 10 the square
fOOt-tOal weight J0952 pounds think mat II me WaS
had been 20 inches the and 10 at the top II would
have made No difference; ii the building hdd been IN
closed il would have faCn the building was stronger
than many other buldin in New York have always nd
V0cgtcd stronger buildings before the Legislature bud-
cs generally make their walls stronger than the law
call ur; XT ,mbcIlng makes the buluuE fphgct;
tho law should give witness the power TO stop the con-
stru,tion of buildings il they are unsafe
The ease was then given the jury who. after short
absence. rendered the following verdict:
''Wc the jury in the OF the death OF Anne Ham
ton, find:
First: Her death caused by the falling of The
building, known, &c, owned by Mr.. Hale and Dut by
Mr.. CUchrauc. .
S,eond. We cxonerate the owner and builder from ell
blame said building put according 20 law ana
built of the best materials.
Third The law, iu our opinion, Is defective. and
recommend Legislature amend revise IN TO
make special pro yisOns for all isolated buildings
FOttIM We find that the Building Department have
pe rfOrued their duties in this matter according to law.
4 similar verdict was rendered ia the other cases.