The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-16

record, Tor as new buildings are projected or old
ones altered they can readily be as gned their place
ON Inc llsL The work ls being prosecuted ut rapid
rate about one thousand building, or month being
inspected, and It wal be pushed forward with all
ONCE win allow without interfering with other more
Important duties connected Herewith.
IRON BUILDINGS.
In presenting my annual report rom year TO year,
have at times made suggestions In renard 10 the
construction OF buildings IN the city as nave seemed
to me right and proper. Iron beng now so extern
s,vey used In building. do not deem u out or place
to express my views at thus time rel ton to TINS
subject, for certainly no branch OF Industry which
has engaged In the erection o. buildings the city
OF New York during the last i've years has made
such rapid progress impeled by actual require.
menJs as that OF the construction OF IRON work used
In our modern ediiices he more ready adaptation
OF iron 10 every style OF acnltcture ana its supe-
rioriy In point OF strengta ana ureproof qualities,
IN comparison with other materials, have rendered
Its adoption q matter OF necessity Thus 1t enters,
largely into the construction OIL almost every build
ing now erected not only OF those whose facades
OF iron but also for those OF BRICK aud ston as the
1acilleS Afforded where room aud ign. are desired,
by iron beams. Orders and lInteis Tor large open.
lngs, render their use OF beneiit and almost
UNIVERSAL requirement., doing away with all obstruc-
tons oil intermediate supports, suca as columns.
posts and piers.
Corresponding to this increased demand there has
arisen Derpiexlty IN this department winch see
no possible means OF avcrting otaer than the mode
proposed as hereinafter mentl ned -
III Is practice more common ,han otherwise, i re.
greet to say, In the construction OF IRON columns,
beams, orders an lintels, to make them Oh greater
thickness, at the ends than III the midule rradualv
taperng them OIL, beginning short distance from
the ends and continuing towards The centre. This
Is done In order TO deceive the Inspector anu make
the article appear strong and SUBSTANTIAL while 1t III
In reality an insufficient support. The outward ap-
pearance Is generally made to comply with the re-
qulresnentS Of the specifications aud plans made by
the architect the maker OF the arlcie des ring the
benefit OF the metal saved. tho only way to dis
cover this deception Is by drilling through the iron
ct various places and measuring The thickness OF the
various parts, which Is only done Ut considerable
expense; besides, TINS drilling tends to impair the
strength.
Beams, lintels and Orders are frequently Of long
spans In the clear, and sustain great weights,
ally OF an entire wall four five stJrIes IN height.
or several floors, each OF large area, be loaded
with heavy articles OF merchandise, or frequently Of
both wall and floor surfaces Tnis re aaers It or the
utmost Importance that the usa OF none but proper
anu substantial beams, giruers or nntes OF suS-
tanning strength, ample under all the atoms VI
our temperature, should DC permitted aud mat the
greatest care should he exercised. at the hands Of
most Competent persons 10 thus the Vita support Of
the building, not only TO secure 1t against falling,
but Tor the prevention OF loss OF lie.
But even under the closest SUPERVISION we cannot
fore. and also from the ilcI that the maker Ia
afforded great facility by the paint in cover
ing over defective Dcam, Intel. column gIrder.l
Thus they may be made ol poor metal Win the
sandholes and other inperlecuons puttied or
cemented up with a cement IN common use
among those engaged In the manufacture Of
iron work FOR buildings, ana which becomes nearly
us hard as ron making 1t almost lnpo sslDle TO be
detected except by the closest scrutiny and by the
vigorous use OF hammer aud chiscI. Another dlni-
Guilty attending the Of beams lntels and Orders
Is the Introduction oil new forms without previous
knowledge OF their safe sustaining weights. Or new
patented forms Invention cannot be curtaied) we
have no standard Or authority on winch To base
OPINION while OF those most in gcaeral use we have
Tor the smaller sizes rules based on actual expert
ments from which to compute their breaking weights
VI these newly invented beams or lintels have to
record the failure of two during Inc last year. letting
down the entire front OF the building; Of these
had marked upon 1t as Its sale sustaining weight $50
tons, and It broke with weight oil but hity.th
ons Or the other form of girder. such Is In gem
eral use, two other buildings nave lllen, caused by
their fracture and III not less than FORTY different
cases have caused supports 10 be placed mterme-
date between the clear or the span OF the glrder
beam or Intel, also in NUMBER OF other;
instances have lcondemned the beams and caused
them 10 be taken out OF the building and replaced
by more substantial ones In cases where have
required that O support should be placed in the
centre OF the beam 1t has been an injury to The
value OF the building, and the owner In most cases
beam, which would have given him clear space.
Thi3 would have been done had not the wall been
Ing up or taking down OF the wall IN order to replace
Ae REMEDY FOR the foregoing would recommend
a weight ~ Competent person selected by this
department., qualined IN his experience as TO the
strength OF materials; that such person should givs
strain coming thereon obtained BY actual test, and
that the safe weight when III shall be at the rate
or One.fOurth the breaking weight.
This law in regard 10 the testing Of iron orders
and beams for buildings Is IN lorce in ali the large
utmost Importance to the building interests and
the preservation Of life IN the Guy OF New YORK.
The defects existing In a building law for preas
city like own can Oniy be discovered from ac-
tual experience, and therefore, although the exist
ing law has effected much III securing for the metro
polls better class OF structures, and at the same
time exerted strong influences In the prevention OF
accidents, stlllrom time To time tue operations OF the
department have clearly shown that changes should
have been made which were absolutely necessary In
order make the law an instrument productive Of
the greatest good to the greatest number. The de-
fectS as they have been discovered, l have en-
deavored to point out in my annual reports, and in
Ng N mr.
cessary changes Since the act became q law, IN
1862, some amendments have been added and some
OF my suggestions adopted. Very many OF the pro-
posed changes, however, owing to the pressure
OF other business before the Legislature, or from
been neglected. The accident In Tnrty-nftn street,
here Oore referred 10, had tendency to draw pub
TIC attention 70 the subject and to arouse the COM
munity to such an extent that perfect build
ing law was on all SIDES demanded The discussion
which ensued III reference 10 the sad occurrence
noted was productive OF goon, for !; led to review
OF the entlre subject OF building In the city, the
laws regulating the same, the means TO DO used 10
avert a similar calamity IN tic future, while many
practical hints were thrown out calculated TO ma.
terlally improve the building law as III operation.
Having myself long felt the necessity OF the changes
proposed prepared amended bill and presented
1t TO the Legislature ut the present session. at the
same time urging its passage. Before presenting it.
however, 1t was submitted to number oil practl-
cal architects and mechanics for their consideration
and the bill as framed was endorsed by Them will
also state that before tue pro- new act sent
TO Albany 1t was also referred and received the
entire approval OF the Board Of Fire Underwriters Of
tnls CITY, ms bli u gives me pleasure To say, mas
PASSED D0th houses or the Legislature, and now
awaits the approval OF the Executive To become q
law. An cxtcnded reference TO the new PROVISIONS
emboded IN the bill Is unnecessary Tor TO the best
OF my ability have abored 10 make 1t In all It's pro-
visions one which should July meet the require.
ments not only OF the present, but also adapted
To the future growth and greatness o our city.
Tnat 10 Will make building more expensive Is not
fact, for 1t Is only upon poorly struc-
lures sham budlngs'--erectcd lor speculative
purposes, that any additional expense Is entacd.
la the erection OF good buildings no Increased ex-
penditure Is rendered nec,s sary ana the tendency
OF the new law Will be to promote generally the
building interests, while greater security against
acciuent Is insured system oil direct responsibility
being established. In the passage OF the bill
through the Legislature, allow me to remark that
no captious opposition was III de, AS has been the
case IN former years, bur al seeming 10 recognize
the necessity and importance OF the measure gave
II their hearty and cordla. cooperation.
Should the new law 20 INTO Immediate effect am
convinced that q manifest Improvement Will be cx-
hibted IN the workings Of this department, one
which VIII result In a great good, for the changes