New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-09-19
BUILDERS TRIALS.
THE IRON ORDER TEST.

Ube following communication from Mr.. Peter H.
jackson is in reply to late article in The TRIBUNE
eondernning recent law which compels iron-mold-
srs to have their work tested at a cost or tax to
them of 10 cents per linear foot Mr. Jackson in his
letter as sent u.s. attributed the authorship of the
article to "a Mr. Campbell" This was an utterly
untrue not to cay impertinent, inference which he
had no warrant for making and his attacks upon Mr.
Campbell have therefore been eliminated as irrele-
want and unwarrantable. With the exception Of
these omissions indicated by asterisks, the COM
municaton of Mr.. Jackson published precisely as
II reaches u.s. All who are acquainted with the sub
scot will observe that it is defense of the system of
testing grders, not an apology for the imposition
wpon iron-bulders which the law under which Mr..
jackson operates has been shown to be.-EdJ
70 the EDITOR Of The Tribune.
Sir: In common with the other instruments
used to increase the safety of buildings in which iron
enters as part, have been assaed TIE TRIBUNE Is
7the medium which has been awaited OF to vent the
spleen Before its publication, I called at
THE TRIBUNE Office to any heterogeneous whlcn
might suggested to the editors mind, but failed to
End the principal Knowing that THE TRIBUNE was de-
sirous fairly representing all proper public interests,
requested the reporters OF that paper to inspect
esy about 60 of ITO castrOn beams which were designed
for row Of tenements Frst-ave, between Fortieth
aud Fortyrststs The yards Of these tenements were
to be, instead of in the usual place. on the top OF the
buildings, and were to be supported by prlcK aIcnes
rest the iron beams just referred to-
surmounng the arches there to be 16 inches thick
of earth, and again above this, tagging; 80 1t will
be there to be- first 10 castiron beams, on
which there to rest brick arches then earth and
stone, all of which exclusive Of the contingent
weight OF whatever number of persons might chance to
etand above all these This arrangement Of the YARDS
was not novelty as something similar Is onsfTyane IN
Brooklyn inst westward OF the HIGHS fdgS where an
life. In the case Of the yards which were TO surmount
Admitted tint after had prevented him from using the
beams which unsafe, according to practical test
snede Similar to that Which had Occurred in BIoof
n EaSn SGam Sas no Ser M n n tn The
nm safe Weght Has Mns or @ Ge S
Barlow, HodgknsOn, FaIhairn, and all other Leading
authocs and here Is proper to say that f beams s
dimensions were amply sufficient TO sustain the weignt
Ses IS to my wac obliged to leave the mat
ter and on tie following morning the article appeared
attacking my conduct officer OF the Department. OF
Buildings and the private relations sustain n firm
whose establishment ranks among the four most exen
One Of The ca sSs which lead to The passage the
present building law. as amended by the last lhg1sla
Ward SE"ni year ago. There the building apPaI
Of great hight with many window openings in the out
side walls, and without transverse supports but Ger
a e Sn eGe Me al The Sds fell
Quence Of high wind and entoed Sss Of he and the
to a. fSs f me eS be
had occurred during the year. but among Others
smiling principally from the very limited provisions of
ss hTs S nSs So Sng required
at the present time Now the law mitates against
would heneft only the sieculaors who would not hesl,
Of poor materials without regard to safety Iron cutters
prominently as part Of building material not only IN
1t also is largely employed in tenementhouses With
stores underneath and hence now no iron beams Grid
which lave to sustain great welihts tan pc pc
ssS ede What they can ay 'e'' a
As 3 OF tn S great y Sa n H9
vide accicnts AT No 1875 Iaurensst now called
S whit tension rod broke It was used to
stan the front wall 0gstory 6roWnsGne front
the cellar and came killing the master mason ana
laborcr Their escape due TO the fact that the ten
Ss SR & qua part 4S Of t The crer broke e part
Investigation which followed elected the fact that
cause Of the accident flaw in the casting Besides
The ow was rot Noticeable after having been cenSete
over and painted in common with the rest OF tl surface
The weight which the girler would safely sttin he &C.
9u.r"nnis Of he building law, then existed This
e:rdcr vas crISpcuorsy marked capable OF safely sus'
Calming a wc:4lt OF $50 1qns hut when It broke the
fSeich which actually sustaining at the tine was
After the ae dent at No 1875 Laurensst attention was
directed .irjrr similar 10 that which 1rGEe al NO
that t cso eTer Gs4ected three quarters q
ipcl ard cvinty there would soon have been arother
y lhe rH use Of an ut di%tf support
third cast non beam broke. 1t was made by Cooke d
Kadcy Friuna' CIV after the accident the wall above
II was sust",ne by a brick arch which lay oyer ne
Ihlr1 ave, IN. - broke in building which was one Of
alike The front well needed up In the usual
ant the b,olen Intel was taken OUT and r.
pa ~ stronger At Nos 23s and $40 East Thir:
by Ay.rs HcCandless, which had commenced defect
Aug. Ths discovery Prev uted a serious accident as
S". wfTr al GSG corner OF rdaye and one
hunIr ~, o. 4 Harlem
FSundery apparently of scrap iron and Which were
eupp"rtin ne front wall Of building, broke and bad
TO bc replaced by stronger ones During tie period Of
The OcciTTuC Oi these accidents. aDont Is months, II
was Discovered hat about 70 different place., accord
III, ""id III the De tlheh O1 Buuings, glfucre
inernci!ite supports impcTatiycly became Deces AIRY
between the spans Of the openings lhtn, again. there
d eo % o c fsa SI he ord t" be- pcscG
upon them and Their Use was prevented by TIC sIPerln
thine 10 suhetanIy prevent accidents ike those cite
from com nuim: TO occur and as the opinion Of one who
England creiuy investigated the subject am con
strained to avail myself of the following quotations
"Sot'andr- the increased security St.h tss ven gnntI o,
Dae with osnsr Wien Ell tue De- sn Or epsae
SS latc ] sH % and SG a3e very
s in ,h !eHlS o Re pre- hens S 1S sse our
occasion Is olve have tcel Lost b. tie failure
snss. an he tqate lcs, Of lie property from
s a on q Tue o sSi ,' IN @ s'c e.
Srestng Of factory In tits npwsr
81 ibe SAM nature nav t.o Gohs NH
d wro 81, Iron Building Psesse, Br William Psrearn
s,osf d. AssEsssi Pfosopiss society te
ey.e nss. sody like cssirss when used r The socrs
n:e If should Ps' h with r S co an n
s'.r ne directions Of cHIeen, persons thoroughly acuaoe
% d &aS s%S s s% ofieS e @ and st
secc this respect the following QUALIFICATIONS are necessary IL tn
ine.i.se properties application Of The material when sub