New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-09-19
THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT FRAUDS.

TRIDULATIONs OF TENEMENT-HOUSE Builders
OBJECTIONABLE FEATURES IN THE BUILD
ING LAWS,
It Ia undoubtedly true that much fimsy
building done this city, and that stringent laws are
needed TO prevent unprincipled men from erecting IN
safe tencmens for the poorer classes Such statements
as the {oOwD from an uptown builder OF the specu
ating" must therefore, be taken with grain OF
allowance for II left uumoicsed, such men would Ger
tainly sometimes build dangerous houses. The point
~ greatest value about this statement is consequently
not its assertion that the law is too strict and sweepn
hut that the nfrngcen Of ts provisions is systematic
cay condoned by the PAYNE nj Of money 10 inc ocas
of the Building Department The laws upon THIS SUBJECT
should be so framed and administered that the homes OF
the poor and those in moderate circumstances may he
made as cheap possible consistent with safety and tie
penalty for unsafe building should be rebuilding and not
the payment Of hrbes TO individuals.
The operator who furnishes the facts fcr ms article
two distinct sets Of builders IN this CITY, and that Their
tets Knew nothing about The backnang is found in
the fact that they make plans only 9r the wealthy me Ter
put up by contractors who obtain upon TIE
cost Of their work. AND who would be very Eyo will
ting towers sS ' of IT," the Brooky Bridge if tls laws
called for such structures. There Is little or nothing
willing to zee the builders q the cheap houses pnched
~ nc ,Sa do, But the esa oGSS Te p sad
We men no build these houses public benefactors
We have filled this whole reg9n with comfortable houses
holding back afraid to risk their money In such ventures
Every year Laws arc mage SO 1a5 oao 1
ment-house law was passed which said that no man
among builders for tenenenthousel without permit
from the supreme Court which be obtained through
the superintendent asked the Court for such permit It
should be granted THIS save Hacslegor q fearful
Sersay known and understood in the trade that for
every s@cn pe11nit which should cost nothing, and
handed, the bdef pays 'o oHo Of MaesresoTs
levied on every fvetory tenement house built in this
city within the last four or ye years. Our money
n F1s %a I We to s
saw any v Court permits permits, Of any . kind,
houses ssa become szpsnsys that builder. tried io%i
stories instead 70 MasgEegSr got another law to
Sss sa Hitherto , sucs
ore es . IsT S law u.ps Ov Sss that Nc
Cheap and can be used with safety where no ieavy
9 are p% tn The
wanted the last law passed that houses could be built az
Snsa y added 50 per the Me
then fll into knocking mood and laughed bitterly at
he Gea fnst AK him he now. Ss
is MT he skinhnt! He did all this business for Mac
And then to think of being under the espionage Of
such small callner man, and having to kIuckls and
trucklc to him. We been going to quit the business
blacklnail collected in all these years by those
fellows must be mmensegreater even than what Car.
nOchan gets by his quarantine He has only four months
TO operate Ia they have the whole year and have tho
whole city to browse Why they charge s1e 80
every time they most cases let of with
O caution aud the costs"
Then taking up the pamphlet containing tho Building
law OF april TO- ISL be showed what portions Of 1t were
on Sec. 81, beginning "The Department Of Build
ings named under hs act shall have full power in pass
ing upon any question relative to the mode.
manner of construction, or materials to be
used In the erection, alteration OF repair
OF any building In the City OF NcwYcrk where the anne
is not specially provided herein" THIS aud the clause
Nsection 80 which enoins that all plans and specified
ons houses must be approved by the suEernte
puts the trade entirely ut the mercy Of the depart
incnt. "If they choose TO look out for hitch,
they are sure to find one" Other bad
features OF the law in section 8: No party wan
In any house shall be less than 10 inches thick
and Sec 8: all buildings street the bear
ing wall thereof shall he four inches thicker n all cases
than 10 ofherwlse provided Tor by this ar Sec 10 IN
which lis very expensive. and only needles u
warehouses and huge public luiidiDgs| says
the builder. Sec. II enjoins that "no metal
hues shall Dc allowed unless the ell be bui 10 a
wall Of brick stone. seetOn 20 insists that all hSlls
~ such way Rs the superintendent; shall ordain.
yhcse and siar sectiOns be says, not only need
lesejy burdens0me, but oDeB the wsy tw fSult6odoA