New-York tribune., 1873-01-02
A EARNING TO BUILDERS.

| MORALS FROM THE RUINS OF THE BROOKLYN
| PAPER wAREHoUsE-A DANGEROUS SHE'LL
| CLUMsILY PATCHED AND DULY INSPECTED.
| The fve-story brick paper warehouse at
Van Brunt and Unon-sts, Brooklyn, which partly fell
on Tuesday night appears TO have been erected IN direct
violation of the building laws, and was dangerous
she'll Thoiother portions Of the walls IN Union-st are
still standing but dangerous that the Fire COM
missoners yesterday directed them to be pulled DOWN
The Il horses belonging Smith ds Jewell, -four manu-
facturers, which enveloped by the ruins were all
extrcaed yesterday, alive but some Of them so badly
injured that they viii probably die.
Fire Marshal Ready and Fire Commissioner Phraner
| made a thorough examination OF the structure, and
found that II had been built very shabby. Tho walls
we're not le inches in thickness stated by the owner
but only Il inches above the first story and there were
no partition walls The interior Of the building was sup
ported by sxinch iron columns from the first hoor up,
and by eghtinch columns the lower floors. The iron
columns snapped off like pipe-sems in several places
and the grdeIs which rested them fell with terrible
crash carrying everything else with them The columns
were too when placed in the building or else they
became SO by the settling OF the walls, and wedges
sips OF wood about inch thick were inserted be-
tween the coping Of the columns and the girders after
the building erected The columns are Is feet apart
and each grder oned and braced at the top OF each
column. The settling Of the building has opened these
joints at the top in some places nearly an inch.
Another dangerous feature the condition of the
eirders Each about 10 feet long, reaching from one
column TO another and made Of spruce planks, dmen-
sons T. l2 and inches spiked together and set in
about 20 apart throughout the building. The beams
OF the 20 feet long, and rested the grders,
60 that If iron column gave way whole section OF
girders with the floor beams resting them, would
also fal The other unnured portions OF the building
were constructed in similar manner. The building
was three stories hgh covered whole block, and was
loaded down with q bulky stock OF wall paper.
Machinery was put into the building very carelessly
Some OF the girders bent down like bow from the
weight the upper floors.
The walls built by Patrick Carn, the framework
by John westfal and the flooring by mechanics en-
ployed by the owner The walls were built in Mdsum-
mcr OF poor quality OF dry brick, without any filling o;
mortar. Commissioner Phraner had his attention called
10 this omission the part OF the builder while examln
ing the structure yesterday. The only particle of NOR
tar the outside row OF brick That portion of the
building which fell did not contain headers
brick to bind it together The Commissioner states that
the building could have been made safe at very little
cost The main walls should have been 16 inches thick
10 the very roof and tine guides should have been Of yell
low pine Of greater length than those now in the build
ing The columns should have been OF heavier iron. and
at least one brick party-wan should have extended
through the center OF the building whereas there is
none The owner was ordered relieve the standing
DO ortlons OF the building by removing the stock on the
floors and by putting in new grders OF yellow pine of
Size not less than 2 by II inches The necessity OF con-
structing l6inch outer walls and center wall was also
pointed out
The storehouse when It was building, regularly"
speced by OF the inspectors In the employ OF the
Fire Commissioners and permit to proceed with the
work was granted without hesitation. This system of
spectng buildings has long been condemned, as the
work been really performed, as IL apparent
from the reckless manner in which brick ana frame
structures skeletons, have been erected III all sec
tons OF the city.
William II. MARS, the owner. estimates his loss
on the building and the machinery at s50O0 on stock
O. 100
working men and women employed in this building had
only left their work three hours before the walls fell