The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-05

Of the Department OF Buildings but who that
appear on tho record, since all the plans and
papers in the Department. of Buildings bearing
the inauest was in progress over those cight
slain persons. and not all the efforts Of the de-
partment have since been effective in obtaining
their return. Owing 70 this fact. and 10 the adj
ditional one that Mr. Hale does not seem to have
smployed any, architect to plan that building.
Tho next event bringing MIR. Iae conspcu-
ouslv before The public was tho falling AT a fire
ari Part Of his old iacio.y in Tenth avenue neGr
hryy msr nTed T1 stSry SS ynGs has
bon as fully told as il need be; but there is a
and tho action Of Mr. Hale when brought into
contact with the Department of Buildings with
wSs S crsG S SSn%'S d"y Scyra % Rc ns mfnt
of plans and specifications with the Depart
ment Of Buildings was required hy law. in 1858.
being IN 1862 II IL. therefore, as the law cx-
lists. beyond the power of the department to or
or TO insure its safety although werc it now
projected its erection would not be permitted.
~ lis wall are. throughout four inches thinner
ever. the authority Of the department may he
cxercisod. and that is in the ordering Of suf-
% ON Apr p7 81 oiS n four l'g ySars Si ro after tho
nmSy dn wall walls naG gecn patched sp uG qni
reported To Superintendent Adams that there
were iorty-two persons hnhtually employed in
whom the only means of s.ape in ease NJ fire
were n single narrow stairway in the southeast
corner Of the building and n straight iron lad
der on thc outs ldc of the southcrly side. and
these, in his judgment were insufficient. On
the succeeding, day Mr.. Hale WIS informed Of
the report. tut he ma no reply until May IA, a,
when he drmurred. alleging that the means VI
escape were amply sum lent. Superintendent
Adams. e. sat sly him, ordered a rccNauinaiion
on the 23l IT May. the result of which was
tor Brqwnns's report. Again MIR Hale wns
an 10, irrNll uI lltituul a.
~. whi'h hs refused 10 DO. On June the
siamcct was put in, ne hands Of Mr.;
three days later he commenced proceedings
atainst Mr. Hale. That brought him TO terms,
! aud on July 81 lnspc tors j. W Browning and
William Grau reported tnatt the requirements Of
| the department had boen complied with Mr.
Hale havlng put up an endless chain nre IS
cape reaching from the Sixth story to the
| ground. In that building the work Of piano
| forte frame max ing IL still going on.
After his factory on Thirty-hfth street had
! fallen; the toroners inquest was ended. and lie
/ had rilc tod compromises for small amounts Of
| money with tho relatives ~ tho people killed
/ Mr.. Hale took steps toward the rebuilding Of
! his cdiilce. He seemed u little dubious about
enrount"rnc another gale of wind and public
| - engaged Mr.. John G. Prague. architect. to
mASr drawinss ior a building TINT would
/ ions wrr" snhmitgi IN the Department. OF
/ Buildings F.b. |. ISL and We're approved by
Lanes VI. MarsreSor. tnrn Sqp"rnicndcni.
p'Hor Bernard Swr, n"y. ana wer. by him re-
/ turned. us evidence that their requirements had
been complied with N the erection. ns he was
supposed e. have seeu. sept. /. 1871. Samuel
| Cp,hranr WAS the builder.
MI, Waiter ". Adams. Superintendent Of
| buildings say- concern ng thu uusairty oi the
| Hal" fa'torivs; All the portions uf them with
the constitution OF which have had anything
| e. do. that Is all ere tod since have been in
| this position. were n solid as the law permit
tel mo To enforce their being made. But with
powercG III t. have anything To- do. Tic law law as n It
exists seems 10 have b".n framed 10 obstruct
the usefulness Of my, department instead Of
| sured that n building is liable to fall down at
any moment w,thouta fire IN II. can interfere
uni even then. before can do ANYTHING. have
t. 20 through IA vcNatious and slow legal pro-
c.'ss. II. To- snve life. take any steps to render
| - dangerous house secure. am liable not only
to havc 10 bear the expense myself. bu, to stand
r6sf 're"SSh have AcT the pdwsr ms
ings who have neglected my warn ugs. Now. to
| il'u-irat" th' delN- see here; Here i -,Nnrt
and in an exceedingly dangerous condition.
tnrrntening to fall at any moment | have TO
md note H. my attorney. notifying him OF
TO- facts and directing him 10 scar n the titles
f. 500 who are the owners Of thnt properly
them. Thoy have already had cautionhry no.
/ IL. lut refuse To do anYhlng / must,
h''urc can begin pro'ccdings. serve Nj e,
not e.b pa q" owners but u" lls-.ss ana
| even. under arrrt'- decision. upon tho ten
| auts rhcn they have twrnty-i9nt hours 10 re-
| ply. Then. If the owners nrs Wiling Ia remedy
| the condition of affairs. they must nave time 10
do So. If they are not. must get three sur
| Neyors to make survey of the prem isrS-onH
from tho American Institute Of Archit"cis, one
appointed 10y the owner, and one by me-. Their
report Is the issue take into court. Even then,
| ll the owner Is ugly. ne rNn make almost NH
n,te delays Meantime. the houses may have
/ tumh~d down. Before this department can
lust Iy b. blamed for existent dcircis IN build-
ini.S ere.trd before II came into exist nee the
law must bee greatly changed. 1t would also.
Il = rot ionnry powers IN requiring more sc'ur-
iiy than the law now coniemplatcs in the crcc.
iiun of those enormously hlgh factory ana nh'
buildings. NV hands are tied ~ II Is. All can
do Is To So. that th" law ~ II exists IL enforced
and whore can. persuade owners TO even -
beyond II IN securing safety. Ihat mucn yol
may Dc sure viii do"