The New York herald., 1878-09-10
THAT FALLEN BUILDING.

NO EXPLANATION OF The ACCIDENT YET GIVEN
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BULDINGs--wHAT
MR. ADAMS sAys-THE SPECIFICATIONS or
THE RUINED BUILDING.
Tho immediate cause OF the fall Of the new fat
building at the corner Of Fihy-thrd street and
broadway, which occurred Saturday afternoon,
still remaius mystery to the heads of the Depart
ment Of Buildings, under whose control, inspection
and surveillance the work OF construction sup
posed to be progressing Tho superintendent OF ,his
department, Mr.. Adams, was found yesterday after
noon at the scene Of the catastrophe, in company with
Mr. Dudley, his assistant Under tho direction Of the
Superintendent only enough OF the debris mad been
removed to enable the workmen to shore up tho
threatening piece OF wall that failed TO crumble with
tho rest along the Broadway side.
On being pressed for his opinion as to the origin or
the accident the Superintendent stated that he
not fully prepared to give It, should he be until
after the ruins had been cleared away sufficiently
admit OF tho foundation walls bong carefully exam
inad. An official inquiry into the whole matter is to
be held tomorrow, and after the members of tho
Board have viewed tho condition OF the promises the
order TO clear away the rubbish will be given
MIR. ADAMS VIEWS.
Mr.. Adams informed The HERALD reporter that tho
generally accepted theory Enough no declined to say
whether he himself shared the beof or not) s, that
the foundation walls wore undermined in consequence
o the cellar being flooded after The storms OF Thursday
night tho immediate OF the flooding being the
excoraon OF Fifty third street at this point
Metropolitan Elevated Railway Company whose
branch limo to Ninth avenue is being built through
tnis block. The street mas since been restored to
normal condition by tho railroad company. 'iu The
absence OF any direct evidence" :" said Mr.. Adams,
this supposition is regarded plausible. Further
more the railroad company have boon Obliged TO
blast considerable rock between seventh avenue
Broadway along Fifty third street, and ii is
sopabe TO incr that the frequent heavy concussons
impaired the solidty OF the new foundations and
q
water together may afford experts sufficient basis
sponsbty for the accident upon Providence rather
than upon the builders or the inspectors"
Inquiry as to the character OF the work and ma
teral cmpioye tho collapsed dwelling elected
positive assurance from the superintendent that both
were lrst class in all particulars According tho
appear that the building was OF the average ddaliy.
though the cost is put at the low figure OF 50, 900.
THE SPECIFICATIONS.
The original pecincations, led une 90 1873 with
the Department OF Buildings, show that 1t was the
architect, MT. II. Valentine, to put up a
brown Stone and brick fiat TO Accommodate three
se o ne oo aso pos 5uOr ss
full corner lot, running 70 feot 24 inches front, 20
feet rear and so feet inches depth. The height IS
dation walls from the curb level Ia 10 feet The foun
dalton is laid on carth the base consisting OF stones,
teet inches by iee and8 inches thok laid
WISE The front foundation walls are "a inches thick
and the rear 20 inches They are composed Of
building stone laid cement mortar. Tho upper
walls in all tue stories are OF hard BRICK,
laid In lime ana sharp sand mortar and
Il incnes thick The bearing wall on Broadway
is 16 inches thick. Tho floor beams Of spruce
by TO- placed 10 inches from the centres OF eacn tier
except IN tho roof Tier. where they are placed 20
by s. under the first floor aud Partitions under the
upper floors. The girders are supported BY brick
picr II inches square. The sdo walls, Broadway,
supported by three irou columns, II inches by IL
ten iron columns 10 inches BY IL, aud one at the
angle Broadway and Fifty-third street, IL inches
by l6; also iron column on return Of front, 10
inches by 16. The liutes, according 10 tho specica
tions wero 10 be tested as required.
Permission asked Of the Board of Examiners
OF the Department OF Bulldogs on July =, 1878, by
the architect TO erect The bearing wall OF this build
ing said wall TO be twelve inches thick the build
ing 10 be high This petition led with
tho specifications and is Endorsed as foliows:-
a Es'''sd 0' D'''o York.
Clerk OF Examiners.
The following report is also record at the do.
partment bureau, In reply to the owners application
to use the walls already built on the adjoining prem
ises:-
~. s New Yons: June - 1873
the above named application and nd the Foundation wall
S1'
posed. 4. b. McGLOIN. Inspector OF Buildings
THE INSPECTORS CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
Superintendent Adams states that when the fallen
building begun, and for number OF weeks after
pector McMurray had charge OF the Eleventh
district in which 1t is located, bu: that for reasons
wholly apart from this subject. Mr. Men Murray was
temporarily suspended last week andSMr. A. Nugent
appointed his place. The general inspector for
part or tho CITY which tho Eleventh district
situated s Mr. John 5. Berry.
Both Mr. Nugent and Mr.. Berry sent in report Of
the accident yesterday, partcularizng Its features
and concluding with the remark nelthor OF them
can advance any theory MS 20 how 1t happened until
alter the ruins have been cleared away.
SINGULAR OMISSION.
II 10 the fuc OF department. tor each inspector
TO hand In list Of the buildings being erected
altered viewed by them daily In OF any uplaw-
full or hazardous work being discovered II Is the
spec.ors' duty to report the facts to the supcrn-
tcndcnt immcdstoly No complaint was madc
about the crumbIed structure and the chief clerk
tho Bureau, Mr. Webster says that Inspector Berry
Is regarded most efficient and vigllaRt oIlcer.
But the department to have mention OF this
building In any report made ior a lew days previous
10 the disaster. The omission 10 regarded singular
and WILL It IS believed be explained, II possible, al
the inquest by tho ExaminiDg Board Tomorrow.