The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-22
HOW TO BUILD.

SUGGESTIONS IN REGARD TO SAFETY FROM
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES WANTED IN
New YORK. Dec. 20. 1879.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In q recent article compiled from the records of
the Building Department you direct attention to the
encouraging report Of the citys growth from tho
increased exhibit Of the number aud cost Of the
buildings erected this year. showing increase of
about ten per cent over that of the year previous
While all this IL, NO doubt, encouraging to our
builders IL there not matter of great Importance in
the Same connection that is not presented In the
above report? q.
We make the following extracts from your edi.
torial (November 8. 1871 shortly after the great
Chicago fire. .s.a
tating public Of construct
prSois Of The economist is nos to GU. the
incsnyes to an active is found in the Gus.
tom Of running the slespers o. contiguous
sseDer ssiss nre and falls il MAKES large rent through
a:s s lns
e 70 MO ns
ton between the sieepers OF the houses in build
woSd time Be- he
hremen to got anesd Of the flames. tae
OF the various provisions OF the present Building
act. which il entitled IAN act to provide for the
81
eectual prevention Of fires. and the better preserve
ton Of life and property in the city of New York.
there is mono more important than the law defining
the thickness Of brick walls for buildings of spec
fed classes and dimensions. Experts have decided
this precaution to be practical approach to greater
security. aud the testimony of those competent to
judge. who were engaged in fighting the Aamss in
the effect TINT II all the. buildings through
out the burned districts had been erected with
brick walls of proper stability irrespective Of abso-
lutte hreproof construction. easy control over
the fire could have been maintained long after
fire department. thus it is seen that every brick
used In substantial vertical distractions to the hor
safety from general conAagrsion, and with the ad.
dition of the minor provisions Of the law PROB
ably all We shall ever have to depend upon for
sons OF expediency and economy.
We beg leave to quote again from your editorial
columns. November TO- 1872 directly after the great
over the duties imposed by the calamity are disre-
garded." Also:-'The law should provide for the
removal OF sll structures which do not afford the
most absolute security. and the law should be
strictly and thoroughly enforced" "a
1t seems it was not found practicable to enact or
enforce law requiring such severe though effec-
tive measure as the above; but the existing laws
relative to the construction OF buildings were at
once so amended as to provide for maximum
amount OF security with minimum amount or in
crease OF expense to the heavily taxed holders of
real estate. As the law exists absolute freproof
qualities unnecessary stability not demanded
but certain line OF requirement is laid down that
does not materially vary from the usual work of the
honest aud capable constructor.
Shortly after the destructive confagratlon above
referred to the Building act amended in the
laws pertaining to the thickness Of walls. well
other important requirements for the construction
OF roofs cornices. skylghts. &C.. for better exter
valuable experience. though obtained ut others cost,
the less valuable to US. In report OF the
superintendent OF Buildings for the year ending
April g. 1872 it Is remarked that under the old
TOMS and. in fact. permitted by law, eightinch
walls not uncommon. and the first step
toward . better rule was the ordering Of
tweve-inch party walls by the act OF 1862
and subsequent amendments. But with the more
general introduction of water steam, soil and gas
pipes, register fues aud similar modern appliances,
together with the necessary insertion OF beams
cutting into and thereby decreasing the security of
walls III case of fire. 1t became apparent that the
twevc-inch party walls wore in reality little more
secure than the former eightnch ones 1t Is es-
peciay worthy of note in this connection that long
before the agitation the sxteen-inch wall question
by the department class bulders-in all who
desired . substantial. safe house-had voluntarily
adopted the PLAN SO. in fact. the enactment Of the
amendment in the revised law Of 1871 requiring six
teen-inch party walls was no innovation upon the
established custom OF good builders. s
We quote tho above in order to show comparison
between the day after the great conhag and
the present, an exhibit OF the disposition and
efficiency Of the Building Department in enforcing
the law then and now. This deem perth
nent to the subject OF the '.city's growth" than
comparison of indefinite statistics. 1t should
be shown ror the information of those more or less
interested that the eght-nch wall has been revived.
and that whole rows of dwellings have lately been
and are now being erected in the city Of New York
have also been erected lately and Others or
built upon in direct violation of law. not only
regards thickness OF walls but other important de-
tails. We only add that the strict enforcement
OF the Building act In little enough to secure
city from the danger that threatens u.s. and call
attention to these open violations. "whcn sensation
is the duties imposed by the calamity dis
regarded" but q law for the protection OF the life
and property of our citizens exists. framed with
special regard for their interests both in extent and
intent and it should be rigidly enforced. Who is
responsible? MANHATTAN.