Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-04
DEATH TRAPS.
Where They Arc to be Found on ana

Where They Arc to be Found on j and
X Streets.
/ That Sacramento should have an in
spector of buildings was the cry that went
up on every hand when Moore's opera
House fell some years ago, burying many
human beings in its debris. The same cry
was heard when the Coolot balcony fell, at
the southwest corner of Eighth and X
streets, year or two later, on the Attn OF
July, breaking the bones OF some women
and manning for life number OF children.
| We should have Building Inspector, was
again heard some three years ago, when
| the Grand Army Hall collapsed and sent
! to eternity five members OF the FIRST Artil-
| lery Band. I'VE should have an inspector
of buildings" was heard on every hand
yesterday morning, when poor Fritz Her
Berg was picked from out the rotten debris
of the collapsed awning of the Stoll build
ing, at the southwest corner of Eighth and
streets, and conveyed TO his home on h
street, between Sixth and Seventh, where
the attending surgeons ascertained that
both his ankles were not only dlslocated
but fractured. " We ought TO have an in
spector of buildings" said General Hart, who
was passing at the time, and miraculously
escaped being buried by the falling ruins.
That We will eyer have Building In
spector is in no wise probable. If such
large number of collapsed buildings, falling
awnings, accompanied with such fatal re-
suits will not stir the authorities to
action, then indeed does it seem that
no reform in that direction would
be probable. That buildings are con-
stantly being erected that are in viola
nf oil far
as strength is concerned, is a matter of
common notoriety. That many buildings
on J and X streets. old brick structures
that have stood the fires and floods of years
agone, are tottering against each other,
lean worse than the Tower of Pisa, is evil
dent to all who have noticed their
bulged walls, settled pillars, etc. That
the public may know something of
these eath-tTaps-for they deserve no bet
ter name-a representative of the RECORD
UNION took a walk along J and k streets
yesterday, and tried to locate where the
next disaster was likely to occur. He
found so many that it was hard to dis
crimate between them as TO which was the
most imminently dangerous, but 1t can be
said, however, that most of them are the
property of non residents, who refuse to
allow their agents to make any repairs, no
matter how necessary. The next accident,
or series of accidents, will likely occur
on next Wednesday, during the Grand
Army reception parade; the next when
the circus parade takes place,
few weeks later, ana similar accidents
will succeed each other on all occasions
when large number Of people are called
upon the street at the same time. There
are few balconies on J and X streets out
side those of the Clunie building and the
various hotels that are able to support any
weight, and at any time half dozen people
go upon them, not only are their lives in
danger, but all the lives of those on the
sidewalk beneath are imperiled. They are
old, affected with dry rot, spring from the
buildings, and while they present SEMI
blance of strength, it is entirely deceptive
a mere showing of putty and paint
Among those that should receive imme-
date attention, that should be condemned
because of their actual danger to the travel
ing public, are the following:
The entire awning around the building
at the southwest corner of Eighth and J
streets. The entire struoElre is rotten the
supports are not plumb, but in some in
stances more than a foot out of line.
The awning in front of 6l9 street is rot
ten and dangerous.
Nos. Ga and GIG ] street are no better
While not quite so rotten, are equally as
dangerous. One little support holds up
both awnings and is liable to fall with the
least weight A horse tied to the post lift
should pull back, would bring the entire
structure into the street.
No 624 street is a patched-up, rotten
awning, liable to give a newspaper reporter
an item and the Coroner a subject at any
time.
Nos. 6O3, 527, 525, sos and SOY ] street are in
the same deplorable condition, and regular
eye-sores.
Nos. 405 and 407 J street do not belong
to nonresident, yet the supports of the
balcony all lean foot or more, and look as
though the entire structure was ready to
topple upon the heads Of the passers by
This it will probably do some day, and then
the owner, man of wealth, may expect to
pay heavy damages.
Nos. 415, All. 2l6, 2lS. 800, 127 and 123
J street, are old, rickety and rotten, and a
disgrace to the street. They ought to be
and torn down.
No. 1921 Second street, opposite the Union
Hotel, IS an eye-Sore as well as a very dan
gerous awning.
K street has stronger and more substan-
tial buildings as a general thing than ],
and her awnings are somewhat better, but
none are exceptionally good. Those that
need looking after Immediately are Nos
los, 106, 30, Do, 306, $40, 401, 7l6 S06 S0S
and 91S. They are anything but substan-
tial structures.