New-York tribune., 1891-08-26
WHAT THE OWNERS COUNSEL SAYS.
THE MOTHER OF CHAMBERLAIN GRAIN HAS EAH
PLoYED AN ARCHITECT TO SEEK FOR

THE MOTHER OF CHAMBERLAIN GRAIN HAS EM'
pLoYED AN ARCHITECT TO SEEK FOR
THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
Charles n. Harris. counsel of Mrs. Darwin Jones
Crain the owner of the wrecked building and Of the
lease of the land which it stood. said yesterday
Tribune reporter that every effort was being mads
to arrive at the exact truth in regard TO the cause
the disaster.
"A great many incorrect and misleading stae
ments' Mr.. Harris said, have been circulated regard
ing the origin Of the structure which has brought such
widespread ruin and distress to unofending people,
The facts concerning It are simply these: The build
ing was erected In 1879 by Mrs. Eliza c. Crocser
(the grandmother Of Chamberlain T. c. L. Grain and
mother OF the present owner and her sister Mrs.
sarah A. Buckley who was the mother OF Thomas c. I.
Buckley, years ago one Of the best known LAWYERS In
New York. He was member OF the firm OF PAU
Gerard Buckley OF which the present firm OF Plata
& Bowers is the continuation. Both Mr.. Buckley and
Mr. Grain were named for the same man. Thomas
Crowell Taylor Chamberlain Grains grandfather.
Mrs. Crocker and Mrs. Buckley owned equal shares
The ground was leased from Columbia College from
Nav l. 1866 for tweny-one years, with the refusal OF
two renewals The first lease expired May L. 1857
and was renewed for another term, or until Nav l.
1905 When the second lease expires the possession
NAV be again extended at the option Of the lessee
until May 1, 1920. The widening Of PARK riase
twenty wears ago necessatcd the removal Of the OLD
buildings on the premises and NOW building sue
ceeded them. i am in possession Oh Information "'n
satisfies me that it the intention OF hrs' |ocSer
and Mrs. Buckley TO have frstclass ouliaihg eeco'
The work given to architects anu ou'iueso ~
renutabIe as any in the city The cost was s'oooo,
obont 500 600 more than the building was considered
70 he worth when 1t was wrecked. but it must be re-
membered that the cost Of building matenais "a'
much higher in 1872 than 1t Is now
ain 1873 Mrs Craia acquired her mothers (hrs'
Crocker's) interest by conveyanc which maze MIS-
Buckley and Mrs. Grain Joint owners. Az MIS- huoN
Iey,s death her children succeeded to her SNARE o
in 1884 Mrs. Grain acquired the interest OF MIS- buch
LAVE be,rs in a partition suit aud became sole
owner" - .,
Have not the tenants. or at least some Oh
them complained OF feeling Insecure in the ouuuins'
asserting that il was never intended TO hold up .n"
weight Of the heavy presses and machinery "lD0"
were introduced into the upper storlesP the 10
| porter asked .,
mo such complaints or insnuatons were e'ef
| mazda M nv knowledge. The structure was pue W
| for the very purposes for which 1t was useu' w"
| II was built nneteeo years ago the h'noeapn ',n
| business was carried on extensively III 'n"' e ..,
! hood lust as ii is now, and IL was inc ~, .h.
Of the owners, the architects ana 'a0 80 on
| thew would have Ithogaphers with theH he"'. ep
'''0' w.. .s,. statements to the contrary ara
| entirely false" 49,. .or,s ao,ects
- some insurance men insinuate that some deiecS
IN ,ns huildang were concealed from the underwf1'ers
| Is such the cascf' -, nh. oornar,as
| /. The very opposite is the truth. The companies
| E - surveys and were encouraged so to
do There were fourteen companies INTERESTED int sCsm,,es ,ns
they made independent surveys Oh a,s p,'.a pr was
wheraver n change in occupants was n'ade houoo "~.
" onoo served upon the insurance men. None ever
q. nred any fault discovered IN the building or i'
.,n,osd that 1t needed strengthening. They PLAINLY
regarded 1t as stcong aud substantial ou,la,HS
all "
,anky except one. This was wheher the fSs
na,nS men and n so for what reason Mr. haTris
That he was wholly without nformaun @ % Un '' ~ 6pdns
am anu Whether any such increase had been m1e q, nnr
Ve @ hmiidng was occupied for great variety oa eI
oSes some OF the business carried on oe ~ shs
PPremeIy hazardous the rates OF insurance OH '"0
we Hors said that the architect who had oesa ssa
omnIoved by Mrs. Grain TO examine tlo % Duis f Ana
mott rsported his conclusions as TO tne @ Somneted
dbt. nov in fact he said he had not yer oomPo 49,
accident ,ig.t,or 10 He expected the report how
eisr e in aay or two. Photographs hsd oeen
M or te use m the payment OF the insurance pohcles'