New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-05
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
PARK PLACE LESSONS.
THE ENGLISH LAW FOR THE CARE OF BUILD


THE ENGLISH LAW FOR TIE CARE OF BUILD
INGS
To tho Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. From careful examination Of the premises III
Park Place where the disaster occurred recently Hn
~ m opinion that the prime cause OF the failing Of the
bulding was an explosion, and that tue eNpoAoh was
co,eed nv the ignition either Of comparatively small
onti,y Of napltha or the ignition Of highly atten-
nated Gas Illuminating gas which fonId its way into
the bnIlding through the sewer pipes. 1t is known
that there existed the ground hO0r o. the Duns'
ouautIty OF naphtha, which was employed III the Nun
ooraphic establishments which occupied the upper ours
and possibly by the chemical firm which occupied tle
ground floor
In the extremely warm weather which we have re-
Gently had the nnpltha was exposed to snch leln-
perature as would cause It rapidly to evolve gas
which gas when brought into contact with any fame
would explode
In regnrd TO Illuminating gas finding its way into
tbe budlng this may he charged TO the neat cauSeu
by the mains OF the New York Steam Company WHICH
has ifs principal generating station In Greeh"icn-st
Tine heat from the steam mains sufficient TO expand
any gas which might be free In the earth or present
I'm the sewersand 10 create such pressure that the
Gas vouH force its way through any trap now used III
fbe plumbing systems IN use In this city, IL is pos
shIe TINT closet on the lower floor or IN the res
tourant became filed with this gas and that some one'
entering the closet With lighted cigar or csae'U vi
by striking a match, brought about tile explosion
The effect OF the explosion was undoubtedly 20 ais
place one or more of the iron columns supporting Tue
girder on which the beams rested This occurring on
the lower floor caused all the floors of the bmluihs
70 incline toward that portion Of the building where inc
columns were displaced, which point was pfooaon w
ward the front Of the building. As the floors lhchheh
toward this point from the back and Hont vi ue
building, each floor formed wedge with us apex
downward and probably all the heavy material on
fa-t
them slid toward the point of the wedge made by inc
floors and coming TO rest with sudden loit ana
thereby acting on the short leg OF the wedge drove e
front OF the building into the street and 50 Drought
down the whole structure
without doubt the building vss overloaueu' out
do not believe that It fell by reason OF TINS overweight
EXCEPT as a consequence OF the explosion ANY one
Who Is al all familiar with printing and printing
presses knows that 1t Is quite necessary that press
shall be given firm foundation, no matter what the
strength and stiffness Of the frame, for the reason
that unless such foundation be proylded the prs
will not register 1t is not reasonable 10 DeieVe u'
the building swervcd and vibraed, as has been iepre
sented for had it 1t would not nave been pos
sibIe to have conducted printing or Ithographng
trsinasa vritbin IT, The fact that there have been
found within the ruins barrels OF nsphtha, etc. does
not in any wise alter my opinion, because the Hleio
explosion of one barrel would not necessarily cause
that OF the Others contiguous thereto. Ihere Is ho
way of accounting for the fire which occurred "IIhln
the building except by the theory Of an eXposoh' as
the building did not contain boilers aud furnaces o.
derived the power used therein from an eHUefhal
source Personally am inclined 10 believe that the
explosion was due to the gas which leaked IN from
the uwers and tho resulting explosion Is one tnaO
have long expected. Such explosions nave occurred
in manholes OF the subway III different parts Oh
the CITY and will undoubtedly occur again, partcu-
lary in all that part of the city which Is ua"fSeu
by tho pipes Of the New-York steam Company
As 10 the responsibility for this disaster 1t Iests III
INV oninion with that Bureau of the Fire Department
which has control Of the subject OF the prevention Oh
fires as specifically set forth in sections 4oZ 500 N
elusive Of the Consolidation Act relating 70 inc Og
~ New-York This Bureau Is supposed TO give care
l attention 10 the question Of the prevention Oh nes
and for that purpose TO govern the storage anu S hat
explosive materials, etc. IL Is DOtolous 'aSv ,o
little attention Is paid by the Department 10 ule SUD
ect. 1t to me that WHAT - IslureS !" e Pc
vent accidents Of this kind is the adoption oil seres
of ruies somewhat similar TO those now In fOrue III
England, and which are embodied III the fHcIoty anu
WORKSHOP Act OF 1872 Al Wet, Ch l6 SecuOn 20
of this act provides that Every person shall within
one month after he begins 10 occupy IacoIS serNo
IN an inspectOr a written notice. containing the name
f an e fapfoTy the place where it IS situated, the
address 10 which he desires his letters 70 be
the nature Of the work. the nature ana amount VI tho
which the business the factory Is TO be carried on
and default they shall be IaOle 10 me oe az
that There shall be affixed at the entrance OF the
factory workshop and ~ such other paris tSGol
constantly kept 80 affixed in the prescribed form ana
in sncb 1osit(on as 10 be read by the persons 50 EN-
ployed I'm the factory or workshop,
"O) The prescribed abstract OF TINS act - .h nm
"(2J notice Of the name and address OF the pro
scribcd Inspector 49,. -, .ba corB
fytng surgeon for the district lit, 49,,
"a A notice of the clocks Of any, by when the
period OF employment and time for meals Ill the factory
or workshop are regulated At,
" f5l Every notice and document required Dy uls
act TO be affixed in the factory or workshop"
The act provides for penalties for any failure
ON tbs mart Of The OccupieT Of the premises to comply
with the terms Of the act II such rcguiatons %etS
i'm force i'm ths country would have no dnhculty
now I'm fixing the blame, the inspector whose name
eDueared on the certificate would ne held la1ie Inc
ad6ntion OF such regulations would undoubtedly pre-
vent the recurrence of any similar disaster ana IN no
sense could be said to impose any undue hainsnp upon
the emnIoyer GEORGE IL. BENJAMIN.
New-York, September l. 1891