New-York tribune., 1891-08-26
oCDRES DE TUEW.

Park Pace disaster IL the Insurance. cohipa"
vould refuse to make good the losses oi
owners and tenants. For those whose business
nroperty and stock have been destroyed thiS
would be serious hardship, but Tor inc III
terests of the public it would be great gai'l
The forfeiture Of the insurance on the grounu
that the liabilities of the companies ceaScu '''o
moment the collapse OF the building Qccurreu
yould be 4 warning to business men and prop
ertv-ovners that the risks of overweighted ana
unsafe structures are carried by them exclusive
" and are not shared by the underwriters. Inc
effect would be felt in every business block
where manufacturing is conducted on upper
floors under unsafe conditions. Property-o"h-
ers would be compelled either to reconstruct
and strengthen their buildings, or TO readJuSt
the weights on the floors by canceling leases
and obtaining tenants with tighter equipment
of machinery and stock Tenants themselves
would he rendered more critical respecting the
conditions under which business was transacteu
above and below them, and would be more apO
to exercise their right of complaining 10 Vhe
Bureau of Buildings whenever they Were
alarmed by The pounding and grinding Oh nea'5
machinery and the ceaseess vibration OF hoors'
The importance of having increased safe
guards against the repetition of this appalling
calamity is shown by the comments of insurance
experts William A. Anderson, superintendent
OF the Survey Bureau of the Board OF Cnuer-
writer's. was quoted in yesterdays issue as say
ing that the building in Park Place was con-
sidered by insurance companies an Objectionable
risk, as a high rate, from to per cent was
charged and the policies were for small
amounts. Then he added: "Still, there are
scores of such buildings in New-iork insured
in some of the best companies" Mr.. Pollock,
secretary OF the Niagara Fire Insurance Com
pany, makes an equally startling admission
"Tre, it had q heavy load on the upper iloofS'
hut there are scores of other buildings in this
city which shake all over with the vibrations
caused by the operation OF large printing presses
and other heavy machinery, and which would
he far more likely TO be pronounced dangerous
than the one in Park Place" When expert
enccd insurance officials talk in this vein 1t Is
boh time TO sound general alarm. II there
arc scores OF buildings in this town Overwelghted
and vibrating as that one was, and far more
likely TO be condemned as dangerous, there Is
the most urgent need of a critical inspection by
competent experts and a stringent cnforcemems
OF the laws. IuDllC SAFETY ICpHiN'
action.
IL is not reassuring TO find the superintendent
Of Buildings strcnuously maintaining that the
disaster was clused by an explosion on the
lower fools His theory may be sustained here
after by expert evidence but the reasons which
he assigns for his belief are superficial. In
deed. his zeal in maintaining his theory when
the balance of evidence strongly fayors the con-
cusion that the floors and walls gave way under
sheer weight and constant pounding OF heavy
presses at the top seems to be directed by self
interest, The reputation OF his Bureau cannot
be restored by proof tina, there was IN ex-
nlosion in this instance, for the fact will leman
that the floors were overweighted and insecure,
and that the ordinary processes of inspection
did not reveal the fact. If Superintendent Brady
wishes TO regain the confidence OF the public
LET him at once take measures for securing a
thorough inspection of the scores of similar
Buildings which the insurance experts assert
can be found in every quarter of the town. Let
him begin, not by pointing out the weakness OF
the statutes, as he did in yesterdays issue, but
by appreciating the full power which is CON
ferred by law for avert;ng so dreadful and un-
necessary a sacrifice Of human life as has been
involved in the Park Place disaster. II the
town is filed with buildings equally dangerous
his force Of inspectors ought TO get to work
without delay.