New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-07
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS.
A FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DEPART.
MENT SUGGESTS A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE SYSTEM

IN THE SYSTEM.
TO tho Editor Of The Tribune.
sir: The frequent loss OF life at fires and the fall
ing OF buildings In this city justly strs up the pub
lie and u great demand is made for the punishment
OF those who guilty OF lot enforcing the laws. Tho
building law no doubt might be amended In some de-
grco for the Letter far relates TO the construc
ton OF buildings used for hotels and enements The
loss OF life mt the Hotel Royal not because OF lack
Of fire escapes, but because no alarm promptly
given when the fire broke out There buildings in
tho city used for hotels, poorly built was this.
and usually containing three times Us many guests, on
which has been found impossible 10 erect sufficient
number OF fire escapes account OF political influence
being strong enough TO prevent II. The safety OF the
occupants Of these hotels depends the watclulness
OF the proprctors to detect fire promptly, and give the
alarm
The defect in the present law Is not much In the
matter Of construction Of buildings in the provisions
for the enforcement OF ii. The present system was
devised for political purposes only. Happily for
the city, the chief engineer of 1t has passed away.
But the evil he did lives after him and. 1t being such
political placer, has been, and will be, worked for all
II Is worth. In 1870 the term OF the then superlntend
ent expired and Mayor Cooper nominated competent
person 10 succeed him. The Board Of Aldermen, then
having the power refused to confirm the Mayors nom
inee and the old superintendent held over. retaining
the Aldemcn'S friends In Office who drew their salaries
and most Of them did WORK.. Notwithstanding the
large appropriations there was not money enough to
60 around and the superintendent was compelled to
lay of OF the force One OF those so laid of was
n brother OF state senator Then war was declared
between this senator nnd the superintendent The
former procured the passage OF law transferring the
Department to, and making il bureau In the Fire
Department This bill had scarcely been signed before
the partner OF the Senator appointed to the place
Of attorney 10 the Fire Department.
In place Of one responsible head, we have three
fome 1fe ntf nd r1ntpnQpQt.
either of whom block the execution Of the law to
considerable extent. the attorney can prosecute
case, and not LET the superintendent know whcn IL
up and lose il for lack Of evidence which the
supcrn could supply. The attorney shonld be
under the direction Of the superintendent. The APP
pointmcns under the superintendent made by the
Fire mmlssloners. The names Of the persons whom
the Commissioners desire to appoint sent 10 tho
superintendent, who then notifies them appear
tefOrc q board Of examiners, and they are examined
10 theft knowledge OF brick and mortar and such
questions which be learned In half an hour. No
Investigations made TO ascertain character either
by Commissioners or examiners. Many who hnvc
passed good EXAMINATIONS proved TO be worthless
when PUT duty. The examination falls to furnish
n guarantee for industry, fidelity or honesty hold
chat in addition to the proof that the applicant has
worked up the business, and furnished testimonials
from responsible parties TO character he should be
put on probation for six months. The inspectors
should be appointed BY the superintendent fear
that tho Fire Commissioners Will not surrender without
Il struggle the political power they have in the ap-
poinfmelt 81 nifty sixty 20 places ut salaries
greater than most received IN their lives
change in the Commissioners would make 1t no
better. They arc good yon would lie likely to
get. and there have been much worse The fault is In
tho system. IL Is rare 10 get one man that VIII 90
his duty without fear favor. 1t IS much moro
difficult 70 get live. In the We have rHspon-
siblty. I'm the Other cannot find tt.
About ten year, ago two buildings In Grnnd.st. fell
killing ten persona. on Investigation found that
few years previous an application had been made to
the department put additional story the build
Ing. The inspector whom II referred reported
that the wall, In good condition. and above the
cellar walls twelve inches thick. Tie then supcrin-
cndcnt was therefore justified IN approving the plans.
The report. however. false one. The walls were
only eight inches thick. aud It was unlawful to put
ON the additional story. A second application was
then made owcr the beams OF the first story OF one
81 the buildings The level ot the sidewalk by cutting
side 81 the stone party cellar wall and 1t was
permitted. II ever there crime this was one.
for only question OF short time when the wall
would fall. II I'D fall brought down the two build
ngs. and KILLED ten persons. The inspector who made
the FALSE report not In the department Mt that
time but has since been rcnppolncd and was few
weeks ago still Oh the force.
am fully satisfied that Won will have the
building laws properly enforced under the present sys
tcm II should be n separate department. the chief
officer Of which should he appointed by the Mayor and
hc should have not Jess than three deputies. all Of
whom should well up in the science Of construction,
pnsS an examination ~ board OF engineers. and have
al least twelve years practical experience builders,
50 that they I'm addition 10 scientific requirements,
may we'll acquainted with the tricks OF the rndes.
and used TO moving about on buildings In the different
stages ~ their construction will say that
1nrrr tn md In
corruption at that time very great so It WINS.
hut what was the cause Why. the superintendent, to
keep himself I'm Office. made himself solid with the
Aldermen. and they together pltndcred the people.
The present law Is ,huch better for the owners OF
property. and the Aldermen have lost the power 10
Keep I'm an incompetent or corrupt man.
The superintendent should not be- tied down 70 office
work but lave the general oversight Of all the work
and be free 10 60 out over the city, and thus Keep mn
say that he Void find duties neglected on the part
Of the Inspector, every day They would however;
efficient head. aud You could hold him responsible.
Another matter Which deem OF Importance IS thas
and the Inspectors should not be required 10 report
at headquarters every dav. but at the district head
quarters. and that too, early in TIE morning. not
There would De- ri least tire" hours gain every day
As now very few Inspectors get on their districts
The Board Of Examiners should be abolished They
The superintendent II qualified at all Is fully capable
Of passing on all questions that arise under the law
II Is a great mistake To suppose tlc public interests
are preserved by the examiners ! am unable 10 state
a single instance where their services were OF any
benefit
Any officer Of the department making false reports
or connlvng at the violation Of law should be punished
BY fine and Imprisonment.
In conclusion | might say that fire proof hotels
need no fire escapes. There are. however. great
many bindings used n hotels so bndly built and
80 badly planned that IL would be difficult 10 put
enough fire escapes And the greatest vigilance
should bc exercised in all such bulldogs to detect
fine and give the alarm. II r. little singular that
the omission Of fire escapes on the avenue side
of the Hotel Royal should not be discovered or knows
until six years AFTER they reported as erected
and then ONLY when fire broke out. have no donb
that had an alarm been promptly given when the firs
broke ont the loss oil life would hnve been much less
II not altogether prevented - a,,,,,,--,.
Formerly Inspector fSuDcrineudent) Of Buildings.
New-Yorh March ], 1s92