New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-30
Urged BY THE GRAND JURY.
TWO PREsENTMENTs OF UNUSUAL M
PORTANCE.
prrouuryD ALTON AS TO THE DEPARTMENT of
BUILDINGS. AND THE INCREASE OF EN-
pLoyEs ON CABLE CARS SUGGESTED
,,nn1. Ill, n1IL, NYER AND TER

Etrr.DrNGs. AND THE INCREASE OF EN-
prOYEs on CABLE CARS SUGGESTED
WORK OF TIE OYER AND TER
MINER GRAND JURY.
The March Grand Jury Of the Court Of Generai
Sessions wound M It's work yesterday atteriioo"
when It handed up to Judge Fitzgerald two pre-
sentiments both of which were based on car'iui
investigations In the first presentment number
Of changes in the Department Of Buildings are
recommended with view to preventing III iu-
ture such shocking loss of life as occurred lately
when several unfinished buildings In Orchard-St
collapsed. It is as follows:
The Grand Jury after careful ipyessaSn on
TIE causes which contribu "a 70 ne ,resent
OF the building at 40. loi to LOO or'hard-S'' P''
a. follows: 49,. a., buildings
,,r. i..frCt,ye IN construction. and the maitria )
%enJ FAR below the recognized standard. The Gtahi
Jury are OK the opinion that II the l)epdi ,
buildings had maintained the proper Sup.tN ~
as rentlirod hy the law governing the same. me
destruction OF the buildings and consequent Id
ta.ities would not have occurred -, .,art
Through information received rom eco iIon II
~ The utmost Importance that the department O
Findings should be recognized. ana recommend
ne Tlrst"The appointment by the Mayor Of SUI S
perntcnden OF Buildings WAC shaI nav rrhitact
zen or more years In active practice az an alc'i.
or civil engineer or engaged III business a9 ."
sccond-A Deputy superintendent Of Buildings as
ThirI-A civil engineer. 10 be CHIEF OF the en-, n,
CHEERS department who snail be graduate OF
a recognized scientific school or colese, iioo, "a
Fourih-Two assistant engineer quaI'"eu ~
FfthA clerical force necessary Tor the work X, o,
the OIL g, to be- composed OF persons iaH'''r wan
p sixih hd O" disriSt inspectors those at present
acting. appear before competent boaru ana 20
examined as 70 character and fitness TO dischatge
their dutes ana such ons rs sh pTssen and
ali future vacancies in the department 10 be hlled
J"uartmont. Cf recognized schools or colleges
Seventh-T'he sanitary department may be ieft
a. al present constituted - r.,
Eghth-An Advisory Board constituted as ioi-
Two architects. one to be appointed by the Mayor
and one by the local chapter OF me Aih.rict an
institute Of Archlircti one c'T c engf Enrneers
on. sanitary engineer and one mason builder taeh
'a ,n,har Of the Board Of Fire Underwriters. APP
pointed by that organization and the SupeFlh-
Members Of the Advisory Board to meet at I Least
a week. AMI be- paid 50 Zach for every -cssi3i
The duties and powers Of the board snail De
20 rxercise a general supervision OF the work of
the BulIine Department N addition 10 WIG" ~
salaries for all employees OF the Bulldlns D-p1r'-
ment except that Of SlpeLntendent o.
shall be- Competent to act
N.nth-No Existing building to be torn down. d.
molsheI or remover without 4 Prl 'l.. . III
department Of Buildng% We also recommend 'hlr
alterations made 10 existing building without IN,
employment of duly licensed architect. wh1 shall
the same ana suporntonI the same from first 10
last during its progress.
10 person 10 practise the profession OF archl-
lecture make plans and speciie dtions for a build;
IN, suprrlnt,nI rs erection unless duy licensed
for that purpose and registered. In reorganiZng
the department. We would suggest that separate
class ~ inspectors be appointed 70: ordering and
locating fire escapes and passing on their con-
s,ruction. and whose duty It shall also b, 10 ex-
anime and report all buildings regarding the pos
ing 81 notices callel for by lax respecting the
weight allowed 20 D." carried per SQUARE foot OF
floor space. " J. g. BERRY, Foreman
RUSSELL. u. HYDE Secretary.