New-York tribune., 1895-08-17
THE ARCHITECTS. ADMISSIONS


The first days proceedings in the Coroners
inquest did not conclusvely show at just what
point fatal defect entered into the construction
of the building which collapsed last week. Dut
they did show how careless was the oversight
Of at least part Of the work while 1t was IN
progress The architect Of the building, who
was also employed TO superintend the constrnc-
tiOn. was witness yesterday. and made several
startling admissions He testified that he never
saw or heard of the ancient well or cistern upon
the wall Of which a part Of the foundation rest
ed until the recent removal OF wreckage hai
brought II into view. Yet this we'll undoubtedly
Is under strong suspicion OF having caused ol
contributed to the disaster and at any rate was
one of the antece(lent conditions needing to be
intclligently dealt with in laying the founda-
tions The architect also admitted that although
IL was distinctly specified that no concrete was
70 be laid in the trenches until they had been
examined by him. he never made any such ex-
animation. but had accepted somebody's state
ment that 1t was all right. And still more re-
markable was his announcement that, whereas
the specifications called for eighteen inches OF
concrete, he had ascertained only the day be-
fore that its thickness was only twelve inches.
From these admissions some idea may be gained
of the degree Of knowledge upon which the
architect furnished certificate OF work skill
fully and honestly done. emitting the contractor
10 a payment Of money on account.
We have never before heard anything To the
discredit of Mr.. Behrens as an architect or Il
man. but we do not how his own testimony
can be impeached. What does 1t show: Moth
Ing. perhaps. which will cause surprise among
architects and builders 1t may be that this
kind Of supervision is common; that an owner
who is not himself IN expert and close OBJ
server is likely TO be grossly deceived as TO the
quality of work which he pays for; that ten
apt's guess concerning the safety Of the build
ing In which he trusts his life is valuable as
tho architects certificate. But If this Is the
understanding of the profession and the trades.
Il has not hitherto been the supposltion OF me
community Mr.. Behrens certainly knew that he
had accepted a grave responsibility in planning
a large building and undertaking to see that it
was constructed according to contract. But ap-
parently the responsibility rested very lightly
upon him. He was ready to give guarantee
of personal knowledge and approval as 10 GER
tain parts Of the work under his charge concern
ing which he now teStifies that he knew nothing.
and which are now proved to have been per-
formed in criminally careless II not deliD-
erately fraudulent manner.
Only beginning has been made in the i'm
pcrative task Of getting at the whole truth about
this abominabie affair, but the first step carries
us a good way. The only reason for refusing at
this stage TO believe that the ruined building
was fraud from top to bottom Is the high
repute Of some contractors whose materials and
workmanship went into IT. For their sake and
for the sake OF the multitude whose peace or
mind has been much disturbed by these dis
closures we hope that their reputation also will
not prove to have been "a frail reliance.