New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-10
~ EIETATOR OTTRAGE.

One OF the most drastic and UNJUST DuliulnS
laws ever proposed in legislative body Is now
before the Assembly at Albany. II Is nominal
" n measure for rendering elevators. shafts ana
stai,ways in this town absolutely tireproof, but
in reality it IS a bill for compelling the recon
struction Of nearly all equipments OF ms KIM
and for harassing the owners or notes. iaclo
rios and business structures. Its provisions are
so rigorous and prepostcrous that we cannot De
lieye that it will ever leave the committee 10
which Il has been referred, or that Mr.. Cal
,acher who has introduced II, will attempt 10
force its passage.
The bill requires that all elevator shafts here
after constructed in any structure OF lhree OF
more stories shall be continuously built from
the ground floor to the roof. where they are 10
be closed and wholly covered by hreproor ma
terial: that they shall be constructed OF IRON OF
steel. at least one inch in thickness, Win r1Vc'S
and supports Of the same material, or else oil
stone or brick at least one foot In thlckness'
and that there shall be no openings except 1or
light and air and ingress and cgress from ea'h
floor The requirement that the Iron or steel
casing shall be one inch In thickness - arb
trary and absurd. 4 quarter or an men Suinc's
in ordinary shafts and anything more will in
yolye overwhelming. The bill provides for the
construction of staircascs Of iron, stone or brick
around the shaft from bottom TO top that the
doors at every opening shall be of iron or steel
that the elevator shall be Of the same material
md that neither wood nor any other inilam
mable material shall be used in any portion OF
the equipment II is also specified that within
ninety DAYS from the passage Of the act all own
ers of buildings, In which elevators are now ia
use, shall be required 10 reconstruct their shafts
stairways and ears as 10 comply with these
provisions.
II will be safe 10 assume that not one building
in ten has an elevator equipment which would
pass inspection under the terms OF he proposed
measure Mr. Gallagher aims 10 bring about IN
three months the reconstruction Of nearly oil
the elevators and shafts In this town His
measure will also intcrposc serious and applr
emily insurlnountable obstacles 10 the designing
and construction Of large buildings since shafts
with stairways around them. built as the bill
sets forth, and lighted and ventilated as pro-
posed, will have 10 be in the centre, and VIII
take up 50 much space as 10 leave insuiiic!eht
room for othet purposes. a great business
building has 10 be designed with reference 10
the comfort Of tenants who use II. II can
| not be largely filed up with starways ana
shafts 1t will b. clearly mpracticable TO adapt
many buildings in which shafts are now in use
| 10 the rigid requirements OF this bill. The stair
WAYS cannot be built nor the weight of the
| iron cage increased, nor shafts which are now
open converted into closed tubes. We are al
| most justified In inferring that Mr. Gallagher
has listened credulously 10 some visionary
| crank, who has never seen the interior Of one
| OF the great buildings Of this town.
| We do not presume 10 assert that the building
laws OF this city are perfect in all details but
are confident that they are Of high order OF cx
cellence and do not require constant legislative
cobbling. What Is needed is a more rigid and
painstaking enforcement Of the existing laws
| rather than amendments and innovations when
ever a Legislature assemblies. There Is a mani
fest Injustice in changing the laws every few
years at the expense OF property -Owncrs. With
thorough methods OF inspection and practical
| busincsslikc administration OF the department
life and property can be adequately protected
| against fire and accident Legislative raids
! upon property owners like the one proposed by
| this elevator reconstruction bill are alike un-
necessary and unjustiliable