New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-12
REAL ESTATE.
BUSINESS IN THE FIELD.

Stevenson Constable. superintendent OF the De-
partment of Buildings received d letter last week
from tar president of a leading banking institution
or this city. stating that the bank had been COM
PEELED to cancel three mortgages on real estate in
this city because of the discovery that the buildings
on the property morgaged had not been erected in
accordance with the plans upon the basis Of which
the loans had been made The bearing OF this Incl
dent upon the immense real interests Of this
city cannot we'll be estimated in it's Importance.
This fact is emphasized by the following statements
made by Mr. Constable in his letter TO Mayor
strong of May 4, 1895, commenting the condition
OF affairs which he found in the Department of
Buildings on his entering Office March 26 pre-
ceding: "The applications and plans for new build
ings and for alterations buildings in very
bad condition; many back ones prior to 1888 are
missing. The general condition is such that
refuse all responsibility Of records and papers
in this Department prior to 1885
Commenting on the bank presidents letter the
other day. Mr. Constable said There thou
sands upon thousands OF buildings in this city
which have not been constructed in accordance
with the plans upon the basis of which loans have
been made by financial institutions and by insur-
ance companies OF this city. Executors and law
yers of big estates in this city have especial in
terest In this matter. Executors of these estates
have loaned millions OF dollars upon buildings
which have been erected in defiance of law be-
not constructed according 10 the plans sub
mitted 10 and approved by the Department. There
thousands upon thousands OF these buildings
which ! would condemn because of the number of
violations of the law In their construction. Mort
cages upon such property are practically worth
! less. Executors who have made loans upon these
buildings responsible the heirs of the
they represent. Need l go further prove the
vast and immense importance of this matter TO
executors and TO the lawyers under whose advice
they act. if not themselves lawyers?
That some trustees and executors Of these great
estates awakening TO the true condition OF
things IS
just got mortgage on one piece of illegally-con-
structed building cancelled have received let
ter from the president of large fire insurance
company upon the violations of law regarding iues
and fireplaces. Here is a copy of the letter:
/ Stevenson Constable Esq. Superintendent building
Department. No. ~ Fourth-ave. New York
called by our surveyors and by the surveyors OF
the New-York Board TO the fact that the law re-
consequently in most of the apartment-houses going
up We have only i-ineh hues, In some cases ,hsse
boilers ''''''''''O- "''''
Fireplaces. hearthss; etc:-The law REQUIRES that
law is disregarded. Chimney breasts are often of
is intended only for ornament. whereas il is fire,
9ueny converted 9 into repaGe for burning wood
hundred places where the wooden floors under
dust s and combustble material collects on top Of the
board floor. where sparks from the stoveplpe Will
often u thrown anu in aGer being used when they are
supposed TO be extinguished.
that. where cooking range comes near a stud
partition the studs must be removed and the par;i-
regarded Il Is very important matter and the
especially instructed this. as well as the other
/ think IT would be a good idea, II you Will pardon
the suggestion. for you send out well-worded
circular TO builders masons and architects. notify
in these important directions. II you will make
an example Of some one party.and would select
for such example a man who has shown himself by
fragrant violations unworthy OF sympathy-you VIII
before hand that they may have to take down
hue after the building Is finished, and comply with
notification from you Will do much correct these
violations. which have caused the death OF many
Ing benefit to the city
There are" continued Mr.. Constable "a; least a
dozen direct violations Of the law In the construc-
ton OF tenement-houses thus exposing poor people
| 10 the dangers OF fire. Besides the violations
spoken OF in the letter OF the insurance president
there are violations Of the law requiring brickwork
between the ends OF floor beams in stud partitions.
1 there fre-stops in partitions directly over
! each other; partitions are not carried through,
parapet walls carried 10 the legal height on
the roof that in Of fire the eeiEs occupants
frequently mistake these walls for coping. and fall
over into space be injured or killed hre-escapes
are not provided eaReros ~ Sdri aIo.
| all -he tenement houses erected since 1871 are
no wonder when all this is borne in mind that
insurance companies. banking Institutions ana ex-
OF affairs and their responsibility the more this
nesrs To our tremendous real estate Interests. As
matter Of fact. the building construction In New
| York City s worse than that In any otner OF the
! r G. Moore the president OF the Continental In
surance Company. and delegate OF the New fork
Board Of Fire was he s ~Ief Gi e
! when asked about the matter: 'It is indeed true
that the aT recording TIE sys %. u, in
| nv letter 10 Mr. Constable are menace 10 real
their best. and should be amended with view to
the proper construction of buildings ana SAT- s,
continental Building have been made twice as thic <
! as the law requires TO make an absolute safeguard
Requirement Mr. Constables hands ought to be held
up by all real estate interests In his endeavors to
have buildings erec, ,Sa a9n Of losses
by fire in this city because OF defective fues was
TO build fue embedded in less than eight inches
! brick or burned fre-clay pipe He condemned what
he called ''dress-Parade nrepi az nIg nile a, la,
| ,ers from the best architects. builders and real
estate investors In the city approving ms couIse ana
| promising to stand by him In his fight against
The Buildsfs League. whose proposed amend,
! Fought in the last Legislature, Is preparing 10 re-
| new the struggle Albany this coming winter
There is a class Of building promoters IN this city
| who are bitterly outspoken against the Mechanics
! Lien law as amended last winter. 49,,
| Work on the foundations OF the New-York Ath-
etc Club building. at Sixth-ave. and Central PARK
T pshf Herald SQUARE Hotel site has been legally
freed from all membranes. Douglas II. Schneider
denies that he needs any loan In his Undertaking
q" Properly owners in sixth-ave.. between Twenty
thirdst. and the Union Dime savings insDtu r on
Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth street railroad
Last wednesday the smallest piece OF proper S
Of No 9OS West Eighty-third-st. to the countess
di Brazza, of No. 80! West End.ave, whose dwell