New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-30

each branch Of trade to be employed. and the ng-
uring Of contracts that run from start to finish
The builder is indeed a general his office force
forms his staff. those to whom sub-contracts are
given become division officers and their en-
ployes an army.
The disbursement Of from q quarter Of a mil
lion to two millions Of dollars Ia necessary and
every dollar must count. The builder having ar
ranged his edifce to its very nnish begins to ex-
eavate. structure covering 6Ox10O feet, the
foundations of which begin 20 feet below the sur
face. demands the removal Of about 1000 loads
OF dirti the proper force and only the necessary
number OF men. horses and wagons are engaged,
and the hole grows hourly. The foundation calls
for the artisans who lay concrete. stone walls
and bricks the iron beams and columns OF exact
dimensions have been made. and are moved in
at their time; the general has then his cornce
work. roofing freproof partitioning electric wir-
ing' gas-ppng. rough plumbing. plastering.
trimming rough carpenter work marble work.
and fine carpentering. All OF this labor has been
planned. and is brought to the ground ready to
be placed; there must be no mistakes. no fitting
or altering. It must be ready and correct. Tho
painting and vanishing completes the Job. Tho
quality and the make Of all this material have
been specified.
In the application for the erection Of buildings.
the Superintendent Of Buildings OF the City Of
New-York must be told how the building Is to be
occupied; II for dwelling. state the number Of
families size Of lot. size OF building. number of
stories in height. number Of feet In height from
curb level to highes: point Of roof beams, cost Of
building exclusive Of lot. depth Of foundation
walls from curb level or surface Of ground, and
will the foundation be laid on EARTH sand. rock.
timber piles: what will be the base. stone
COncrete2 II base stones give size and thickness.
and how laid: II concrete, give thickness; what
will be the size Of piers: what will be the thick
ness of foundation walls, and Of what material
will they be constructed what will be the thick.
ness Of walls Of each story. and Of what material
they will be? The material Of the 'front.' If stone.
what kind? VIII the roof be fat peaked or man.
sard? Materials OF roofing; size and material
of floor beams Of each tier. If floors are to be
supported by columns and Orders. give size and
materials of Orders under each Of the floors. and
the same information II columns used; what
each superficial foot Of each floor will safely sus
tain: by whom the construction Of the build
ing is to be superintendent
These are only few Of the questions to be
answered. and the application must be accom-
panied by drawings of the plans Of each and
every story front. side and rear elevations, and
longitudinal and transverse sections.
Mr.. Howard Constable. Superintendent OF
Buildings has written that the fundamental
reason for a Building Department Is that OF
public safety and record-a department not to
design buildings and instruct the ignorant, but
to prevent dangerous and detrimental work, and
to encourage strong. freproof. healthful build
Ing and the general commercial and residence
welfare and growth Of city. 1t Is to aid IN
preventing the immense loss Of life and prop
erty by fire and collapse OF buildings, to pre-
vent the growth OF pestholes and the perna-
nent Judgment OF contagious diseases. in order
to reduce the death rate and to ward off great
epidemics. The Master Builders OF New-York
are in close communion with all that pertains
to the perfection Of their trade and the good
OF the city: new ideas quickly embraced II
/ found feasible. expense Is graduated only by
! the benefits accruing. and there is to-day no
! body OF men In business embracing such va
riety Of uncommon intelligence and energy.
The trade has been embracing many
trials during the last few years; but without
evidence Of what may be called boom there
| has arisen activity and interest The
building interests Of this city in the year 1888
as shown b. the estimate cost Of edifces to
be erected, amounted to S15.000.O00; the year