New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-05
THE BUILDING ACCIDENT.
SEVERAL OPINIONS AS TO THE PLACE
FOR THE BLAME.

$780,, -. .h. nroninent architects Of the city
were seen by Tribune reporters yesterday anu WEI
asked to give some opinions ABOUT the paiua'
wrecking Of the new soap factory IN iwe",h-ase'
between Fifty-hrst and Fffty-secoho Bus. Wy wy
fou ~ Ave large tanks, which had been filled win
water in the upper story. on THURSDAY morh'hs'
They mostly declined TO give interviews. some say
ing that they did not wish to be placed IN inc po
sition OF criticsing the Buildings Department VI
the work Of another architect. and some deciarhs
that their lack Of information about the accioeh'
rravonted them from forming opinions which the!
cared TO give With the understanding that thelr
names were not TO be used. several OF the arcn'-
tects said they were inclined TO believe ina. inc
cause Of the accident lay not In any fault Oh INC
building that was wrecked but In some iauity con-
structon OF the iron tanks or oi the o"bPN
the tanks.
Il am inclined to believe that the Buildings De-
partment Is at fault than the architeet Oh '"e
building" said one OF the architects. Tor the rea-
son that 1t Is the business OF the peOartine"' "
see that nothing is placed In new ouNoihs "
overweight II and break 1t down. and the pans
submitted to the Department must have SHOWN inc
character Of the tanks which were placed IN po-
sition before the building was completed AZ surrey
was the business Of the Inspector OF BUILDINGS "
make sure that the supports for the tanks were
sufficiently strong and that the tanks themselves
were rightly placed and not liable to bulge ana
break down the wall near which they STOOD
John H. Duncan who designed the tomb OF GEN.
eral Grant, was seen In his office, at NO Il west
Twenty fourth-st.. yesterday afternoon, and was
asked for his opinion TO the responsibility ior
the fatal collapse. Mr.. Duncan replied: Il reaiiy
krow nothing about It, except what have read IN
The newspapers. From that judge that the cause
Is thought TO have been the placing OF the supports
for the tanks at distances from the walls other
than were provided for in the plans. III II can DC
found who Is responsible for that IL seems ~ n'e
that the blame can be placed
cd he
GENTLY broad, Mr. Duncan answered: Il cer'aihlv
do They as near perfect as II Is po'S,oo W
make them OF course. such law can De ao
solutely perfect The Buildings Department OF the
city has always seemed to me TO be emclent anu
well managed. SO far as my experience goes II Is
effective 1t asks nothing unreasonable ana exer-
cises due care. Whether this Department should
have seen that the circumstances causing the ran
o. ue Constable Of the buildings Depart.
ment said yesterday that he could no. giye any any
@p ens as re eo from his inspectors who
making an investigation. ., LA ,,os
terday that they thought the bullying OF the tanks
joosened the wall from the floor beams ana aio~sa
s sso ona Of e SsVn anks Was order
It, The pressure Of the water s -, for ,S bo e
TOM Of the tank The bands were found in The
tank referred TO day was SIDE The
first tank OF the first row. and the sevenn tsnn
Of the first are 5 sana toc Were forced in
a similar manner. . A.. g.,
perinjendent Constable had placed at ms disposhai
q number OF inspectors. who were invesugallhS the
wreck OF the building. These inspectors Will make
their reports 10 me-" said Mr.. Olcott, ana they
will be submitted once 10 the Grand Jury ,aiter
the Coroners investigation. i have assigned As
sistant District-Attorney WEIGH 10 look aIteT tne
Investigation in the Coroners court. III ma that
there has been criminal negligence. an example
will he made of those who are responsible. l nave
had work begun TO get photographs OF al the detects
OF the building. If photograph OF the delecuVe
wall IN the Ireland disaster mad been maze anu
preserved, there might have been chance 70 get
have been cautious to have preserved all evaehce
OF negligence in the construction OF the putting,
and II there be any guilty persons shalI zee that
the law is put In force TO punish them
THE OTHER BODY FOUND IN THE RUINS.
A line Of policemen kept back crowd from the
partly wrecked soap factory in Twefth-ave. yester-
day. while a large force of men worked In the cell
lar searching for the body Of Jacob Jacobson, one
Of the two men who were killed by the accident
on Thursday. Jacobson's widow and son. both
showing traces Of suffering and loss Of sleep, were
allowed inside the police line part Of the day The
woman wore mourning. and wept constantly.
Jacobson's body not found until last even
ing Ii was taken 10 the police station in west
Forty-seventh-st. His home is at No. o6S Column
buS-avc. -,
inspectors Of the Buildings Department were busy
about the building all day, and they ordered the
removal OF two tanks which had not fallen, but