The times., 1898-09-21

ing Laws-Fieuring the Losses
md Insurance.
The complete destruction by fire Mon
day night of the large building on the
southwest corner of Twelfth and F
Streets, occupied by the Robinson, Cher
ry Clothing Company, and the remarka-
bic rapidity with which ii gave way to
the flames, has revived much of the un-
favorable comment in connection with
the structure which was current while il
was in course Of construction. and, even
after its completion in 1890.
The Immense losses sustained by a num-
Der Of business men as result of the
fire is thought TO be due largely TO the
TACT that the building was so constructed
as TO offer the least possible resistance to
hre, and expressions of indignation at
the carelessness of the builder were heard
frequently yesterday
Inc building was first occupied by and
built for the firm of Kaufman & Sickle.
VINO conducted general department
STORE IN 1t. The unfavorable prominence
into which frequent Investigations of the
faulty construction of the building had
brought it produced a lasting impression
on The public, however, and the business
OF the firm was greatly handicapped on
that account
Before ii had been completed the frame
work separated from the brick masonry
at the top OF the first story on the
Twelfth Street side, and for several davs
IL was roped off and a guard of police
kept around it TO prevent people from go
ing near it
After he had occupied the building a
short time Mr.. Kaufman. desiring to as
sure himself as well as the public of its
stability, employed Bernard NJ Green, a
prominent civil engineer, and now super
intendent of the Congression Library. to
make an expert examination Of the
structure and report upon its condition.
Following is Mr.. Green's report, dated
December 2s, 1880, addressed TO Kaufman
& Sickle:
The Experts Report
! have made the examination YOU REQUEST and
have also conferred with the building inspector
Of the District the subject He informs me that
certain extra supports were introduced under his
direction at the street corner column and at the
wzll bearing Of the iron Girder on the Twelfth
Street side front in the lower stories 10 strength.
el parts that began TO give way before the build
ing was finished. From his description / ana
satisfied that these new supports fulfilled their
particular purposes The building inspector fur
ther informs me that additional braces in
the roof and other nlincr waTk ordered by him
for the proper security Of the building are still
wanting and that his acceptance and certificate
are consequently withheld.
With the exception OF the quality of the bricks
and mortar, the apparent strength of the iron
f.0AnE arIr r.las Il.
size Of the cellar walls and other subeonstruction
the whole structure shows every indication Of
having been erected with the careless disre-
gard Of the principles OF good building Plumb
level, and straight lines entirely wanting a
fact which even the most casual or Impractical
observer may see al glance in all the walls |
and floors
In height Of only three stories one of the |
piers on the Twelfth Street front leans inward 1
three inches while a similar pier on the r /
Street front leans inward some six inches. The |
walls have compressed or settled sufficiently to l
throw all the floors on the. interior cast iron /
columns.
BY the use Of floor girders of square timber, /
which have detected two inches or more in the /
middle from the weight of unloaded floors alone, |
the floors are still further warped and very un- /
even. The flooring has also been hastily and /
loosely laid and IS consequently rather rckety /
for such building. The suspended gallery in the
first story is very flexible and shay, due to every
light and slender ioists. II is very unpleasant
and doubt suspicious 10 many persons walking
upon il, but believe il Is perfectly secure while
used as al present for light goods only
The root girders have been laid in a similarly |
unwise and improper manner. being of square tim
Der and consequently badly sagged by the dead
weight Of the roof alone.
Some viii plates. indicating small tie rods to
he floors, visible on the two back walls. but
! suspect they OF little value 10 steady the
structure
A proper handling and application of the ma
terials used in the construction throughout would
have produced a thoroughly substantial safe and
good building, suitable 10 any Of the ordinary
usez, and additional cost whatever
As the building stands / cannot regard il
as safe, even while occupied now by light
goods, unless il shall appear that all Of the
girders in the second third, fourth, and fifth
floors properly connected 10 each other
through the building from wall TO wall, and
strongly anchored TO each wall, 50 to bind
opposite walls together, and furthermore, that
suit table braces be introduced under the roof
eirders in the attic. Should these girder ties
and anchors be wanting. ] believe they are
they should be supplied in the floors named.
The Fncts Withheld.
The letter concludes with technical in
as to the manner in which the
necessary changes should be made. to in
sure the stability of the structure.
This letter, for obvious reasons, was
withheld from publication so long as the
building concerned was occupied, but now
that no financial loss viii result from a
public scrutiny Mr.. kaufman was willing
10 give il out
Building Inspector Entwistle, Mr. Bra
iy's predecessor, is the inspector referred
10 in Mr.. Green's letter, and it appears
hat he took no very active steps TO COM
pei the owner or builders of the structure
10 comply with the requirements of the
building law and make the building per-
fectly safe. 1t was allowed to remain in
IS unsafe condition until Messrs. Kauf-
nan and Sickles removed from it. after
which il underwent some repairs. and |
vas then occupied by Robinson, Parker
< Co.
The total destruction of five smaller |
on either side of the corner
structure was caused by the falling walls
ather than by fire, and their owners are :
4 the opinion that had the walls been
built and braced they would
lave withstood the heat until the fire.
nen had opportunity 10 subdue the
ire. Had this been the case many thous-
.nds Of dollars would have been saved.
st6csS Was Well Insured
Messrs. Robinson & Cherry are the
principal losers by the fire, although IT is
hought that their insurance will turn
ut 10 be more than they expected. They
,aIued the stock in the store at sl2O-
90, ana Mr.. Roblnson was OF the opinion
hat there was only about $4,000 insur-
nee upon 1t. H Clay Stewart & Sons, /
Who placed the insurance for the firm. J
we're unable 10 state the exact amount ]
+ il yesterday. without making some
VhaI extensive examination of their ]
ooks. c
The local companies involved are the
liggs. National. Metropolitan, Columbia ,
nd Franklin. The foreign companies