The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-09
TALL BUILDINGS.


TALL BUILDINGS.
The word "sky-scraper'' as applied TO un-
usually tall buildings has not yet found a
place in any dictionary, but no doubt it
will. 1t was originally a slang word to
designate supposed very lofty sails that
gave their speed to Americas old wooden
ships. From that it came to be applied in
a semi-slang way to anything of great
height. 1t fits the tall buildings that a V
come In vogue in recent years so aptly that
it will probably continue to be used in that
sense If the practice of erecting such build
ings shall continue. OF that, however, there
is some doubt. The arguments IN favor of
them are based on lack Of ground space,
turns on investments. All these are from
the proprietors' point Of view. On the
other hand, it is universally conceded that
they are architectural monstrosities, a per-
manent detriment to the beauty OF any
street, and involving the possibility Of
great danger in case of fire. From a legal
point of view the owner Of land may erect
on it a building as high as the tower of
Babel. but it may be questioned If any per-
son has a right to impose architectural de-
formity on the public or to erect a building
that perhaps detracts from the market
value Of adjacent properties. The moral
right Of one person to monopolize the rents
Of several hundred tenants while his neigh
Dor would be satisfied with a score or two
is another question.
The question of restricting the height Of
buildings has already engaged the attention
of some city authorities. 1t was stated a
few days ago that the City Council of Chi
cago had voted to remove all restrictions
on the subject. In New York the regula-
ton prescribes 80 feet as the maximum
height Of a building, but special permits
nave been granted for buildings much
higher, including one S5 feet high. In
Washington q conference will be held in a
few days between the District commission
ers and the Senate committee On the Dis
trict of Columbia to consider the question.
The present law on the subject in Wash
ington as contained in an act OF Congress
provides: THAT no building shall be erected
or altered on any street in the District of
Columbia to exceed in height above the
sidewalk the width of the street in its
front, and in no case shall a building ex-
street nor 10 feet on a business street, as
designated by schedule approved by the
commissioners of the District of Columbia,
except on business streets and business
avenues 16O feet wide, where a height not
exceeding 100 feet may be allowed. The
height of buildings on corner lots shall in
all cases be regulated by the limitations
governing on the broader streets" Other
sections Of the act prescribe that no non
ire-proof building intended to be used as
an apartment house shall be erected to a
height of more than five stories or raised
to a height exceeding sixty feet from the
sidewalk, and that all business buildings
exceeding seventy-fve feet in height shall
be fire-proOf. These provisions were based
largely on the statement of the chief OF
the Washington fire department that it
would be impossible for the department to
fight a fire above the height of ninety feet.
The coming conference between the Dis
trict commissioners and the Senate COM
mittee is due to an announcement that a
'sky-scraper" was to be erected on a site
overlooking the State, War and Navy
building and certain squares proposed to
be condemned for additional departmental
buildings. There are peculiar reasons in
Washington for restricting the height OF
buildings hat would detract from the
architectural effects of public buildings
Such reasons exist to some extent in all
cities, but it is a question whether merely
esthetic consideration against the disfig-
urement of n city will avail against the
right of the owner of property to build as
high as he pleases. The question Of fight
ing fires and of public safety is a different
one. In this city no building of the 'sky-
scraper'' class should ever be permitted tC
be erected on the Circle or on either of the
squares fronting the new government
building.