Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-05
LOCAL FIRE TRAPS
The Need of More Rigid Of
fetal Supervision.
THE STARS WARNING
SHABBY CONSTRUCTION METHODS
IN NEW BUILDINGS.
Grave Danger to Which the People Are
Exposed, With or With
out Fire.
THE STARS WARNING
p the Editor of The Evening Star:

20 the Editor Of The Evening Star;
The Star with its characteristic progress
Hiveness, is taking the lead in the east at
least. in forcefully calling attention to the
municipalities responsibility for dangerous
buildings Its editorial, Fire Traps" in
the issue of December l. hit the nail
fairly upon the head and was deserving of
ats constituents highest commentator.
We must not forget, however, that the
fault for much poor building that is done,
or that is tolerated lies primarily with the
press. 1t has been strangely silent upon
that subject and almost crimnally lax in
fulfilling its self-imposed yet sacred mis-
Sion toward tie public. For in these days
of specialization the public knows only so
much about such matters the press tells
It We read much about reform in govern
ment, and in this and that and the other
thing, but mighty little is ever said about
that most important subject, and one in
which there is much room for reform.
Hence am l fully justified in stating that
the press has not performed its full duty as
the accepted educator of the people. And
that the press has been generally so silent,
so utterly unmindful, makes that editorial
In The Star all the more noteworthy and
commendable.
The Public Jurisdiction.
The Star is not only right in claiming
that city officers have a perfect right to
enter such buildings as are used for public
gathering. and whose construction they
deem unsafe or not up to modern methods,
and demand that such structures be de-
molished or put into good condition; but 1
have the best of legal support in my con-
tention that the authorities have equally a
right to compel the demolition of old and
unsafe buildings, firetraps, etc, used ex-
clusively for private purposes on the as
sumption that they menace to public
safety and to adjacent property. No ind-
Ndual has the right to jeopardize the lives
and property of his neghbors. The mu-
nicipality, and without being tainted with
paternalism, not only has the right to in
terfere, but by virtue of its agency for the
people incurs the obligation to interfere
with and regulate all such matters.
But it Is with another though equally i'm
portant phase of the matter that l wish to
Geal-very briefly-and that is the construc-
ton of new buildings under permits issued
by municipalities.
Permits for New Buildings.
When the properly authorized officers of
d city pass upon the plans and specifca-
tons of building and issue a permit for
that structure, the city to a certain eX
tent, assumes responsibility for that build
ing, and to that end employs inspectors to
see that 1t is built in accordance with the
regulations prescribed therefor. Now, then,
should anyth ng happen to that building, a
collapse, for instance, resulting from n
herent weakness or faulty system of con-
struction, that should have been discovered
in the plans originally submitted for per-
NIT, or was apparent upon inspection of
the construction while in progress, then,
that municipality. while 1t cannot be he
legally for damages resulting to persons
or property, has, nevertheless. incurred
moral responsibility therefor. 1t has been
derelct in its duty as an agent for the body
corporate. the people. And I am not 50
sure but that If such case We're carried
up to the Supreme Court it would not be
hDd lacr1I
obligation and could therefore be held la
BILE as party to such damage.
Good Men Needed.
1t behooves cities. however. to employ
only men of the highest skill and of keen
judgment and tested prObity in such posi-
tons, having to do with the buildings of
city. In every town there is a class of I'M
principled spectators, aided and abetted
by as unprincpled builders and architects,
ever ready to put up the fiInsiest construc-
ton In the endeavor 10 catch the unwary
by a quick sale and it Is incumbent upon
the aforesaid officers to defeat such schemes
by rigidly enforcing not only the letter but
the spirit of the building laws in the first
place, and to make it their business to see
that proper laws, rules and regulations are
provided
Fireproof Structures.
In most cities of any size there are now
vell-defined fire limits within which it IS
not permitted to build anything but what
comes under the generic term of freproof
buildings. 1t is term susceptible of very
liberal Interpretation, and many people
think the moment the outside walls of
building are not Of wood and the roof of
Shingles. then that building must necessa-
rily be firepToof
The one and only structure that can
properly be called freproof is one whose
parts are not only non-combustible, but
that can in no wise be affected by fire
changed or destroyed. Most stones and all
GRANTEES are far from freproof. A granite
that is exposed to intense heat pops like
gun and goes to pieces; limestone turns into
lime and sandstone disintegrates at a rapid
rate. The only absolutely fireproof struc-