New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-05
VINO WAS TO BLAMEf

DAYS may elapse before the Coroner and Dis
trict Attorney ascertain all of the weaknesses
in the unfinished Darlington apartment house
which contributed TO its collapse. Inasmuch
criminal proceedings may be instituted and
should be instituted against those who are to
blame for the loss OF fifteen lives and the in
juries to a score Of other persons the official
investigation should be thorough. Even now,
though. it is hard 70 see how the owners OF
the building exculpate themselves. If the
trouble was with the substitution Of cast iron
for steel. or Of bolts for rivets, or with any
other feature Of the material or methods en-
ployed, they must certainly have been ac-
Quainted with the situation. The contractors
who were putting up the frame shared that
knowledge, and apparently must share the re
sponsibility. That circumstance does not re
lieYe the men whom they were serving. Re
peatedly during the last three months com
plants had been made regarding the unSatis-
factory and Illegal manner IN which work was
done there. First this fault found, and
then that Whatever was the special defect
that led to the final wreck. and whether the
accident was due TO carelessness or deliberate
and extreme economy 1t is clear that some
thing avoldable was wrong with the building.
IL has been suggested that quckSaud may
have helped 10 bring about the result. IT, indeed,
It was not the principal cause. The notion s.
not altogether incredible For this reason the
authorities will do we'll 10 look for evidence
bearing upon this point Is there anything in
the present condition Of the foundations or the
ruined structure which throws light on the
possibility? Had suitable precautions been
taken to give security TO the rear Of the build
ing before the frame went up? If it can be
shown that the collapse was due to quicksand,
the iron contractors are left in a better posi-
ton. no doubt, but the owners are apparently
as badly of as before. IL was their business 10
know all about the site on which they built.
and 10 govern themselves accordingly Now
that it is a matter Of record that the steel work
was more or less defective, it is impossible TO
feel confidence that everything necessary was
done TO give it perfectly stable foundations.
How far the Building Department Is open to
reprOach in this matter is a question which
many people are asking themselves. The large
number Of complaints made against the Oar
Ington shows good deal Of vigilance, in view
of the fact that the bureau was shorthandcd. On
the other hand. If little more energetic action
had followed these unfavorable reports Wednes-
days accident might perhaps have been averted.
In defence Of the bureau the assistant com
missioner says that at least ten days notice
must be given when application for a man
damus TO stop work is made 20 the Supreme
Court. But ten days had not elapsed since
the receipt OF the most serious cOll)ldlnl, ana
theoretically the bureau was helpless. In the
mean time an inspector named Jordan makes
the cheerful statement that some seventy steel
frame buildings in which the same style Of
work as that observed in the Darlington was
followed have gone up i'm this city within the
last gear and a half. The story may be taken
with a large grain Of salt, especially as Mr..
Jordan prefers to give no particulars, but it
ought not TO be ignored entirely.
Both the insinuation that a host OF buildings
now occupied are insecure and the statement
that the Building Department does not now
possess adequate authority should receive the
careful consideration of the Mayor. Legislation
which will meet existing needs should perhaps
be sought at Albany before the close of the
present session. In the mean time, however.
Mr.. Mcclellan may with propriety consider
whether he does not already possess the requi-
site power TO act in emergencies Of this kind
just he acted regarding the theatres. His
eyes having been opened to peris of reckless
steel frame construction he would not wholly
escape public criticism If there should be a
repetition Of the Forty-sixth-st. disaster within
the next two years.