New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-03

SSmnensins about ro hundred teet from the
thereon violation o. Section a 81 the Building
ri, In that Of soHssrueng The side wallis more than thar
the floor beams were not all properly bolted and
said building being a aFeproof building cellar
and twelve stories in height. 50 feet front s. feet
rear $ Zee. deep and ii feet high, and intended 20
The Borough OF Manhattan. IN the city Of New
owner. Allison Realty Company place Of bust
ness, No. a2) Broadway and No. 20 Park Row Per
son experimenting the work. owners; plan No 3S5.
New Buildings OF ls0&
This notice OF violation was filed in the de-
partment soon after o'clock and II the meth
DDS IN vogue had been lived UP to the Allison
company should have been informed at once
Of the filing Of the violation, soon
messenger could reach them.
Buildings Superintendent Isaac A Hopper has
been at his orange plantation in Florida. and is
now on his way home. In his absence Inspector
German is acting superintendent
BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT TIED.
Acting Superintendent German said that In
the absence Of Superintendent Hopper he did
not feel like making any statement
assistant Superintendent Jordan" he said.
Ifs in charge of the work at the scene Of the
disaster, and It is entirely improbable that he
will make any report to this department. until
tomorrow. / have already forwarded to Bor-
ou6h President Ahearn Inspector French's
port and that is practically the sum of my
knowledge OF the disaster. OF course the rec
ords Of the department. speak for themselves
and show what has been done IN the past in
the way OF careful inspection Of this building.
Nelther inspector French nor Inspector Peek
can possibly make a detailed report until the
morning. and until then il will bs impossible
for me TO make competent report on the dis
aster. However. l have given to Borough
President Ahearn whatever information was at
my disposal"
explain what seemed to be apparent discrep-
ancy between Inspector FrenChs notification TO
the owners on February "a of noncompliance
with the building laws In the erection Of the
structure. and his official fling of notice Of viO-
laton yesterday, he said:
Mr. French is entirely competent inspec-
tor. and has been in the department for years.
His record book shows that on February "a ne
Informed a member OF the Allison Realty Com
pany at luncheon that work must stop. make
this point because the inspectors are compelled
to take luncheon in their inspection districts
and to enter on their record books where they
do take luncheon. Stress of weather interviewed,
and Mr.. Frenchs record books show that he
found work going on on Friday and again on
Tuesday morning.
"Of course since the question has been put 20
ne. must say that there is lamentable diff
ference between the laws which govern the
construction Of buildings Of Ave stories. such as
tenement houses. and those which govern the
construction Of skysCrapers, and the matter IS
entirely pertinent here. II an inspector discov-
ers a fragrant violation in the construction Of
police captain Of the precinct and Immediately
make arrests.
IN the other case conditions are entirely diff
ferent. Following the filing OF notice Of viola
ton by the inspector with this department, we
inform the owner Of the property in question
as soon as may be. preferably by messenger
The blank on which the notice OF violation Is
made out is backed by one on which can be in
dorsed the date Of receipt Of such notice by the
owner and the finding Of the department. as 10
Wheeler such violation has been corrected or
not.
ONE OF ALLSONS WARNED.
But while peremptory action is possible in
the case Of tenement houses or other buildings
OF Ave stories or under. In cases such as this
must apply 20 the Supreme Court through
the Corporation Counsel for an injunction
against the owner. And all this takes days
! There should be no difference between the
two. All we know at present IS that Inspector
French'S record book and his fling or notice OF
violation show that 'he owners had been truly
Informed of the existing danger. and. according
20 Inspector French. that they persisted in vio-
latiug his express warning
Inspector French declared at his home last
night that he would say nothing outside OF his
report TO the department.
Il have made my report to my superior, ne
said. and until tomorrow. when can make an
additional report l cannot possibly have any
thing further to say"
He refused absolutely to discuss any previous
violations Of the Building Code in the Construc-
ton OF the wrecked building.
Assistant Superintendent Jordan was busy
afternoon and night in charge Of the work or
separating the twisted beams and debris and
getting the bodies out OF the wrecked building.
Until 7 inspect the records Of the depart
ucut." said Mr.. Jordan. and hear the reports
Of the inspectors. and inspect the plans with
their various amendments OF the building II -
utterly impossible for me TO make any state
maut as 10 the disaster. ! am here simply In
charge Of the work
Don't YOU think your men ought 20 have
summary power I'm buildings OF this kind ~ well
Is in tenement houses. where lives are I'm dan
ger2' Borough President Ahearn asked
Il would not like 10 say until have thor
oughlv investigated what power the laws now
give us said President Ahearn. "and 7 intend
10 find that out right away"