New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-03
MANY COMPLAINTS MADE.
WORKERS TOLD TO STOP.
From beginning Flascs Had Been
Found in the DARLINGTON.

Amendment after amendment TO the plans
has been filed. and the engineers Of the Build
ings Department have time and time again dis
approved of the suggestions made for better
ment both by the owners and the architects.
The plans were fled with the Buildings De-
partment by Neville & Bagge. architects, of No.
2l7 West Observation-Disclosures -ffth-st.. on
May s. 1903 They called for the construction
Of hreproof building. twelve stories high. with
frontage OF hfty-fve feet and a depth of
hundred feet. Of Steel brick and stone, skele-
ton construction. Of a height. unfinished. of 149
feet. The approximate building cost, exclusive
Of the plot was put at S350OO0.
The Allison Realty Company, Of No. $40
Broadway and No 20 Park Row. IS named in
the plans the owners and builders The
plans submitted. with an application for permit,
on May s. 1903 were not approved. according
to the department records. until August II Of
the same year
The name Of the Allison Realty Company is
not quoted in the Corporation Directory and a
brother Of the head Of the firm admitted last
night at the scene Of the accident that the
whole thing taken "on spec
The troubles between the Building Depart
ment. the architects and the owners cover tho
entire period from the filing OF the application.
But chief Of these the notice OK violation
filed yesterday by Charles French. jr.. inspec-
tor OF iron construction for the department
only four hours before the collapse which
proved IN Itself that the building untrust-
worthy. The records go 20 show that Inspector
French had told the owners to stop work
February 81. but that they continued. His let
ter. later referred 10. bears this out
4 later entry on the records shows that the
departmental engineers believed that the plans
for the building called FOR the covering OF too
much area 10 accord with the height Of the
building.
COMPLAINTS OF CITY ENGINEERS.
Under the date OF May Il the engineers report
that the building should be classed thir-
teen story building. instead or twelve story
building, called for IN the plans.
In regard 70 this. IL seems that an effort has
been made 10 escape one provision Of the law.
by giving the intended height Of the building
as 149 feet. II it had been 80 feet it would
have come under an entirely different class as
to hreproohnr and construction.
on August II Inspector John c. Peek reported
that the front foundation Of the building rested
on bedrock but sloped of to clay at the rear.
He suggested, and the engineers demanded. that
the footings resting on the clay be enlarged so
as TO give an equable distribution Of pressure
both from weight Of tie structure and from the
wind.
on June IS the engineers Of the department
complained that the plans were not satistao-
tory as TO location of the fire apparatus. lamps
and other fixtures.
on September 1 another objection TO the plans
was registered by the engineers similar to those
preceding.
on November IA over the signature OF James
Whiskerman, supervising engineer Of the de-
partment and approved by r. F Miller chiet
engineer Of the department objections to the
plans as amended and filed were stated as FOL
lows:
Revised framing plan Of basement floor should
be fled, unless this tier is to remain as already
approved
Beams in roof tier weak where Indicated
..Depth Of floor arches must be specified
Tie rods must be furnished throughout all
tiers.
Furnish complete corrected amendment
The recommendations OF September l we're
about the same. on November - the follow
Ing reply to the specifications for amendments
10 the plans by the owners and architects was
forwarded by Engineer Whiskerman with the
approval of Chief Engineer Miller;
Revised framing plans disapproved-
They are not complete. and are poorly drawn.
and walls cannot be used as bearing walls The
application viii not be approved until proper
framing plans are nled ana A Coilpie'e SOile'1-
90 amendment made"
ORDERS DECLARED WEAK
Following these reports came one OF Deem
-
building is got at. It states. over the signature
Of Engineer whiskerman and with the approval
Of his chief r. F. Miller
The 12-inch O-pound girders are weak where
indicated in all tiers"
Charles French. ir.. has been the inspector OF
the iron work on the building since ii started
His various complaints eliminated after his in
spection Of the building on February p. In
which he found sufficient cause to warn tho
contractors to stop work.
He says that at luncheon that day he met a
member of the Allison Realty Company, and told
him that work must be discontinued on the
building According to other officials. he did not
make another inspection until the 18th, when he
found work going on usual Work had been .
discontinued in the interim account OF stress
Of weather. Saturday was half day, and little
work was done. Monday he made no inspection.
but on Tuesday. March l. he inspected the /
building early in his rounds among the first. /
and then said that ne would put violation on
Il because his orders has1 not been complied with
The work was then at the tenth story.
In accordance with the custom usual in the /
inspection bureaus. not only Of the Building De-
partment but other city departments, he did not
file his notice OF violation with his chief until he
reported for duty yesterday morning. He then I
fled the following:
Borough Of Manhattan. March 2. 1904
To the Superintendent or Buildings Ior the Dot I
ougE Of Manhattan - ,. /
Sir: respectfully report that have examined /
the premises and building situated on the mont OF
the lot on the north side of West Forty sxth-st.