New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-18
MUST THE CAST IRov coLrlv 90,

In ifs discussion OF the collapse Of the
Darlington apartment house "The Engineering
Record" makes Il remarkable statement. 50 far
ms tho observation Of that periodical goes, all
failures which have occurred I'm metal frame
construction have happened only when the mp
right members Of the structure were Of cast
Iron. 70 instances are recalled I'm which the
columns were Of steel. Several reasons are
given for the possible weakness Of n frame in
which cast iron is used. One IS that blow
holes are almost Invariably developed while
moulding the metal. Another is that the syS-
TEN Of building mp n vertical column from sec
tons which are boltod TO one another gives less
rigidity tlIan the spllccd joints OF a steel col
umn. a third objection is that poorer connec-
tons are made between the horizontal floor
beams and the upright column than when the
latter member is steel. When both column and
beams are Of steel, rivcts are employed and these
are driven home I'm such manner as 10 impart
great stiffness 10 The Joint The whole frame is
thus Well lraccG. on the other hand. when
tho column is iron. bolts must be used and theso
are put in loosely. "The stiffcning effect" sovs
oar contemporary, as then SO small that il can.
mot loo even roughly Appropriated by compu.
"tation.'
The most distressing feature of the foregoing
revelation is that il applies 10 n good many
buildings besides the Darlington Saws The
Engineering Record: This latter class Of
Joints IS that which characicrizcs all cast iron
construction The system is widely in voc7,o
ana. under certain restrictions has received ti,n
approval and confidence Of a considerable mum
Der Of builders and architects II has had u,oro
or laSs sanction from municipal authority also
ia" building Code Of New York City il ro-
garded rs exceedingly strict, but il approves The
use OF cast iron columns on conditions which
/ -Ir oaIeluiy specified. Within tie last ten or
/ htI'eh years scores OF buildings have gone III,
/ IN me United States In which such columns
We're introduced. The great majority OF Thorn
sun stand but one cannot void asking In how.
many or them IS the factor Of safety suaIIcr
/ IMAM mas been supposed, ana smaller than sound
! engineering would dictate? Il is too late IN 20,
! par past errors Of course, but not a day shouI5
/ ne lost in guarding against further insccuritr
| from the same cause. Municipal governments
! should everywhere consider the ouestio,
! whether the cast iron column ought NOT IN 10
| prohibited altogether. and should decide ,bo
| point promptly.
In the judgment OF the engineer eunIorod J.,
/ the District Attorney 10 investigate the DarI,,,
! ton disaster. that lamentable affair was duo 20
/ weak connections between the beams and col.
/ umns. The bolts employed for that purDoso n.
| asserts. were altogether too loose. and the
! looseness was attributable 10 the fact thar ,bo
! holes in the cast from were too large. baving
/ Oeen made in the operation OF moulding The
| building Code says that such holes should be
! drilled Apparently, then. the owners and con-
/ tractors were proceeding in n manner not con-
| teInplated by the trainers Of the law. II this he
really so Mr.. Jerome Will probably have little