New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-08
OVERLOADED, HE THINKS
Buildings Superintendent Hopper
Inspects Darlington Ruins.

~. the Buildings Department should have sum
- mower 70 stop work on an unEafe building
-. ,he statement Of Isaac A Hopper, the super
-. after he had made an inspection OF the
,,-I,,gton ruins yesterday and he said he would
-l.,.r1e any legislation which would give that
- 20 +he superintendent. He would not urge
F..,,,a himself. There had often been sugges-
-. +rat builders and architects be licensed. and
=. -bougrt that would Re the proper solution Of
tho problem l.--.,,-
=. 90 On with the investigation now he said.
..-t.re isnothlng this department can DO We cld
!, -. ,o,,l6 before the building fell From what
rave heard think that the collapse must have
- ,asgea by overlooking some % the floors with
t-U6inr material. Until the ruins are cleared up
or inspectors VIII Hol '7 '
cle.e report ,
- ar as could So this morning. the beams ap-
- "a lie nroDerlv bolted. The violation which
-.,s-+or French fled against the building EVIDENT
=, sn-,ied 10 the upper floors Iron constructors
=. .c--fblv reckless fellows. and they throw up
. buUd,rg in no time. Sometimes poor Work gels
' haven't been able 70 examine the plans care
s,uv vet but I suppose they were made Tor a
.ss-s Of 20 hounds 70 the foot, instead OF me
!, az mounds there must have been on Them II az
go overloadIug we've heard or existed ooh
-. -,vcb falth IN the oucksand theory I've
49,, lots OF building in that vicinity, and We
- found any cuicks1ud or hidden stream.
u vas interested 10 read that a violation had
49,, nlaced against the building my old firm IS
,sting up 1T Fifth-ave. and Thirty-fourth-st AZ
~ sons. who compose the firm. have violated the
"A, am GLAD TO see that the inspectors have
s,,s5 against them 10 one VIII be permitted 10
,.oss tho law while I'm In this Office"
mis- violation was removed yesterday. as the
s-n had filed the inspectors recommendation.
IT Is certain" went on Superintendent Hopper.
that the Buildings Department ought 70 have
mower 20 stop work on unsafe building. The
0asn IN Nf1F
street and bring IN policeman 10 curb refractory
bulders Now the dangers 10 the people from
Illegal tenement houses come from II NenulaIloI
and unsanitary arrangements, after the building Is
I'd The Buildings Department has 20 contend
sgainst danger when a building Is IN course 81
erection-dsuger 10 the workmen and the public al
large Why shouldn't this department have as
much power as the Tenement House Department
RE work AZ the ruins went dragging on yester
dav. The Few men who reported for Work went
around wet ana dispisited. ~ VIII pTooao!y pe d
week before the GeDris j. cleared away elllIeig-
District Attorney Jerome said that SO fax as the
6ence hsG been found 10 show that the structure
EEL because 81 overlooking. The Dlstrsct Attorney
subpanas were sent out by Justice Holbrook, %.
Special Sessions, and some OF the employees OF
torney's Office in the afternoon They were repre-
ssnted ~ Ignatius MelJner who assured MI
Jerome that he would seno such books and papers
President Ahearn is disposed 20 overhaul thor
oughly his corps OF building inspectors. He says
thai II is now impossible 20 get the highest grace
Of men Many Of the men able 10 pass the Civil
Service examination and willing 10 work for the
salary paid 70 an inspector-Sl.20 a year-are mere
clerks with only theoretical knowledge ot the art
o. hulaluE
7 am going 10 advocate" he said, that all ap-
plicsuts for ilspectorshps must be first examined
fv the board OF examiners which IS made up OF
seven practical men. the chairman OF the BOARD OF
Underwriters and the Hire Department chief Then
let euoh they pass take the Civil Service
examination My attention has been called also 10
she doubtful wisdom Of having the inspectors wear
uniforms. Mind you, ] don't want 10 say that the
contractors are dishonest But were any OF them
Inclined skimD their work Il would be advan-
tRFeous 20 be able 20 know when the Inspector was
coming. and yOu see uniform further than
sou can plain clothes.
NJ Ahearn Is also inclined 70 favor larger com
pensatlon for the inspectors. He says Il viii be
Impossible get the grade OF men he wants Tor
g. 20 wear