The Washington times., 1905-04-22
To HOLD INQUEST
ON BALLS DEATH
Coroner hewitt to Inyesti-
gate Garage Explosion.
LONG DISPUTE OVER PLANT
Residents of Neighborhood Complained
and Company Made Some
improvements.
LONG DISPUTE OVER PLANT

~ ohef '->eVitl Will conduct a search
ing investigation into the death of En-
siheer y, ). Ball. Thursday night as
the result OF an explosion in the plant
VI she oniteo states Garage Company.
An inquest will be held Monday morn
ing d. 'the morgue, and large number
OF witnesses have been summoned The
jury in the inquest over the BODY of
Kate Norbeck. who was killed by Frank
Jones, was sworn yesterday to investi-
gate the Ball case.
"A long aitercation between the own
ers Of the United States Garage Com
pany's engine house, between G and n
and Third and Fourth streets northeast
In which Thursdays explosion took
place, and the residents of the vicinity
marked the history Of the garage from
tne time the permit for its construction
was hrst applied for almost up to the
hignt n on which ]. J. Ball lost his life
The records of the case at the District
building include bulky petitions pro
tests, reports Of inspectors and letters
from the owners OF the plant assuring
tIe oInciais that the features complain
ca OF would be remedied.
First Complaint Filed.
On October 20. 1904. the first complaint
was filed against the erection of a coal
OIL OF other explosive plant in the vi
entity The Times was informed that
on October a permit was issued for
the erection of brick building The
permit did not include the installation
Of machinery
John O'Connor. of 313 H street north
east. was the next complainant. He
asked that hearing be granted prop
early ir November. At this time the
company began to secure the written
consent of owners of property within
Hihety Ieet or the engine room to the
installation of machinery. O'Connor
was assured he would be granted a
h. ,rirs before final action was taken.
On. November q Building Inspector
Ashford reported to Engineer Commits
sioner, Biddie that the United States
Garage Company had made application
Tor permit to install motors and ma
chlnery and had presented the written
consent Of the owners of two-thirds
OF the property within ninety feet of the
pant. He recommended that the permit
be granted.
Gets Required Consent.
Certain names were later Withdrawn
from the company's list, still leaving
over two-thirds of the property repre-
sented- Other names were withdra wn
fion1 the protesting petitions and added
to the company's representation. The
area within ninety feet of the location
OF the engine is 9o276 square feet. of |
which two-thirds is 60I7S The com |
panys list of signers represented CT 57s |
square teet. This was according To q |,
statement by Assessor DarneiIle, follow |
ing ing wnicn Engineer Commissioner Bid |
Ole recommended that the permit be !
granted. the other Commissioners agree |
ing Besides having the required CON
sent-,Coionei Fiddle called attention to
the tact that while the list included
some very large property owners. If
also included the majority of the small
househo;ders in the immediate vicinity
o. the DuliGlng. The permit was issued /
December Z.
Complaint Against Engine House.
The first complaints about the engine
located in the rear of 731 Third street
northeast were dated December 81 w
S. Williams. of 731 Third street north |
east, and NJ. q. Sturgus, of 722 Third
street. were among the protestants. |
They said the engine was a great an
noyance. as it ran all night
An investigation followed. conducted
by the Office Of the Building Inspector.
On December 81 Building Inspector Ash
ford reported 10 the Commissioners that
the United States Garage Company had
arranged 10 build a brick stack fifty
feet high 70 discharge the exhaust and
convey the products of partial cornbus-
tion from the oil engine, which ii was
believed would remove the cause of the
complaints.
renewed complaint was made on
March 2 by Theodore Livings. and he
was assured that the company was do
ing all in its power to remedy the condi- |
tions.
Betterments Made
On March Is the United States Car
age Company informed the Commission
gaded on the plant with a view of over
coming the obstacles complained of, and
expressed the belief that in a short
time satisfactory report could be
made The Commissioners were invited
to inspect the plant personally.
The last official report is dated March
% less than four weeks prior to the
explosion. i. g. Curtis, assistant inspec-
tor OF buildings, reported to Engineer
Commissioner Biddle that he had made
10 the noise and oGor He said the va
rious devices and expedients resorted
TO by the owners of the plant had been
largely successful. These included a
ffty-foot stack surmounted by a twelve
foot extension in iron for the exhaust
These resulted. according TO the re-
port, in reducing the jar and Vibra ton. !
which was barely perceptible outside
the building Changes In the engine
were said TO have promoted more COM
plete combustion of the exploding gas |
diminishing the offensive odor. Further
changes were promised, which were 10
result in better conditions.
STABBED IN THE WOODS.