The San Francisco call., 1906-06-13
THE BUILDING ORDINANCE.

The Board of Supervisors at 10 80 o'clock next
Monday morning viii take up the new building
ordinance which has already passed to print.
Architects. contractors. property owners and all
others interested in building will be given opper-
tnnitv 10 express their views on the several pro-
visions Incorporated in the proposed measure, and
10 give their reasons if any, why amendments
should be made In fact Mondays meeting has
been called for the express purpose Of getting the
best counsel obtainable before the ordinance IS
finally placed on the statute books of the city.
Tn thus inviting the best counsel to It's dehbera-
tons the Supervisors have shown both cOnsidera-
ion and appreciation of the Importance Of the sub
iect before them. The ordinance is one requiring
expression of the best judgment of architects and
practical builders, as well consideration of the
present needs Of property and the future OF
the permanently restored city With the exception
of the fire insurance matter, more Important
question IS at present before the people of San
Francisco Under the ordinance. the citE will be
restored and the community will benefit by the
wise provisions and feel the adverse effects of any
errors which its trainers may fall into for genera
tons to come
So. far. then, as human judgment will permit,
after the closest consideration of all that may be
said en the subject and scrutiny of details, there
should be 40 weak places left IN the ordinance to
shew the city disadvantage later The city
J96l VIII pe BuisJ uHoef PROVISIONS oI the
ure is not 10 be passing thing of the day, but is
to be built fer all time But the building can be
ne better than the ordinance which the con
ditions under which 1t shall be done.
There Is another consideration, too, that must not
be lost sight Of While the freest discussion must
be allowed and every feature be given the closest
scrutiny and while the Supervisors should lose
no opportunity to avail themselves of the expert
Judgment and advice of those engaged IN the build
ing industry. there should be unnecessary delay
IN the passage of the ordinance. Until it becomes
law, owners Of property viii naturally hesitate
about going on with the work Of construction.
There are enough causes Of unnecessary delays-the
slow adjustment Of fire insurance losses for example
which are beyond the control Of the people of
San Francisco and their public servants, without
the addition of delays which can be prevented The
desrabty ef prompt action should not, of course,
tempt the Supervisors into the passage of a hHr-
riedy considered ill-advised measure; such a
course would be worse than delay, but nothing
should be permitted to stand IN the way Of the
Official adoption Of the rules under which the city
Is to be restored, that unnecessary delay hold
back the builders from their work
Nothing viii DO more to hasten the restoration
o. San Francisco than hearty cooperation of the
forces engaged This is of the conflicting fire
insurance Interests II is Of the work of those
VINO aboring to give the city a building erdi-
nance suited to its needs spirit Of cooperation
on the part Of the several interests that will be
affected By the ordinance, among themselves and
with the Beard Of Supervisors viii go far toward
bringing about prompt passage Of the measure.