The San Francisco call., 1906-05-23
FINAL REPORT
IN REBUILDING
Committee Men Suggest
Changes in Type Of
Structures.
New York and Chicago
Laws Given Due
Consideration.

Chairman Galloway of the building
laws committee made the following
statement on Monday in submitting
his final report:
This committee has practically di-
vided its long report into seven dis
rfnct sections. The first of these is
devoted TO permits and the building
laws of the city. going into detail re-
garding the issuing of permits and
the law governing the same. All
clauses have been gone over and dis
sected thoroughly, thus making
everything clear.
The second section Of our report
is devoted TO the discussion and rec
concentrations pertaining 70 the ma
terial and strength OF all buildings. We
have classified all the buildings as
heretofore. classes A, B. { and the
fourth class. These buildings are inn
proved in all instances, save the class
A and they may be erected in the va
riOus districts as pointed out by on;
committee in the report.
we find. after an exhaustive re-
port that the class A buildings of this
city all withstood the earthquake
shock and the fire admirably, and
therefore we do not see fit to recon-
mend any changes in their pattern,
height or construction For instance,
the best example Of the class a build
ing is the great Call structure. This
building we find 10 be perfect in every
detail and impossible to improve
upon.
I'VE are recommending several
changes in the class B buildings. The
structures OF this type in the future
viii differ materially from those Of
the past. They will according to our
t6eas, be constructed entirely Of non
cOmbusuble material the pillars,
slanchions and other substantial parts
10 be made up Of reinforced concrete,
q material which we find to be both
thoroughly fire and earthquake proof
and very reasonable in price. The
height Of all class B buildings shall
be l02 feet, or about six stories.
The new class c buildings Will be
something like the old class B struc-
ture. The walls must be constructed
OF brick, stone or some other nom
combUstible material. We have de
cldec. however. 10 allow wooden joists
and reinforcements, these 10 be on
the inside and well out of the way of
any impending flames
The fourth-class building will be
simply frame structure, like those
in existence in this city at the pres
ent time. OF course it will have to be
constructed on nuch more substantial
None Of these will be allowed within
the fire limits under any considera-
ZION and they will be principally for
residence purposes.
When we first took UP the work Of
Classifying the buildings and framing
suggestions relative 10 their location
many Of Our committee were of the
opinion that none save the class A
structure should be allowed within
the fire limits of the city. This sug-
Nestion, ho~ever, was beaten after
thoro1Rh investigation We found
that such a law would be entirely too
rigid and would work too much of
hardship upon the owners of property
and therefore we decided TO modify
the act.
4 Will say that our reports have
been made after a very careful scru-
Tiny Of the building laws of both New
York and Chicago. Before this com
s-siCtee was formed we sent to both
these cities for copies of these valua-
Die works. they were sent to US, to-
getAssr with certain revisions and sug-
gestiens from the most noted arehi-
Dects and constructors of buildings in
the United States. Thus we benefited
"a this respect and our report will
esnbedy not only the most valuable
plans ebtainabie here, but also those
OF the. tsso greatest building centers in
the world"
When Galloway had concluded his
report. P. II. Mccarthy jumped to his
feet and demanded in loud tone of
v9ice cfl<aifl details regarding con-
str trusstaon and reinforcement of build
fRTs. But the Mayor cut him short
With the following brief speech:
These committees have all worked
hard with their reports and, being all
men who know their business, I move
that. al reports be Unanimously adopt
ea without comment" This motion
was adopted unanimously.