The San Francisco call., 1906-05-18
ARRANGE -FOUR
new CLASSES
Building Committee Agrees
on InValidatiOn Of Pres
ent Laws.
Protests Of Many Property
Owners Are Given
Attention.


The classification on buildings In
San Francisco will be changed ma
terially If the recommendations made
yesterday by the SUBJ committee Of
the committee appointed by the Mayor
to revise the building laws are ap-
four classes of structures, to be known
as classes A, B. c and frame build
ings.
Class A will be the familiar steel
cage structure composed of incom-
bustible material from foundation to
roof. Class B structures must be made
in pretty much the same style, except
that reinforced concrete may be used.
Formerly this style of building would
have belonged to Glass A. Class c
buildings will correspond with what
were formerly Glass B structures.
The subcommittee chairman. Frank
Shea, said that 1t was realized that the
city is poor, and that there was no IN
tention to impose unnecessary bur-
dens. The restrictions that have been
suggested are simply indispensable to
public safety.
1t is planned to declare vol all ex-
listing building ordinances and enact
entirely new and comprehensive leg1s-
latfon which will do away with the
possibility of conflicting regulations.
There was some discussion over the
amount of lime that may be safely
used with cement mortar. 1t was
agreed finally that lime and mortar
may be used in equal proportions.
On the representations of several
factory owners a district was created
within the fire limits, where corrugated
Ilc naf1inOC hn nSQd
with wooden supports. The mill own
ers who handle lumber were excepted
from this provision. and were present
to complain Assistant Fire Chief
Shaughnessy said that the planning
mill district has always been a menace
to the safety of the south of Market
section.
Abe Ruef declared that he felt like
making every possible concession TO
the millmen, whose interests are great,
but that the general safety must be
first considered. Corrugated iron ex-
teriors with metal supports, he thought.
might solve the difficulty. but r. ii.
Porter, representing the underwriters.
and Assistant Fire Chief Shaughnessy
were trife dubious about 1t. The
matter was left for further, considera-
tion after Ruef had suggested that the
millmen contribute for a high wall
around their places or business, so
that if they should burn they might
have the conf1agration all to them
selves.
The Eagle laundry people were pres
ent in an endeavor to get the same
privileges accorded manufacturers, but
failed of their purpose.
Sydney NJ. Starr and Charles Schles-
singer, representing downtown prop
erty-owners' association, presented a
plea that taxes be not raised to the
two and half per cent rate, said to
have been advocated by Assessor
Dodge. After the delegation had been
informed that the committee had no
more to do with taxes than earth
quakes, Chairman James Gallagher
asserted as chairman Of the Super
visors' finance committee. that he
would not favor any such rate, and
that he thought the city's governing
body would feel likewise.
The prepared ordinance containing
the reclassification of buildings will
be submitted to the committee this
morning.