New-York tribune., 1907-08-19

purtaut city in the United States. Mr.. Humphrey
says:
have examined carefully nearly every one of
the buildings that have collapsed within the last
ure has been due TO carelessness OF construction.
From what 1 have OF other concrete buildings
same errors are being repeated and that further
ceIapses VIII surely come unless the officials OF
the cities take the question in hand now This
Danger Of careless construction cOnfronts nearly
every city OF the country. and II Is miracle 70
lapsed-
IN The United States should revise its building
laws in such a manner that either the owner or
The contractor Of concrete building shall be com
pe8ed 70 employ a competent inspector. whose
dufy It shah be 10 follow every detail of the con-
= ~ -Itia st. Of RE roof New York St Louis
Boston and Philadelphia have either prepared or
are now preparing new regulations governing con-
mhe science Of concrete construction is not yet
Thoroughly settled and until IL is the greatest care
sheud be taken IL the use OF the material Con-
crete by reason OF its superior QUALITIES
IT'S resistance TO fire and its cheapnessI4S pens
used extensively IN these days. and will be en-
Moved still mere the future 1t IS compare
iirtly new material and until its properties are
fa!iy known and appreciated the greatest safe
guards should be thrown about II Ihefe y, y
prevalent idea that il can be used Dy aiisAIlltu
ishoreys That is the error which has LED TO serl-
Gus consequences While It Is true llat uilshiIieu
labor can be employed to large extent coHctsle ct
eonsirlr,iaD requires the same care and attention
70 details that Is demanded DS -lisI Ni190 ~'
sarne NJ The causes that have produced failures
are carelessness in propOrConllle anu ANilIso
concrete. poor or unsuitable sand, stone or graz
poor Joints in the forms and insufficient DTacIiis'
and often d too early removal or theSe ToTA4s' IL
sufficient and incorrectly placed reinforcement iiu
bad alignment OF the work
Each failure feaGs to discourage the use OF cen
crete for the reason that il IS almost unlteFsaIIS
attributed 10 the material rather than 10 Inc III
proper condition under which II is used The iall-
ure Of reinforced concrete structure py I1a.9I I
of improper design poor materials, or bad work
mansllip l. no more argument against us Use
Than the collapse OF steel structure uildeT SIM
iar conditions j. argument against tle use u
structural steel in construction 90 -.
Tne Geological Survey, IN connection VIII IL
eATer.fnenis. has made IT point 10 inHestISate
promptly failure OF concrete structures ana me
relapse or those already examined has been ouc
10 careessness or the part Of the contractors or
defective design OF forms, and not 10 the HlaIe-
rails used.
IN the last ruined concrete building I inspected
! found many evidences OF carelcSSneSs IA con
struction The forms used the bad feature;
the joints not tight. the supports were Hght
ana for the roof had 10 be spEced. The aISt-
'ne1t Of the work bad the columns did not
centre over each ether ard the lower sides or the
beams and gIrders were not only not level, Dut
had also saCged. Indicating that the forms were
not OF sufficient stiffness. Further carelessiiesS
vas shown IL placing the reinforcement; ms fpqA
were TOO close Ia the girders and beams ana lHe
splice of the sheets Of expanded metal IN the noor
slabs did not appear be sufficient Little attei-
aoa appears TO have been paid to the column con
construction which were not they should be
ana certainly not IN accordance with good prac-
tice. none of these can be regarded as the cause
OF the failure There were Indications lldt Iic