The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-02

\ VIII never nave an once DulldinK Il
mile tall, IN spite oi all the recent talk
10 that effect. Indeed II will never
have one half a mile high for that mat
ter, unless the present building code Is
expanded instead of contracted as
yhe present architectural policy de-
mands. For the limit in height Of
any building in New York Is now abb
solutely fixed at 1000 feet, or about
two-6fths Of mile, and in view OF
the present outcry against the latest
,kyscrapers it seems certain that that
! limit will not only never be increased
but will shortly be diminished. The
reason that New York will never have
my Of the mile high buildings predic-
ted for il is not only architectural but
geological. The city does not rest
on a basis any too firm as it Is. Be-
yond a certain point II will be abso-
lulcly impossible TO rest additional
weight on the underpining Of the city.
The limit OF this weight it has just
been figured out amounts TO foun-
dation pressure OF the enormous
amount Of fifteen tons to the square
foot On a building lot 200 feet
square, which is about the limit in the
already crowded downtown district
this viii mean miximum height OF
2DG feet. Rcy ond this the very ra
ture OF the city's base viii call halt.
Other factors, however, are likely to
step in neiore such limit is reached,
for 200 square foot plot this 1000
foot high ediice would cost $60000,-
900 It would weigh according to
present estimates $4,000 tons, or
more than twice the tonnage Of the
present navy. Moreover the wind
pressure on any one of it's walls would
be more than $3.50 tons. Altogether
such monstrosity is made almost inn
possible by its physical limitations
and it hardly seems probable that any
New York skyscraper will ever ex-
eeed 1000 feet, provided of course that
the present building laws are not so
restricted as to make the toothpiek
Office building out Of the question.
The police department is still try
ing to discover whether it is the sub
jeet OF practical Joke. or whether il
has been metamorphosed into a bu-
reau for answering conundrums in
connection with the new anti-noise
ordinance The most battling pro-
blem which has ever been put UP to
this department has just developed in
the question as it necessary for a
rooster 10 crow" This is looked on /
by some members OF the force as akin
TO the old inquiry as to why a chic
ken crosses the road. AS a matter
OF fact, however, it is serious prob
lem for the new anti-noise ordinance
prohibits all unnecessary noises, and
the question naturally arises as TO the |
difference between those which are
necessary and those which are not. |
Complaints having been lodged
against various growing roosters, the
police department has been forced to
call upon biologists to find out
it is really necessary for a
rooster to crow. The biologists, how
ever. give no help ss they merely
rendered the opinion that il was as
necessary as it is for man to sing.
As a result the police are still up in
the air and the difficulty of their
position is further complicated by
persons who have announced that If
t is not necessary for roosters TO
row it isn't necessary for lions to
oar, and that il this question is de-
'ided against the barnyard fowl they
will proceed to put the Zoo out of
business. Already Chief Bingham's
nen have been deluged with corn
'!oirts from fats and apartment hos
es against crying babies, pianos,
oughing invalids and the like, all of t
which ere alleged to be the cause of {
noises and therefore pun +
'hable under the new ordinance, '
feanwhile the police are wondering t
yhethcr it is possible to differentiate |
etween necessary and unnecessary a
tises and chiefly as to whether a il
ooster renders himself liable to ar 4
est by growing at night q
According to the views held on the G
owery no funnier statement was ev- h
t put forward than that recently r,
lade by City Physician Gerbert to the ii
feet that six beers a day are too II
luch for any man. The Bowery, be- o