The Washington herald., 1908-06-20

With a force OF eighty men, Thomas
II. Pickford yesterday resumed the con-
struction OF the apartment house at
Twentieth and P streets northwest. after
an enforced halt OF ten days, pending
investigation into the collapse OF the
structure, which resulted In the death
Of two men and the injury OF several
others.
Shortly after the corOner's inquest.
which blamed the poor construction Of
the corner pier for the accident. Pick
ford entered into communication with
, Amos B. Barnes. an expert structural
engineer, Of Philadelphia, 10 inspect the
building and lay plans for the continu-
alton or It's construction.
Mr.. Barnes came TO Washington, and
after a week spent in going over the
wrecked apartment house had the debris
cleared away and started the contractors
al work at noon yesterday.
Not Due to BuIging.
In his statement 10 Pickford. the ex-
pert said not one Of the walls had
bulged an inch, except the pier which
had buckled. in being torn down by the
District authorities. This he corroborat-
ed by taking the owner Of the build
ing to the scene and showing him the
walls as they stand
This statement shows marked dis
crepancy with the testimony offered by
several OF the witnesses at the inquest
Under Barnes orders. additional struc-
tural iron work has been put into the
interior OF the building. making It in a
degree different from the original plans Of
the architect.
Most OF the contractors and men VINO
were working upon the building at the
time OF the accident on June 9 are again
employed there. and it is expected that
the structure will be completed by
October.
The work was allowed TO go ahead by
permission Of the District building de-
partment. which has had inspectors at
work on the building since the crash.
Harry Blake, OF Barber & Ross,
/ one OF the four men held by the coroner S
/ jury. having been charged with allowing
| improper iron construction work on the
fallen building. is again In charge OF the
iron construction for his firm.
Allows Use of Pilasters.
In granting permission to go ahead with
the construction work on the apartment
house, Thomas Francis acting building
inspector OF the District. sanctioned the
use OF pilasters or steel columns as sup
ports for the walls from the fourth TO
the sixth floors. The question OF allow
ing the use OF pilasters was considered
at length al the inquest, and the former
building inspector, Snowden Ashford, was
accused Of acting without sufficient care
when he allowed the architect 20 install
them. Although Mr.. Ashford denied any
knowledge Of the additional supports.
other employees IN his Office stated that
they had seen the plans and had heard
the architect say he had Ashfords per-
mission 20 use them.
Since the new chief OF the building Office
has given his assent 10 the use OF pilas-
ters. many persons connected with the
/ District government take It TO mean Ash
/ ford s vindicaton. so far as this detail is
| concerned.
Delay I'm Pressing Prosecution.
Assistant District Attorney Turner. who
IS in charge Of the investigation for the
HDNt4 lALllC-AA ceAao 9toANAAtAg mat 4-t AlQ
not know Just when the case would be
taken before the grand jury. In so far
as the work Of gathering evidence for
presentation at the trial goes. he was Of
the opinion that K was finished
While this has not been officially an
nounced, IL is expected that the district
attorney Will use some Of the experts Of
the Geological Survey as witnesses al the
hearing. and probably will make use OF
the laboratories Of that department to
analyze the materials Gse5 in the con-
struction OF the building.
Judging from the number Of cases at
present before the grand jury. II is be-
lieved that the men indicted by the coro-
ner's jury Will not be called for trial
| until JULY