New-York tribune., 1909-06-03
BUILDING CODE HEARING
CONCRETE MEN PROTEST.
Experts Oppose Provisions Of the
Majority Report.

The concrete interests had their inning yesterday
a: the first hearing held hy the building commit
tee the Board of Aldermen the proposed
building code. The concrete men had experts from
Columbia University. the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology and the United States GeooglcaI
Survey, architects and engineers, builders con
tractors and real estate men, all of whom opposed
the provisions of the majority code restricting the
height of concrete buildings 10 seventy-hve feet
and practically excluding cinder concrete as
freproof building material.
Alderman Kenneally who presided. had several
tits with the speakers. He stated at the oesih-
ming of the hearing that discussion on rein1ofced
concrete would confined 10 that subject -
he interrupted J. Latin kellogg, counsel for the
General Contractors Association several times
when he thought he was sailing wide of the marx,
Alderman DouI protested AT these Interruptions
ana cried out Go ahead. Mr. kellogg" Alder
man Veiton took sides with Alderman DoulI anu
said that some latitude should be allowed
delegation from Brooklyn. including congress
man Waldo and Alderman Redmond announced
that It was opposed 10 further extension oI ''e
fire limits.
A representative Of the New York Board of Fire
Underwriters said that he would object 10
frame dwellings, even within the fire limits IL they
were restricted TO two-famy houses. not more thin
20 feet high and containing not more 'hah 4''0
square feet of floor
Mr. Kellogg in his speech protested against ''e
arbitrary powers given to the Superintendent Oh
Buildings and said that the majority code created
an absolute monopoly in many of the articles LOT
which provision was made at an increase III ''e
cost Of building construction.
Professor Ira II. Woolson, of COLUMBIA said
that the majority code did not safeguard the pup
lie welfare He said that the best fire resisting
material was cinder concrete.
Professor {. I. Norton. of the Massa achusettS IN
situte of Technology, representing the concrete
interests Of this city said that the height of con-
crete buildings was Self-limtirg. Cinder concrete
he said was the best form of hreproof standards
and called brick in hreproof construction "a th'ns
Of the past"
Ross r Tucker said that the new code WoI'd
cost the city SSo000O year, and that moth ns
would be gained.
The present price Of cnder concrete. he saia
lis Is cents: terra Gotta is l9 cents: stone con
crete is p cents. The result will be that clnder
concrete will he eliminated and the price OF terra
Gotta will be raised "a cents.
Frederick c. Webber. president OF the Masters
League of Cement Workers. said that 10 limit the
height of buildings would ultimately drive 20 per
cent of contractors out Of business, and would
have equally as bad effect on labor organiza-
tions William Butler representing the Building
Trades Employers Association, asked the commit
tee for more time to consider the provisions OF the
code. section by section.
Chairman Kenneally announced that all recon-
mendations would he submitted the code com
mission saving that the laymen Of the aldormarir
committee were not capable Of passing on such
technical questions
The chairman speaks only for himself pro-
tested Alderman DouII. The committee feels per
fectIy capable OF taking charge OF this matter
submitted to It and will be able to dispose ot II.
and might add that It Will favor sending back
the ma fority report 10 the commission