New-York tribune., 1909-05-24
CONDEMNS NEW CODE
r. L. Humphrey Says Proposed
Building La5cs 4re Unsatisfactory.
TF-or7 me TrIhIne Bureau- |


Washington, May 23-New Tork-s proposed new
building code finds no severer condemnation than
that OF the experts Of the geological SURVEY, espe
ciaIly of Richard l. Humphrey. the engineer in
charge OF the structural material investigations oe
ing conducted by the survey
The code as proposed by the majority is asainst
the best interests Of New York, said Mr. Humphrey
to-day. 1T does not promise any greater security
to the millions dollars worth of property in that
great city than the present inadequate code In
reality IT is a dangerous proposition when the pres
ent rate of growth Of this most remarkable city Is
considered.
NO city in the country demands such careful
consideration in the drafting OF code. for 10
city has the amount Of property ar stake. and no
city, perhaps. has greater problems in protecting
this property The very greatness % New York, Is
cOngested population on narrow island and rs
many high buildings make the construction of this
code the most serious and one of the most respon-
sbIe legislative the city authorities have
been asked to pass upon
Many of the so-caIIed 'freproof buildings, By
reason Of bad exposures and the numerous fire.
traps that surround them, would stand oaly litts
chance of escape In a serious confa grafton. That
such Confagration has not wiped out the greater
portion Of New York before this is due partly 10
the splendid fire service, but especially fortui-
tous circumstances Neither New York nor the
country can afford 10 have great C0nfsgratiOn n
the big city
The country is now beginning to- realize the I'm
mensity OF FIRE losses and how needless most OF
them are At the present time the total cost Of
fires in the United States amounts to about one-haf
the of the total construction Of new buildings
for the year. In 1901 greater New York had fire
loss OF &,ii30i2. with population Of 41l32s- Had
New York had the same building standards a
European cities the loss would have been only
TS5T.S4, a saving Of more than $4,000 in Ons
year.
With the memory Of the Parker Building IRE
and y4-rb Of r-a vra1r
danger that turks in the city Of New York. which
has frequently been pointed out BY the daily papers
as well as the technical press. one had reason %
expect that the provisions Of the new code would
show some Improvement and some progress IN mat
ters of such vital Importance 20 the public safety
1T Is therefore with considerable surprise and
disappointment that one reads the majority code
a reported to the Board OF Aldermen last Tuesday
II would seem that I'm framing the provisions for
freproofng the available data had ben disr%
garded and premium placed on type of con
which is certainly not the best and AZ as
expense Of other materials that better for fire
prOofng-
The proposed code seeks TO give The Sl7eria-
tendent of Buildings an unlimited Discretionary
power over men and materials that Is eNceeiinsy
dangerous Where laws are not specifically ana
definitely laid down, the different Interpretation OF
these laws by sr-pcrnteudents of bulldogs and thS
enforcement Of them viii not conserve fHe 9e~- IL
terests Of the people Such unlimited d-s-retonaFy
dealing with what should be the permanent m
provement Of the city and the safety q Ike anu
property
The proposed revision of tine code Tor New f0IA
is more than local issue Since the aT1olHt'aeAt
or a commission 10 revise the building laws OK t--
city the building interests of the country Ea's
awaited expectantIy its report. and many 60
have delayed revision enactment ~ 9I---l-s
codes in order to take advantage OF The latest "
dIiremeuts Of the New York code.
Not only will many of these cities pit II 'orc'
Immediately many Of its provisions. ''' '...el 80
viii follow more or less quickly in the ad'i ~.
the code either in part or in us eUilI+-ts-
reason aI,ne-its bearing upon the rlt-rt, - S- Lra
the provisions should be most caretil-y 1.,-H H-''
should represent the best thought on the sun ~
respective of whether or not pdl 't~1-N' so
construction favored .- fu bs
..Tt * 10 be hoped that sufficient l. ~,
1TIoysd al public hearings S0 tntf mus .-.i-
erIy qualified may find an opportuuItF ~ E-Lr n
viayys with the hope that the code -~ 1,.-rr "a
such manner as fully 70 safeguard the l.''l-- =
the big property interests. not only III Ne" b.
but wherever the provisions Of The coae may ~
4dOpted.