The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-28

below, but snid he could not determine
TO what extent the contractors We're
liable until after the debris had been
cleared away, and he could examine
the condition OF the foundation wallis.
Go Quickly to work.
Tho exca vation which is being made
for the Office building of the Virginia
Building Corporation, of which ~.
Beirne Blair Is president. Is boing made
by l. j. Smith g. Co. for John T. Will
son, who is general contractor. Both
Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Smith were there
last night and lost no time in getting
hands to work cleaning away the
bricks and reinforcing the walls, They
hope to be able to get the building
in shape for occupancy to-day. 4
officers of the bank had not decided
last night just what steps would be
taken for the recovery of damages.
which will amount to several thousand
dollars.
AT the suggestion OF Building In
spector Beck the building was earri-
cadcd, and police guard PLACED on
duty for the protection of citizens in
case any other part Of the wall would
fail In the night
Showed Great system.
If the accident had to happen, 1t
could not have come at moro fortu-
nate time, because there was no one
within the danger zone. How rapidly
bank people work was shown by the
fact that the yacan. bank building half
&, block away was secured within an
hour. ana by o'clock it. had been
cleaned and made ready for occupancy.
The First Nationals force was at work
by 10 o'clock. and everything will be in
shape this morning just as IL nothing
had occurred. Even if there should
be any delay in putting the dismantled
structure into shape, the First Ma
tional's temporary quarters lack moth
ing.
Except for Il live wire Which danSled
for moment in the street there was
not a spark of fire. Indeed, the incandes-
cent lights in the bank were not eX-
tinguished. and the thousands of peo-
pie who viewed the scene got a good
view of conditions within. Not scrap
of paper was lost net book was
disturbed. the wall falling away clean.
leaving things intact. except from the
timber crash in the southeast corner.
The present plan, of course. Is to re-
main in the National Bank of Vir-
ginia's old stand until the damage can
be repaired
Got Many Offers.
The contractors lost no time in get
ting to work They borrowed the
night shift from the new post-ofllce,
getting others from different parts of
the city in taxicabs. 1t was really as
tonishing how rapidly and smoothly
things moved without putting the bank
to tho least Inconvenience IN the trans
action OF it's business to-day. Experts
agreed that the walls collapse was
due entirely tothe removal of the build
ing next door, which weakened the
foundation and took away a necessary
part of its support
Officers of THE First National receivec
offers from almost every bank ready
to furnish them with temporary quar-,
tiers. but by general consent 1t was
agreed that the National Bank Of y-ir
ginias unoccupled building offered al
ideal home.
Beck Had Warned Wilson.
On last Friday Building 1nspecto
Beck wrote to the general contractors
John I. Wilson & Company Gnc.). an
called attention to the manner In whic
the excavating was being done by tn
subcontractor, l. j. Smith & Compan
Gnc.). At the same time lie called u
on the telephone Chief Engineer We
Veer, of the John T. Wilson Company
ana told him that the underplnnlng o
~. that the work was not progressin
satisfactorily, and that the hole snoul
be filed by the laying of foundation
at the earliest possin.e moment.
rs an additional safeguard, and be
cause OF his fears over the manner {
conducting the work. Mr. Beck II
structed Deputy Inspector Philips I
make daily inspections and report I
his office on the progress of the eSca
waiting and the laying OF the under
pinning beneath the bank wall. NJ
Beck remarked to representative G
this paper last Friday that the name
OF work was far rrem satlsractor,
there would be trouble should equinoc
tial rains come while the great hol
was open. It IS not probable, how
ever, that he anticipated any sue
cave-in during dry weather.