The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-29

! for work at $50 A. M. yesterday. With
the consent and supervision of the en-
gineers In charge. books and papers
were moved from the old building. and
when the clock struck 8. an hour be-
fore opening time. every one was at
work in the new bank, the mailing
force asserting the mornings accumu-
regular and orderly manner as
though 1t had known no other working
home.
Public Service Companies Aid.
Manager Tanner, of the Southern Bell
Telephone Company. was notified of the
situation. and we'll did he redeem his
promise TO have proper telephone con-
nections. Linemen wee aroused by
cars, and before the opening hoor the
bank telephones were reary for bhsl-
ness with the army of clerks. The
Virginia Railway ans Power Company
was as prompt with lighting scrviie.
The wiring was already in, and desk
lamps were Installed almost as IL by
magic.
When o'clock struck yesterday
morning and all the business world Of
ping 10 gaze at the debris in the street
and the Jagged hole in the side OF the
bank wall. the sign painter had done
we'll his work and the world was mott
fled that the institution was doing bus
ration. Busy men, hurrying to the new
quarters. found the teners in their
cares ready to pay or receive payment.
Discount clerks were there to pro-
Colonel John 3. Pnrcell sat back. in the
presidents office as placid and calm
as though he had not been on the scene
all night. and as though he had NOT
transferred one of the largest finan-
cial Institutions in the South from old
to new quarters between the setting
and the rising of the sun.
VIII Go Back to Old Home.
Colonel Purcell said yesterday that
he had notified John NJ Miller. Jr,
in the far West, attending a meeting
OF the American Bankers Association,
and said he expected Mr.. Miller would
return within the next few days.
Colonel Purcell also said that 1t was
his present plan to go back to the old
structure as soon as it is repaired.
Contractor John T. Wilson has al
ready begun most vigorously that task.
firm, from the first serious setback II
has received in its large building OPP
erations in Richmond. and accident
due. it is claimed, to the work Of
what all parties admit was a most
difficult and dangerous Undertaking;
for the stone foundations OF the bank
went but little way below ground
for a new. skyscraper to occupy the
adjoining lot, 1t became necessary to
go far below the bank walls, and to
Insert undermining. John T. Wilson.
took charge shortly after the wall fell
and directed an army of workmen in
shorting up the remainder ana max
ing safe the overhangins cornice wnere
be lettering and ready to fall to the
street below in the slightest jar.
street Closed to Tn. .cc.
Police Captain Barfoot ordered Main
Street closed to vehicle traffic between
Eleventh and Twelfth Streets. and
street cars were allowed to pass only
one at time, and at slow pace.
Throughout the night and day thou
sands OF spectators watched the work
men building their scaffolding right
under the overhanging mass. apparent
| ly oblivious OF any personal danger
Engineer Yer yeer. of the John Il.
Wilson Company; I. j, Smith. of the
excavatins firm. Building Inspector
contractors spent much of yesterday on
Ihe scene carefmly examining the
damage. No report has as yet BEEN
made by the engineers 81, IN e, charge as
all agree that the fall was due directly
or indirectly to the excavating.
Hoen Building In Danger.
Acting on the recommendation of
been investigating the structure for
/ two days, Building Inspector Beck yes
/ terday morning sen, formal warning
southern oi half of Fl their lse big building ing
was unsafe and the plant should at
once be vacated. Like the First Ma
tional Bank. the Hoen building is at
for the new building Of the Virginia
Building Corporation. The rear of the
Hoen structure is divided from the big
hole by only tive-toot alley. Mr.
would render is still more unsafe.
The foundation of the Hoen build
ing" said Mr.. Beck. SIS only two and
one-half feet in the ground and the
bottom of the excavation is now about
sixteen feet below it. Tuesday, num-
Der OF pits We're started in the eXcava-
ton, and this increases the danger.
These facts. coupled with the height
of the building, the heavy vibrating
presses on the lower floors and the
heavy storage of paper on the upper
floors. made it necessary for me to no.
tify the manaper of the Hoen es-
adjustment of the chance he was TAX
in gin using a part of the building.
Danger From PrOtracted Ruins.
I'm the event of protractcd rains.
| danger to the structure will be great
lily Increased. In fact. the southern
portion will be dangerous and unfit for
occupancy until the foundations of the
new building are brought to the ground
level"
The precarious position of the Hoen
building was not brought to the at
tentton of the Building Inspector by
the accident Tuesday night to the First
National Bank AS a matter of fact
both he and his deputies had been in
IvestigattnG the excavation in refer
ence TO both buildings for several days,
Mr.. Beck has placed Deputy Phillips In
charge OF the work. Conditions in such
! a place change almost hourly, and
he VIII have competent man on the
Mr.. Beck said, there is no danger to
other buildings in the vicinity.
The Hoen Company began to comply
with the orders OF the Building IN
speotGr mn and BY