The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-28
FOUNDATIONS CUT
FROM BASEMENT
FAM lof Major Henry Elasl
Narrow Escape iii Hanover
Avenue Home.
POWERS. THE CONTRACTOR
Clay Ward Councilman Report
cd to Police Court by Build
ing Inspector

John r. Powers. a building con-
tractor and, member OF the City Coun-
Gil from Clay Ward. and Major N. G.
Henry, owner OF two-story brick
house, 100 Hanover Avenue. were re-
ported to the Police Department yes
terday by Deputy Building INSPECTOR
Butler for alleged gross violations sof
the building code for doing work with.
out permit, and for undermining. a
Mr. Butter found the contractor en-
gagged in excavating a cellar or fur
mace room under the house IN ques-s
pinned the wall for IA depth sot three
feet with nine-inch brick wall, the
building code specifically recurring a
thirteen-inch wall. Because OF the en-
cavation part OF the side VAL Al OF the
,erday morning. the flooring and upper
walls merely hanging oversthe eychwa-
ton apparently bowed up by the floor
ioists of the rooms and back porch.
Enmiiy Eacnpes.
The house was occupied by the own
err Major Henry. and on advice OF De-
putty Building INSPECTOR Butler the en-
tire family moved out without stand.
Ing on the order 81 Its Eoing, MAKING tnN,a
ware from the endangered structure.
Inspector Butler sent for Building IN
spector Beck at once, and thorough
examination OF the excavation and
basement was made. although after the
fall Of the foundation Contractor Pow
ers declined to accompany the. inspec-
tors in their trip through the base
ment.
the house can be shored up and a
proper foundation put under 1t before
It has settled too much. Major Henry
had employed Councilman Powers to
excavate cellar under his house Tor
the purpose OF Installing furnace.
The house Is one OF the type frequently
found In the West End. erected before
the adoption OF tn building code. It
has but nine-inch. walls. the thickness
now required for foundations % frame
tenements. and the walls went but a
short distance below the surface. In
stead OF reaching down to hard Gay.
Walls Undermined.
In making the excavation Contractor
four feet below the house walls. The
house has two brick pillars in the CEN
ire. designed to support floor joists.
and the earth had been entirely cut
pillars resting on an unright column o:
earth. A slight settlement started and
the hanging wall on one side fell away,
up to the first floor joists, which con-
tically without support from under
meath Inspector Beck Will not permit
the occupants to return to the house
until the hanging wall has been shored
m from underneath II some substan-
Hal manner. S work was being done
on the premises without a permit. both
owner and contractor have been sum
moned tn the Police Court
s Councilman Powers has consistently
opposed the present building code Be.
ing at one time the author Of resolu-'
ton which was defeated In the Coun-
Gil. for the appointment OF special
committee TO revise that ordinance He
has before been reported by Inspector
Beck. who says that he knows OF no
reason WHY a city Councilman should
have privileges over other contractors
doing business in the city.
Powers Enters Denial.
Councilman Powers said last night
that he had been advised by the City
Attorney that under the circumstances
1t was not necessary for him to secure
a permit for the work. but that the
permit should have been Taken out by
Major Henry. the owner, who Is act
ing as his own general contractor in
remodeling the premises. and has had
plumbers. carpenters and other SUB
contractors working there for him. Mr..
Powers claims that the slide which
carried down part OF the und erpinning
sof5the wall was avoidable, and that
no violation of the building code on
his part can be shown.