New-York tribune., 1912-01-16
ICE BARS WORK ON RUINS
WreCkers to Use Steel Cables to
Bind Equitable Walls.
BUSY REMOVING THE DEBRIS
Now Experts Are to Compare
Hollow Tile Arches with Brick
Ones for Resisting Fire.

The ruins OF the Equitable Building will
be made the basis OF report by eyperts
on the fire withstanding quality Of hollow
tile arches compared with that OF the old
brick arches according TO a statement
made yesterday by F. ]. T. Stewart, of the
survey bureau Of the New York Board OF
Fire Underwriters
Mr.. Stewart, with two Of his examiners.
was in the building yesterday taking a pre-
liminary view OF the wreckage, but no at
tempt will he made 10 proceed with the
examination until tho snoring work on the
walls has been completed.
In spite Of the warmer weather ycster-
day. the huge chunks of ice which mantle
the lower parts OF the wall of the Equita-
ble ruins along the Cedar street side re-
fused to thaw. and while the work of clear
ing away the debris was proceeding other
workmen were busy chopping away such
PARTS of the ice coating as hinder the work
of binding and snoring up the walls. Pc
destrans were not permitted TO go on
Broadway past the front of the building
nor along Cedar street from Broadway to
Nassau though on the other side of the
building they were permitted on the south
side of Pine street.
The governing committee of the Lawyers
club announced yesterday that a meeting
for the purpose OF deciding upon the fut-
ure Of the club would he held on Saturday
afternoon. January 81, at Delmonico's rs
all the books and records Of tho club were
burned. the committee decided TO make It's
formal notification by advertisement, be-
cause It was impossible to send ont iTdi-
-. he nj
two law Libraries we're put at the disposal
Of tho members of tho Lawyers club.
Steel for Binding Walls.
Stel cables 10 be used FOR binding tho
walls and heavy wooden beams 20 roof a
temporary structure for protection along
the cast side OF Broadway, in front OF the
building, were delivered, Yesterday. and the
force OF wreckers under the supervision Of
the Bureau Of Buildings will start on that
work this morning Meanwhile. workmcn
are busy wheeling out barrowloads Of de-
hris. which Is all examined on the outside,
in Pine street. and from which every scrap
OF paper is sorted out 10 be piled in boxes.
This is said 20 he one OF the precautions
suggested by the Board Of Tire Under
writer's.
Tenants of the American Exchange Ma
tional Bank building were informed yester-
day by the Bureau OF Buildings that they
would be allowed to return TO their old
quarters. hut none of them took immediate
advantage Of the chance. The bank ON
GERS now at No sc Broadway, said they
cid not know exactly when they would
return to their old banking rooms
The Clearing House rooms. on the north
side Of Cedar street. across from the burned
building. though IN shape for use, arc stll
unavailable because of the debris and
wreckage piled in front Of them. and also
because the Cedar street walls OF the
Equitable Building are not yet bound up
50 that Cedar street II considered safe
travelling ground
L. L. Rittenhouse. Of the Equitable, said
that the company had not yet considered
opening the vaults, which contain $4,000
600 in securities, and that they probably
would not be opened much before the end
OF the week.
Bankers Start a Fund.
4 committee OF bankers. headed by Ben
jaInin Strong. Jr.. and including Alvin W.
Krech. as treasurer, and Albert TT. wiggin.
James O. Cannon, James s. Alexander,
A vlrn In.