New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-04
Architect Says Measure Is
"UnSCientifC, Unsafe
and Unjust"
METHODS OF OTHER
CITIES IGNORED
Lawyers Title Insurance CO. S
Relation with Lawyers Mort
gage Co. Broken.

WIN s~N"y
gage Co. Broken.
A hot arraignment Of the proposed ne"
CITY building code and American building
methods i'm general was the contribution
Of Ernest Flag. the architect. to the
storm Of protest that greeted the mem
bers of the Aldermanic Building Com
rnittee at their hearing at City Hall yes
terday. Mr.. Flagg condemned the pro-
posed code as "unscientihc. unsafe and
unjust"
Yesterdays hearing was to have been
the last before the final presentation OF
the report 70 the entire board, but the
objections were so insstent that at the
conclusion Of the session Chairman
Herbst Of the Building Committee an
nounced that an executive session would
he called TO give the proposed law further
consideration
Mr.. Flagg, in his attack on the pro-
posed code said
."This draft is not new code IN any
sense of the term. 1t is simply a revision
Of our present building regulations. II Is
made In the same way, based on the
same principles which always have gov
erned in the making of our laws. and Is
as unscientific and complicated as II Is
unsafe and unjust. II is the legitimate
successor Of what We have had In the
past and the relic of pioneer methods Of
construction.
"This draft is conceived on narrow and
provincial lines and in apparent contempt
Of the experience and benefit which might
be gained by a study of the building regu-
lations of the other great cities of the
world where building is more wisely done
than il is here.
IF American construction was fairly
good and our buildings reasonably safe,
or II conditions here were rapidly Inn
proving. It might be conceded that there
was no special reason why We should
look elsewhere than at home for model
for an ordinance of this kind. But the
unauestionablc fact is that this is not
true. Disastrous fires are Of daily occur
renee. At intervals which are not infre-
ouent horrible loss Of life and property
occur, and sometimes whole cities are
blotted out.
I'm the face OF these facts how can we
escape the conclusion that our methods
Of building are at fault and that we
should break away from them? II our fire
loss is about $ per capita, as against
about 80 cents in France. and even less
in other European countries, then 1t be-
hooves Us TO find the cause Of this great
difference and adopt methods which Will
secure to us a more reasonable degree OF
safety"
The real estate market yesterday was
chiefly confined 10 the leasing Of business
places In this line there was consider
able activity along 9Th and 9Th avenues.
At a meeting of the Lawyers Title In
surance stockholders yesterday ii was
voted to abrogate their relations with the
Lawyers Mortgage Company.
This will enable the title company, it
is said, to enter the field Of guaranteeing
first mortgages, which business has been
attended TO for the company by the Law
NtIs lOllSdbt COMPANY VI NiAiN4'
Richard NJ Hurd is president While
separate corporations, they have been
closely affiliated for many years, one at
tending TO the insuring Of titles. and the
other performing similar functions Oh
mortgages.
New York Real Estate Security Com
pany bondholders have been asked by
committee formed to protect their inter
est, consisting Of Charles II. Sabin, vice
president Of the Guaranty Trust Com
pany, chairman; Albert II. Wiggin, pres
ident OF the Chase National Bank; George
Leask and II. b. Davis, 10 deposit their
bonds with the Guaranty Trust Company,
which has consented to act as a deposit
tory.
An appeal has also been made by this
committee TO holders of liens against the
company not TO press their claims until
conference is had with the committee.
approximately 100000 worth OF bonds
have been given or promised TO the com
mittee. and other holders have shown an
inclination 10 act in a similar manner.
This procedure was decided upon at
meeting yesterday.
Isaac Goldberg has sold No. West
lllth street, a fve-story fathouse, on
plot S0xlO01l feet, adjoining the north
west corner of Fifth avenue
Lively bidding resulted at the offering
at auction by Joseph r. Day Of 100 foot
plot in the new printing house section.
The property, which was sold in a par
tition action brought by Max Thorn
against the Realty Holding Company and
others, involved d row of five four-story
fathouses on a plot 1O21lx9s.9 feet at
No. 223 to 81 West 3Sth street,
near Seventh avenue. The plaintiff was
the highest bidder at $1,000 over a prior
mortgage and interest amounting to
$l36,046, making the price sl9l ,0i6.
d0d CT nuya1lipo for P1cinecc