New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-24
TOO MUCH WORK
FOR INSPECTORS
Architects Say Building
Bureau Men Not 10 Blame
for Bronx Collapse.

There is an ever Increasing demand
for safeguarding buildings during con-
struction," says julius FRANKIE. OF May
nicke & FRANKIE, architects, in a state
ment issued yesterday through the Ad-
wsory Council Of Real Estate Inter
ests. The statement was issued after
q study OF the cause Of the recent col
lapse OF a building in The Bronx. Mr.
FRANKIE added:
The Building Department IS sup
posed 90 be responsible for the proper
erection Of buildings, but they no more
can undertake this great task efhciently
than could the Board OF Health, or any
other medical board. undertake 20 pre-
vent careiessness or malpractice 10 tne
treatment of sick persons.
Some system should be adopted
whereby inefficient or ignorant persons
or persons gu0rant Of the practice ana
principles of building be not allowed -
superv $50 or d'-cct the erection or
structural parts Of a building. IN Eu-
rope this ls mostly done by licensing
or In some other way allowing only
those who are proficient 20 have charge
of the erection % buildings. Nouln
suggest some law whereby the proper
supervision Of buildings no the course
of construction or when altered is made
mandatory. [ would further Suggest
that when plans are filed that the name
OF the Individual or firm who super
vises construction be mentioned 10 the
application for a building permit ana
that when any change IS made that the
4. -a - W. ont rrrue+ 40 notified.
THE supervisor, VINO may be an
architect. engineer or builder. should
possess the proper qualifications, these
qualifications 20 be arrived a. by stlpu-
lating members Of certain architectural
societies, members OF certain engl-
neering societies, licensed architects
licensed architects are now PROVIDED
for by New York State and other state
laws also by accepting members OF
certain builders societies as competent
and also any other Individual who mas
the proper qualifications, arrived az
through examination.
II believe that tho builders o. the
city would be glad 20 cooperate with
YOU In any effort 90 improve conditions
whereby the incompetent and ignorant
builder Will be eliminated or be COM
PEELED 20 employ ONE one who IS com
potent 20 supervise his work. might
add that i the insurance and trust
companies making building loans would
be more particular about the archi-
t.rts and the superv sion on the part
.f The arch tect or responsible super
Ir-andent DO would be a great step tow
ard Imnatiug the responsible SUI
7ervisor.
"Most OF the insurance companies
have tnci. own representative. who ap-
proves " the plans and who from time
20 time goes 90 the building TO look
over she work. This supervision on
the part Of these companies is, how
ever. mostly for the purpose 81 max
ing payments, and 10 Is impossible for
them 20 90 INFO all the details o.
proper supervision. They must rely
upon the architect or builder. and for
that reason they should be more par
f.cuiar about me architect and the
builder and that the work shall be
properly supervised by them
Otto " Eidl-z, OF Marc Eidlitz <
Son. says: "I agree with what Mr.
FRANKIE said in his statement. Tire SIT
ua-.00 is that most Of these inspectors
have a greaB dsa' more work 20 look
after than one man can reasonably in-
specs 70 a thorough manner. secondly,
20 the last few years the number Of ir-
responsible people who have gone into
Che building business and have attempt
cd % erect buildings from plans Dur-
chased outright from architects. with
out any supervision from the authors
a. che plans, has been steadily increas-
ing About eight or Ten years ago "a