The Detroit times., 1917-03-14
JURY TAKES
CHARGE OF
FIRE INQUIRY

(csassaass srs~ Page o.sl
vented 10 the nrernen had been abb.
20 make their way up 10 the fourth
noor"
TT might have BEEN said Dupont
1T depends on how long they were
delayed"
The Jurors then began nring IN
quiries az Dupont. One NJ them
asked why the stairway was closed
without the knowledge OF the buiid-
ing department
Il don't know" said Dupont. III
shouldn't have been done"
why didn't your inspectors re-
port when u was doneF" demanded
another.
That's something that was
wrong" said Dupont. "our depart
ment should have been notified and
our inspectors should have found
that closed stairway The ordinance
says stairways shall not be OBJ
structed"
Broadening the scope OF the In.
curry. the Jurors then demanded
whether or not anything could be
done 20 avert similar disasters IN
the future. isn't your inspection
Adequate-" asked one
Dupont than frankly declared
that the building departments reg.
ulations for ere protection and its
inspection were no; adequate.
There is too much work for
one man" he said other cities
OF the size OF Detroit have from 50
TO 30 inspectors and about Eve eng.
neers. We have rs inspectors and
one engineer A building depart
ment should be under one man. and
Il should be divided into about Eve
sections. with responsible man In
charge OF each section Old build
ings should be watched by one di-
vision Buildings under construc-
tion should be watched by another.
and so on. We recently looked over
many OF the old commercial and
manufacturing buildings In Detroit
and we learned that many OF the
automobile companies were over
loading their noor space In old
buildings >"
Did you do anything about IT."
asked Juror Misch.
We can't bring any action
against occupants except in cases
where there lie loss OF life
What would you suggest 20 rem
edy the condition.
That's a leading question"
Well. you ought to have some
idea.
Il would say that inspection and
regulation should be conducted un-
der state Law, so that local inau.
ences cannot interfere New York
and Chicago tried 20 conduct their
building departments under local
acts. They finally had 10 revert "a
state regulation"
Dupont declared ~ Was has upin.
ION that the fire department should
have been familiar gith the changes
in the building and that lie inspect.
crs should have notified him u the
change
He testified hat the joists were
not un1eF.sized. his measurements
different by an inch N some cases
from those given 10y experts who
have testified heretofore to did
say. however, that The fourth and
9TH floors of the building could
stand Only as pounds 81 weight u
the square foot. which Vas too
hight The ioists infer the rosi
burned away. he said, and the com
pact shock Of the root falling 20 he
Eth floor. with tho bulk OF the
weight In the middle, caused the
crash. The same dirastnu result
would occur in many buildings OF
the city IL The roof cHved in, sais
Dupont. At the time The first IN
spections were made OF the Fields
building. the chief Inspector said hc
had but sir assistsnve 10 cover the
entire city.
william T. Livingstone. viee-presL
dent OF n. II. Fyfe & Company. SAID
that the stairway had been scaled
ty agreement with the Fields com
psny. He declared that double nrs
doors had been installed leading
from the syfe building TO the fourth
and nfth 1oors OF the Fields build
Ing. in compliance with IN. regula
tons. He declared the architect
who planned tho charges had In
formed him that the necessary per
mits had been obtained. Dup.n'
sss recalled and denied that n per
mt had bsen issued TO seal the door
The inquest will be conclude.
Thursday.