The Washington herald., 1922-02-14

Fletcher continued what ard
these unusual conditions. The bond
Is broken here. but that Is an effect
not cause he insisted.
As he continued. District Attor-
ney Gordon interrupted with bis
declaration that he had heard
praise enough by each of the wit
nesses." asking Fletcher II he knew
why the roof was down.
Harry Blake. general manager OF
the Barber and Ross Steel Company.
Washington, testified at the open
ing Of the afternoon session that
his company had submitted bids fori
six different steel plans for the
fed that the final plans were bid
for on December s. 1916. at sl0.S0o.
These plans. he said, were drawn
by Mr.. Geare, and called for 12a
tons of steel.
snyder Bid Lower. -5
Wagner later testified that the bid
of the C. A. Snyder Sons Company.
known as the Union Iron Works.
was 5000 less He said the plans
were modified by the latter company
after the bid was let to obtain speedier
action in the delivery of steel.
Testimony at the morning session
was featured by the denunciation OF
J. H. Ford. engineer, who modified
the steel structure plans to hasten
delivery of the steel by his COM
pany, and whose plans. Mr.. Geare
said. were approved him through his
engineer. Ford was named as the man
directly responsible for plans 'insuf-
ficiency Of which" resulted in the
collapse. by E. C.. Ruebsam, tech
nical engineer. = 8
81 check my own drawings and
don't hide behind my subordinates.
IL they do the work." Ruebsam de-
clared. '"rhe truss and beams for,
this building were not provided prop
er bearings nor anchorage"
Whom, then. do you consider as
responsible for these designs?" Dis
trict Attorney Gordon asked Rueb-
sam.
The man who actually drew the
plans which were used" Ruebsam
answered.
You mean Rich. who drew the
original designs. or Geare, who ap-
proved them?' Gordon asked. =
II mean Ford. who modified the
plans" he shot back.
Are you related to Ford. Rich or
Geare. or any parties connected with
the theater?" ~
mo, but will say that I made
this investigation for the Crandail
Theater Company" Ruebsam an
swered.
Lack of Anchorage.
Ruebsam presented detail evil
dence which he said caused the COL
g. IL
the trusses for lateral pull, result
the main truss, which ran the
length of the west side of the
building, bearing at one end in the
Columbia road wall. and the con-
sequent buckling of truss Tie
and collapse.
Ruebsam declared, the "trusses
were too shallow and did not pro-
vide for stresses, which in this
building were beyond the elasticity
of the material" He declared the
plans given to the building inspec-
tors office carried no dimensions
and that variance between the
plans and actual construction re-
suited. causing a shortage of nine
inches in the main truss which
all main members"
Heavy vibrations on the walls
caused the superintendent of wall
construction to fill the tile with
cement at the bearing point of the
main truss. after the wall had been
| erected three feet, Harry ]. Free
man. 121 u street northeast, fore
man Of the bricklayers. testified al
| the morning session
He said that he called the atten-
tion of Donald NJ. Wallace, super
| intendent. to the vibrations on the
walls. and they decided to fill the
tile where the main truss rested
on the Columbia road wall with
cement
r. v. Frankhauser, 3632 Eleventh
street northwest, former steel struc.
| tural expert, testified at the morn
! ing session that from an investi.
! cation of the ruins. he saw some
| connections of the trusses anG
beams very poorly fitted" He in.
spected the ruins in company with
Clifford L. Grant, chief of detec-
tives
Inspector Of Buildings Healy will
be one of the witnesses to be called
to the stand this morning. 1t is
only likely that one or two wit.
nesses will be heard, possibly in
cluding a technical expert, Lee
Sanders. who places the cause OF
collapse to failEre of columns In
the rear of the building.
Probe May End Today.
1t is thought that the usual pro.
cedure will be followed today anC
the coroner's jury will be asked
to reach a verdict as to the cause
of death Immediately following con-
clusion of testimony.
No early decision, in view of the
lengthy technical evidence which
has been presented. is expected by
government officials. Following
action by the coroner's jury
whether they order and persons
held or not, the grand jury will be
given the. case by District Attorney
Gordon.