The Washington herald., 1922-01-31


the District. The Knickerbocker
was the first constructed. he said.
Tests of the steel used in the
beams OF the roof and all other
material used in the roof will be
made Immediately by Mr.. Geare
and members OF his stan who will
assist him in the investigation of
the building. he said. The roof was
constructed to hold not only it's
own weight, but four times the
weight. including all incidental ele-
ments. such as rain, snow and wind.
Mr.. Geare said the roof should very
easily have taken care of the un-
usual weight of snow packed on VI.
No Unusual Material
Frank L Wagner. contractor.
who built the theater. said last
night he had used the same material
in construction of the building as
used before and since in many other
houses he has erected In the Dis
trict. Nothing unusual about con-
struction OF the building, as difi-
Guilty in obtaining materials or
competent help. was met Mr.. wag-
ner said.
Mr.. Wagner said he could offer
no explanation as to the collapse
% the roof. He had made a survey
of the ruins. he said, and would
make a more thorough examination
today. Mr.. Wagner has established
a strong reputation in the District
as contractor. and his work has
heen highly praised bv many lead
ing officials as to work done in his
other buildings.
Entrance was RemsleIeS. 20
The theater was closed for six
weeks last summer to enable the
owners to remodel their entry and
lobby so as to make il more con-
venient and attractive. According
to Barry Bulkley, vice president of
the Crandall Company. the changes
did not IN any way affect the con-
struction OF the wallis or roof and
do not enter in the problem Of
ascertaining the. cause of the dis
aster.
Thorough investigation of the dis
astrous crash will be made by the
Senate District Committee, Senator
l. III. Ball. chairman, said last
~ lCsoluNlOH Ine
committee to act was introduced in
the Senate yesterday morning by
Senator Capper, of Kansas. The
House District Committee in aN
probability will conduct a similar
investigation. Chairman Focht said
yesterday.
Action by both committees will pe
held up pending Official surveys
now being conducted by the District
Attorneys officc and the District
Commissioners, the Congressional
leaders said.
Recommendations which might
be made by the two committees
will be referred to the Attorney
Generals office il criminal pros
ecution or immediate action is nee
essary. Senator apper said.
Senator Capper declared in his
resolution introduced in the SEN
ate that many rumors tending to
show alleged collusion between
building contractors. architects and
manufacturers of material had come
to his ears. He said these should
all be Investigated thoroughly and
proper action authorized IL found
true. 1t is likely that such action
will be followed by the commit
ICCo
Any charges of collusion between
building owners and the building
inspectors office were emphati-
cally denied by Commissioner Oys-
ter last night He said he was GER
tain of the character of his men
and their actions.
Senate and House leaders speak
Ing of the catastrophe yesterday
declared an investigation by the
two branches of Congress was owed
the people of the District.
Urges Survey Of Buildings.
Senator Capper declared an i'm
mediate survey of all buildings of
the District as to their construc-
ton and present conditions was
necessary and should be conducted
Immediately. District Commissioner
Oyster announced he had completed
preliminary survey of all build
ment officials and all were safe as
far as overweight from snow was
concerned
II was developed during the in
vestisation yesterday that a large
motor had been placed on the roof.
This motor was found on the floor.
The motor was used to suck air
from the theater. 1t is considered
by some that the motor might have
been a contributory factor in the
crash of the roof by setting up
vibrations. The motor was rated
at i2 kilowatts.
Walls Ordered Rased.
Orders were issued yesterday by
John p. Healy. District building in
spector. to sraze the walls of the
Knickerbocer Theater as a precau-
tion against their tumbling in.
False rumors that they had tumbled
were circulated yesterday.
Speaing about the building, In
spector Healy said the roof was of
the truss type used for most of the
theaters in Washington and consid-
cred very satisfactory. He is max
ing an inspection of all other thea
ter roofs.
Making a preliminary investiga-
tion of the plans Of the Knicker-
bocekr Theater. Inspector Healy
finds that they were sufficient toi
Withstand the usual weight of
snow. The steel girders were re-
quired to be four times the strength
necessary to hold the roof. The
concrete was required to be two
and-a-half times the necessary
strength.
Inspecters Force Limited.
Inspector Healy could not say
whether it had been built according
to specifications. He called atten-
tion to the limited force to carry
on this inspection. Maurice Hacker
was building inspector at the time
of construction and was assisted by
Inspector Healy.