The Washington herald., 1922-02-04
TRUSSESFOR BEAMS
Substitutions Due to War
Demands May Have Af-
fected Structure.
LIGHT THROWN
ON INVESTIGATION
Grand Jury Action Held
Up, Pending Outcome
of Various Probes.


for the Knickerbocker Theater roc,
which collapsed and killed ninety
six persons last Saturday night. il
was charged by RegiAald w Gcafe.
architect for the thester. last night
The changes involved substitu-
ton Of material and design, which
were not called TO his attention.
but were passed by the building tn
spector's office. Mr.. Geare declared
steel trusses were substituted
for steel beams. and changes in de-
signs as a result Were made. il was
charged by Mr.. Geare. He said.
however, he would not blame this
| for the collapse
Engineers investigating the dis
aster said the substitution OF
trusses for beams should have had
no direct cause on the collapse. al
though consequent notifications an
design OF the steel supports as q
result OF the change might have
had a material effect
I Maj. Carey Brown. Assistant En-
/ gineer Commissioner OF the Dis
trict, who has been surveying the
ruins for the District Commission
ers. said he had learned Of the
change in the plans. He would not
say this change caused the collapse
| OF the roof Mere substitution or
trusses for beams would not have
caused the collapse. Maj Brown
said. as nothing has been found d.
I rectly faulty with the construction
Of the trusses in the Investigation
TO date. which would have given
grounds for placing the crash on
this. MaS Brown said in the cha nE.
from beams 10 trusses in the steel
plans had caused a subsequent
Iehsnge in design Of the steel plans.
IL might throw a new light into
the investigation.
Slipping of TrBsse. Factor.
II is considered by engineers
working on the investigation that
the slipping OF the trusses and
large l-beam is one Of the dom
mating factors connected with Tn.
collapse Of the roof. No official
report OF the investigators has
named the cause. however. II this
factor is found 10 be the primary
cause. II is considered possible that
the change in plans charged b,.
Reginald W. Geare. architect. MAJ
be the dominating point in tbr
approaching grand jury 10 estIEa-
tion.
Mr.. Gear said he did not know OF
the change in plans until yestcr-
day. He said he verified the change
1 following a survey OF the grounds
| and had learned the substitution in
steel plans followed failure OF
the steel company with which the
contractor traded TO supply the
steel called for because OF the
heavy demands OF foreign ooun-
tries engaged in war at the time.
The building was started carly
in the year of 1917. At this time.
Mr.. Gear said. he had learned in
his investigation. the steel COM
panies Of she nation were work
ing to the limit TO supply foreign
countries engaged in war with
steel.
Whether the steel was inferior
In quality TO that ordinarily used
in construction Of buildings by To-
cal contractors working under his
orders, would not be charged by
Mr. Geare last night. lie said. how
ever, he was having tests made o.
the steel and other materials, used
in tho construction OF the building
and expected a report within three
days.
Laying of Roof ChsnEed.
In the substitution of truSses for
beams, as called for. the roof was
laid on built up pieces OF support
instead of solid pieces Trussss
are supports constructed from a
number Of pieces of steel rivetcd
and bolted together
Frank l. Wagner, contractor. re-
fused last night to comment on the
charges Of Mr.. Geare. At the time
Of the disaster Mr.. Wagner told
The Herald that he was not forced
to make any change in the plans
OF the architect, due to the heavy
demands OF war countries upon
steel firms OF the country. which
might have caused a substitution
Of weaker material. He said At
that time that he was not impaired
in any way by the war. either IA
the hiring of efficient labor or IN
securing the best of materials
In speaking OF the walls OF the
building last night Mr. Gearc said
he had found the Columbia road
wall five inches out OF plumb ana
severely cracked in several places.
He attributed this entirely 10 the
collapse OF the roof. He said the
roof did not collapse because 81
the weakening or sliding OF the
wall.
Mr.. Geare said he believed ne
had worked out a theory for ia
roof collapse. lie said IL involved
no blame on any parties and in
volved no negligence on any per-
son.
Official steps were being taken
TO conduct the government tnvesti-
cation into the disaster. with o
view OF determining whether there
was criminal neglect OF any par
ties, Scores OF witnesses were sum
moned by police oficials for the
coroner's jury.
J Grand Jury Action Awaited.
District Attorney Peyton Gordon.
in charge OF the probe for tae Fed
ersi government. said h. would
hold up action before the grang
fury pending the corCner's Inquest
1 Conitased on Pa0e T,0o.