The Washington herald., 1922-02-09

rear of the building wsre replaced
by four nine-inch beams and four
twelve-inch beams. This substitu-
tion was made to give a strengthen
ing character to the roof structure
In this place by breaking up the
longer distances covered by beams
In the first place by connections of
smaller beams in accordance with
roof Design" Ford testified
Between two columns supporting
the roof beams in the rear. a beam
conneeting the columns. was in
serted in the plans. Ford sail hs
did this to give the columns added
support
Ford said that he submitted pro-
posals for the Union Iron Works
on the original plans of the roos
drawn by Reginald W. Geare. arch
itect. He was awarded the contract
calling for $4,000 supply of utee,
called for In this pan. he said.
Afters receiving the contract he
learned. according to his testimony,
that steel mills could not furnish
the steel members demanded in the
first mans.
Notified Contractor.
Ford submitted a letter to the
c"roRfr showing that on December
Il. 1916. he wrote Frank l.. wag-
fCr. contractor. that modifica tions
IN the original plans would be nee
essary because of the failure of
steel mills to supply beam girders.
lie said the roof structure could
he completed through substitute u
OF trusses for beams by use OF steel
grnnE aF ha
able at the mills. In the letter
Ford-=asked that the notifications
he made subject to approval of the
building inspectors office
A letter from Mr.. Wagner. Of the
same date. in reply, gave consent
To the notifications. Mr.. Ford tes-
tined. in presenting the letter.
Ford was engineer and estimator
for the Union Iron Works at the
time he worked on the steel plans
for the Knickerbocker Theater roof.
he testified. He Is now president
81 the company.
Fords testimony was interrupted
by the fire in the Treasury Depart
ment. plainly visible from the
boardroom. Following a recess OF
five minutes. Coroner Nevitt ad-
j"urned the inquest until 1880
o'clock this morning. at which time
Ford is expected to be called again
TO the witness stand.
Testimony for E G. Curtis. de-
ceased building inspector. responsI
BILE to the District for seeing that
the building was erected according
{" plans. was presented in the form
Of sixty reports detailing Curtis
Inspections during course Of con-
struction The reports. in Curtis
handwriting. on small memoranda
slips. were found attached to the
building permit for the theater on
file in the building inspectors Of
fee. They were read to the jury
10y John Eitchie. chief clerk OF ths
building department
Height of building. correct. root
secure. walls o. k, construction 80
per cent" read the report of Cur
tbs for June 5. 1917.
February IA. he reported on his
inspection card. 'resurvey of wall.
shows them o. K"
\ memorandum. undated. written
on the back of slip dated October
l3. 1915. found in the file in Cur
It's handwriting. read:
Are walls properly anchored
yes"
Are walls properly located
yes"
Are joices fireproof-yes.
Are the dimensions in accord.
ance with regulations-yes."
Is the roof construction secure
yes"
Does the work meet the build
.uG requirements-yes.
rs work done in accordance with
pcrmit-ycs."
E1pIanntion Of slip.
This slip. in which Curtis give:
his approval 10 all construction oil
the building. had apparently beer
Kept by him for some time and
checked off as he inspected the
various points enumerated. Ritchie
explained.
The dated reports show that Cur
us made inspections of the build
ing almost three times weekly
sometimes daily. The report de.
tails the course Of construction snc
strength OF the various member:
uf the building.
is it merely the duty Of the felc
Inspector to advise Of progress or
the building. or to actually learr
"f the nature Of construction
rueried District Attorney Gordon oi
Isitchie.
"Eoth." Ritchie replied.
Soon after he read the report OF
curtis showing he had demanded
that the foreman take steps tC
notify the building inspectors VI.
flee Of changes IN the plans or cease
construction.
Mr.. Curtis was not a man oi
technical experience particularly
lie was a builder and for a man Il