New Britain herald., 1925-11-16
INVESTIGATE ERECTION OF UNSAFE BLEACHERS
Building Commission to Give Contractor Hear
 ing Thursday

Charges of violating the building law in the erection of bleaChers for the High school game Saturday without first obtaining a permit have been preferred against the William II. Allen Construction Co.,, by the building department, and hearing will be given that company by the building commission this week.
 The bleachers were pronounced unsafe by Building Inspector Arthur N. Rutherford Saturday morning and be communicated that fact to Vice Principal James c. Moody of the High school. In spite of a second warning, occupancy of the stands i was permitted, it is alleged. On or ders of Chief of Police w. c. Hart the seats were vacated during the game when 1t appeared collapse was certain.
 Chief Inspector Edward J. Hen | ilCoSS Stliu tOudS ip pcllIllI W iS sought or issued for the construction of these stands. Such a permit, he l said, Is required by the building laws and failure to take one is a viola tion which requires him to present ! charges against the builder.
 Unless the building commission | changes it's meeting date, William II. Allen will be asked to appear before that body Thursday evening.
 MT. Allen said this afternon he was not concerned in the construc- tion of these stands excepting inso- far as eight of his employees had been sent by request 10 assist in work being done at the playing field. He had no contract to build the stands, he explained, and saw no reason why he should seek per init.
 Vice Principal Moody had request cd the park department tol install | the blcachcrs earlier in the week. Supt. Ralph E. Wainwright of the department declined, however, as he l could not assume responsibility on behalf of the park department. Mir Moody explained today he then engaged tho William H, Allen Con struction Co. and the work was done.
 Conditions at Memorial field in Willow Brook park are such that il i is unlikely that the field will be used again for any important games un- less the seating capacity is greatly improved, i. was learned today.
 Temporary bleachers had to be put up in an effort to take care of ] some of the crowd Saturday. Bleach CTS at the south end Of fhe field were ] found unsafe, and efforts to get in i touch with the contractor Saturday morning met with little success. The | bleachcrs were allowed to he used, 1 until the police department ordered 1000 spectators 10 vaCa'o them. It i was found that toward 'he end of 1 the first period of the game. the bleachers sagged, and near panic i resulted when several women start i ed 10 leave. Nobody was injured. | Inspector Rutherford. who in spected the bleaChers in the morn ing, declared them unsound, and told Mayor A. NJ. PaoncSsa of his find i ings. The mayor instructed him 10 notify r. F. King Of inc school board, but the latter could not be | found. The inspectors Sail that if 10 pounds of nails were usrl, and few braces were put against the hlcaCh- CTS, the danger would have been i averted.
 William Regan, general manager Of athletics at the school, announc- ed today that the reason for the col lapse of the stands was not because ct a faulty construction, but because of the ground conditions underneath. If the field had not been muddy the bleachcrs would have been solid" he said.
 An effort was made as late as 1 1 o'clock to get in touCh with the contractor, when Principal Louis F. l Slade discovered that tho hlcachers were not safe. Previous 10 this time the principal had understood them to be in good condition. He stationed himself near the condemned bleach CTS and warned others against mak- l ing use Of them.
 Mayor Taonessa criticized the school authorities for flowing the bleachers 10 be used after the possi- bilities Of danger were made known to them, in the following statement:
 "I am glad that nobody was in- 1 jured, but if the school authorities
 had notice of the unsafe condition of the stands, they should not have i allowed them 10 be used"