Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-24
Robb Issues Safety Orders
as Guying of Steel Work
Is Found Faulty.
WARNING OF DANGER
WAS GIVEN WORKERS
Overload on Structural Columns
and Improper Boiling Are Held
Cause of Mishap in Wind.

Faulty boiling of steel members, in
SUFFICIENT guying and poor construction
methods were blamed for the collapse
Of the steel framework Of the new
Roosevelt High School in the wind
Wednesday night, at meeting OF IN
terested officials today in the ONCE OF
Assistant Engineer Commissioner H. l..
Robb
There was much discussion as to
which Of three contractors or Subcon-
tractors was to blame for the collapse,
and evidence of great doubt as to the
extent of the authority OF the contractor
over subcontractors. Maj. Robb settled
this matter by stating abruptly that
from now on the District would require
Subcontractors, as well as those directly
@nder contract with the municipality.
b follow safe-construction methods, and
any and all work at any time when 1t
appears unsafe. taking responsibility on
himself and promising to send policemen
70 stop unsafe work II necessary.
THE only thing good about this whole
fob" he remarked terSely and with con-
siderable emphasis. 'is that nobody got
killed. We will take no chances in the
future"
Report Blames Methods.
At the meeting today report made
NV r " Frankhouser and William New
man. steel inspectors attached to the
building inspectors Office, was read.
This blamed the "loose method OF bolt
ing" steel columns together and disap-
proved the method by which the col
umns were guyed.
The building inspectors office has no
control over municipal construction
work. which is watched by inspectors
employed by the municipal arcnltects
ONCE, but the two steel lnspect1rs
mentioned were called in afIer the
crash and asked to make a report on
the situation.
II. H. Marsh, engineer Of the munich
nal architects office, who drew the
plans for the construction work, ex-
nlained that the method followed by
the Heron Todd Co. in erecting the
steel was improper. He said that they
first should have put up the steel worK
for the dressing rooms In the auul.
torium as far as the stage MOOR anu
then waited until the concrete WORK up
To this point was completed before pro-
ceeding further.
instead. they placed additional steel
columns. more than so feet mgn,
spliced to the first columns with Doits
loosely fastened. Not so per cent OF the
requisite number of bolts we're in place,
he said. In addition to this, the men
Diaced loose pieces Ct steel on top OF
the high columns, adding to the weight
they were to carry. The guy wires were
insufficient to hold this load against q
strong wind.
Rain Halted Safety Work.
John A. Macdonald, president OF the
National Construction Co., which mas
the general contract for the school, SAID
that even IL the concrete had not been
poured up to the stage floor, the steel
would have been safe If properly Dolteo
and g1lyed, His superintendent eau
tened the erecting company's superln-
tendent. he said, and some precautions
were taken, but the rain which came
two days ago drove the men on Delole
aufficient precautions were taken.
He said that the erector company was
under contract with the Lehigh Struc-
tural Steel Co. Of Allentown, Pa, ana
that his company had no control over IT,
Lewis Newman, inspector employed by
che municipal architects ONCE, SAID
that heavier guying would have pre-
vented the miShap. He said that the
placing of heavy pieces OF steel on top
of the columns was done in order 10
use a derrick which was handy, and be-
cause Inc men OIQ IlOL HuAAI W pun
them I'D later with pulleys. He eau
toned the superintendent Of the Ma
tional Construction Co. that this was
not safe. Mr.. Macdonald said that his
Superintendent had passed this warn
ing along to the superintendent OF the
erector company, but without much
result.
Strict Orders Issued.
Mai. Robb then said that on his own
responsibility he would order his in
spectors to halt Immediately all work,
whether done by contractors or sub
contractors, which appeared unsafe,
and promised to send out policemen TO
help the inspectors enforce his orders
# necessary All steel blown down was
condemned. except as to any pieces not
injured but none of these may be put
back into the job except after specific
approval by the municipal architect.
The subcontractor for the steel cree
ton is Heron Todd & Co. of Washing
ton. Mr.. Marsh estimated the delay
incident TO the collapse at 10 weeks TO
three months.
There was no estimate forthcoming
rs TO the value of the damage, but
whatever this turns out to be, 1t is not
payable by the District.