Evening star., 1947-12-20
Second Firm
Building Rubb|e
Virginia Contractor
Takes Over Work
Of Removing Debris

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Safety engineers for a second crew
OF commercial wreckers today were
making survey of the collapsed
Empire Building at Ninth street and
New York avenue NV. preparatory
to removing the rubble believed to
hold at least three bodies.
The new contractor, the Pines
Wrecking Co. of Arlington, Va, sent
about 20 specialists to the building
today after District authorities au-
thorized them late yesterday to take
over from the Arrow Wrecking &
Lumber Co.
All hope had long since been
abandoned for the three persons be.
lleved to be entombed in the debris,
The Arrow company had moved
up cranes and worked long enough
yesterday to remove tin caps and
some cornice pieces from the TOP of
the ancient, seven-story building.
1t appeared today that the same
cranes, operated by subcontractors,
would be put into use by the new
wreckers.
The project was turned over to the
Arlington firm last night after the
owner of the collapsed building.
Nick Papanfcolas, agreed to assume
responsibility for the job.
Makes Personal Survey,
Murray T. Shipp, president of the
Pines Co., said today he got the "go
ahead authority about $50 o'clock
last night and would not commit his
men to the dangerous Job until he
himself was satisfied the walls
would not crumble. "I never ask
my men to 60 anywhere I would
not go myself" he said.
1t seemed probable from Mr.
Ships preliminary survey that
snoring timbers would have to be
raised for at least several stories
before the wreckers could get to the
heavy part of the debris contained
within the shaky walls of the old
building.
Mr.. Papanicolas originally was
given II hours by District author
tiles to sign up commercial
Wrecker. after which the author
ltles would take over. At the end
OF this period the Arrow company
was assigned to the job under a
"gentleman's agreement"
Yesterday afternoon the owner
came to the District Building with
Mr.. Shipp and proposition to 90
ahead on his own responsibility,
The men conferred with the En-
glneer Commissioner, Brig. Gen,
Gordon R. Young, and Assistant
Corporation Counsel Chester Gray,
Representatives of the Arrow COM
pany explained they had no objec-
ton to pulling out of a job they
considered risky Gen. Young said
he had no objection to new com.
pany taking over the task if the
work could be accomplished with
equal speed,
Conditions Imposed.
The general, however, imposed
these conditions:
l. The work must proceed without
interruption, expediently and ac-
cording to sound engineering prac-
tice.
2. The District must proceed ac-
cording to law.
8. Faith must be kept with the
Arrow company in regard to rein1-
bursement for the preliminary work.
The owner, it was said, agreed to
deposit $4,000 in escrow with an
attorney who will pay off the Arrow
firm and return any money above
the costs. The District authorities
had agreed to pay the original COM
pany cost plus 80 per cent profit, it
Was said.
Gen. Young announced after the
conference he had planned an in
vestigating board to consist of
Building Inspector Robert H. Davis
as chairman, assisted by a repre-.
sentative of the corporation coun-
sells Office and three citizens, an
architect. an engineer and builder.
Meanwhile, Gen. Young disclosed
that two building permits are miss
ing from the file in the building
inspectors Office on the Empire
Building. This was discovered, he
said, In a check of existing permits
against master sheet listing per-
mlts issued for work on the build
ing. One permit is dated May 20,
1902, the other March g. 1904.
Gen. Young said there appeared
to be no particular significance in
the missing papers except that they
constitute a gap in the history OF
the building similar to one caused by
the fact that the original plans of
the building also have not been
located.
Three Asked to Serve on Board.
Requests to serve on the board
were sent to A. Hamilton Wilson,
an architect, of 1922 Twentieth
street NV; Stewart Beall, an en-
gineer, 1925 M street NV, and
w. B. Clemmer. builder, of River
Gale road and Auburn avenue, Riv-
erdale, Md.
Gen. young said a meeting will
be held in his Office at 1920 am.
Monday, at which time the court
OF inquiry will be informed of the
situation.
Meanwhile. a member of the
building inspectors staff will be on
hand to inspect wrecking activities,
collect evidence and take such pho
tographs as seem necessary to help
establish the cause of the collapse.
Police to Help in Removal.
The police, it was said, will help
remove and store furniture and
other personal property pending
claims from about $50 surviving oc-
cupants OF the building which COL
1QnCo6 chnft1yy laf