Evening star., 1947-12-22

|ure all bearing beams and to
count the number of bricks to de-
termine how many were in the
building 1t also would be wise to
keep all the main wooden members,
he said.
Told to Run Down Rumors. =
Gen. Young took cognizance of
rumors that certain partitions and
columns had been removed from
the building during alterations. and
urged committeeman to run down
all rumors with utmost care"
He admitted that building permits
were incomplete and the original
plans missing, but suggested the in
lvestigators employ what reports
were available. They should study
carefully the results of remodeling
done within the, past year and try
to . determine If bearing"
partition removed 20. years ago had
any effect on the building, Gen.
Young added.
The testimony of building in
spectors and of outsiders" who
may nave any A1OlAldelOll W oilCl
should be taken, the Commissioner
said. He urged that full publicity
be given the investigation so that
persons with information would go
to the committee.
1t also will be necessary to re-
construct the building on paper
with the aid of notes and photo
graphs taken by crew under
direction of r. D. Kinney. plan
examiner in the building depart
ment, Gen. Young said.
Civil Engineer to Aid.
In a further effort to prevent
possible criticism of District off,
cials, Gen. Young said he had ap-
pointed Joseph L. Parkhill, jr.. civil
engineer with the Parkhill Construc-
ton Co., to assist in assessing the
significance of any evidence.
Members Of the investigative
board are Building Inspector Rob-
ert H. Davis chairman; Assistant
Corporation Counsel Chester Gray
A. Hamilton Wilson, architect:
Stewart Beall, engineer, and w. B.
Clemmer. builder.
Murray T. Shipp, president of the
Pine Construction Co. which is
wrecking the building. regarded op-
erations so hazardous that he in
sisted on further bracing the un-
steady structure before resuming
clearance work at 11:15 am. today.
Spurred by criticism from rela-
tives of the missing, District officials
yesterday urged greater speed from
the workers. In response, the
wrecking crew dug through about
IA feet of wreckage piled up from
the third and fourth floors before
quitting shortly before 8:3Q pm.
Fatigue, Peril Halt Work.
1.-THE men were too tired and
shadows too treacherous for them to
continue working last night" Mr..
Shipp explained. He hoped condi-
tions would be better adapted to-
night to permit continuous work.
Before resuming digging, Mr.. Shipp
insisted on anchoring the sixth floor
to a crane He said one apartment
there was barely hanging together.
ready to tumble at any time without
new support.
Once that is done and precluding
new obstacles, work should proceed
more rapidly, the company presi-
dent said.
So hazardous was the work re-
garded by officials that pedestrian
traffic was halted again today on
both sides of Ninth street between
I street and New York avenue and
between Ninth and Tenth streets on
New York avenue.
Gen. Young Urges Speed.
Slowness of getting the wrecking
work under way, which involved
switching from one wrecking firm to
another at the insistence of the
building owner. brought reaction
from official circles.
Gen. Young spent an hour at the
building yesterday morning. arriv-
ing at $3.50 am.
"Gen voIln0 vas very anxiollS