The New York Herald Newspaper, June 16, 1871, Page 8

- PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Report of the Superintendent of Build- ings for the. Year Ending April 5, 1871. DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS, @rrice OF SUPERINTENDENT, No. 2 Fourth av., NEw YoRK, April 24, 1s71. Men. A. OakeY HALL, Mayor of the clty of New ‘York:— Sin—In accordance with the provisions of section S1 of chapter 187 of the Laws of 1870, and ta com- phance with your request, 1 herewith sabmita de- talled report of the operations of this department for @Be year ending Apru 5, 1871. Very respecifally, your obedient servant. JAMES M. MACGREGOR, intendent of Buildings. Report. EPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS, ‘0. 2 Fourth avenue, w YoRS, April &, 1s71, {We Hon. A. Oakey faLi, Mayor of the city of New | T SiR—In compliance with your request, [have the | ; NMonor to transit Lerewlth a detailed report of the | @perations of tie departivent of Buildings, tae same | Deing compiled irom April 5, A, D. 1870, the date of She roorgaut/ation of the department under the pro- Visions of the new charter for the go.ernment cf the city of New York, and the date of my appoint- ‘Ment as Superintendent thereof, unl April 5 of the eurrent year, suowing indetal tle work of the de- pariment for aud durmg the first year of its organi- gation under the said chaiter. Since the formation of this department, m the year 1862, 1t hus been my custom at the expiration ‘of each year to present a detatied statement of the Dusiness transacted, and in its regular order this Would thereiore be the tenth aunuai report. A ehange having, however, been rendered necessary by the reorganization above referred to, the report appended embraces the period specified, while, in| erder to show the workings of the department frou’ January 1, 1870 (the date of my last report), to April Sof whe same year, a supplemental report 13 aided Jor this time. “A compicte record of the work of the department is in this Way preserved trom the lorma- Mion of the department to date. in presenting tis report it affords me pleasure to state thatin all its branches the department is im wod and effective Working order, such Changes Wing been made since Ns reorganization as will, dn my juagment, increase its eticiency and muate- mally aid 10 protecting the bulictng Interests of the ‘fhe following is a summary of the year’s work, %or particulars in regard to which reference 1s made to the tables appended. In the tables the busiuess @f the year is compared wiih that of the tweive months ‘rom January 1, 1569, to January 1, 1879, the period covered by my last aud nuth annual report. PLANS AND SPEGISICAMIONS—NEW BULLDING. One thousand four hundred and eighceen 3 of and specifications for new buildings were submitied, eXamised aud passed upon during the year cuding April 6, i871, being 152 more tuan the Bumber suomiited during the year 1569, Muse huvared and eighty-three were found, upon thorough examination, to be drawn in conformity ‘With the provisions of ihe law, or required butshght amendments thereto, which were made aud ap- proved. fhree hundred and ten sets, tncor- Tectly drawn, or contaiming propositions in violation @f the law, were disapproved, but were subsequentiy corrected, amended and apprevod. One hunarei and twenty-five sets imperiectly drawn, or cating fer modes of consiruction not allowed by the stat- wie, were wholiy rejected and disap, ed, FIRST CLASS DWEL! Of this class of buildings sv were provided for, veing 78 more than were embraced In the plans sub- mitted during the year 1869. Of the above, 854 were Proposed to be erected in the three upper wards, to ‘wit,—Twelfth ward, 261; Nineteenth ward, 581; Twenty-second ward, 11 e remaining 42 to be erected im (he follow! z ath ward, 1; Sixth ward, 1; mib 5 Sixteenth ward, 1; Seventeenth ward, 4; Eighteenth ward, 3; Twenueth ward, 10, and Twenty-first ward, 20. SECOND CLASS DWELLINC ‘The number of huiluings of this class proposed to be erected amounts to 35), a decrease of 86 from the mumber provided for in the twelve months ending December #1, 1869, As In the case of the tirst class @wellings, neariy the whole number are located in the three upper wards, as follows:—103 in the ‘Twellth, 115 in the Nineteenth, and $2 m the Twenty- | second; the remaining 80 being ‘distribuied among | ‘the wards below Fortieth sireet. THIRD CLASS DWELLINGS (TENEMENT HOUSES), Eight hundred and nincty-six tenement houses | Were proposed to be erected as against 553 in 18 an increase of 343. Of the above numver, 41 arc in wee Tenth ward, 50 in the Eleventh, 110 in the ‘Twelfth, 27 in the Thirteenth, 19 in the Sixteenth, 48 in the Seventeen h, 24 in the Eighteenth, 193 m the Nineteenth, 99 in the Twentieth, 44 In the Twen- ‘ty-first, and 154 in tne Twenty-second; the remaining 78 being about equally divided between the Four Bixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Fourteenth and teenth wards, and the residue distributed among ‘Mhe remaiing wards, the Second excepted. FIKST CLASS STOMES. Embraced in the plans for this class of structures ‘were proposals for the erection of 69 warehouses, than were contemplated being erected Jast year. SECOND CLASS STORES. Plans for 21 of this class of stores were received, Deing 10 less than were included in ihe plans suo- Maltied during the vear 1849, THIRD CLASS STORES. Of this class of structures, consisting of tempo- rary frame buildings and small briex stores, 41 were submitted, being 1 wore than ta 1369, nearly all of which were to be erecied lu unimproved portions of ‘she ci = MANUPACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS. One hundred and forty-seven buildings of thts character were provided for, being 2 less than were propose to be crecied in the year 1569 STABLES. Plans for 129 stabies were submitted as against 123 in 1869, an increase of 6. Some of these butld- img were Jor livery and sale stables, witie others Were elegant structures and intended for private CHURCHE: Church puildings and onay 16 were received, being 6 le: ealied for in the plans of 1809. oHOOL HOUSES, Three school houses were W be erected, being 6 Jess than in 16.9, PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Of this class of buildings 88 were intended to be erected, being 12 more than during the year 1869, The number of buildings emoraced in the plans and specifications submitted for new buildings for We twelve months ending April 5, 1571, Was 2,635, being gs? more than were provided for in the p.ans 1869. The buildings provided for in the foregoing state- ments are classited as follows:— Ig to the number of 85 tan the nuuber First class stores Becoud Class sivre! ‘Third ciass stores... Factories and workshop Bebvoo! houses. At will be seen by the foregoing statement that the Buinber of every class of buildings, suve second class dw: llings, first aud second cluss store school houses aud churches, bas tuc foimpared With ie year iso. hy reference Wo exhibit A, appended, may be scen detailed statement of ine avove buildings. FLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR ALTERATIONS, AD- DITIONS, &€., TO BUILDINGS ALREADY ENBCTED. The number of plans of this character submitced ‘Was 1,252, being 2 more than were received during year ending December 3}, 1809. O1 these plans 998 Were approved, 16% amended and approved and 92 disapproved and rejected, One inonsand tiree husored and sixty-two bull sed, when Ings Were jucluded 1m the above plans, belug u0re than were provided for as per miy last report. Mix undred and twenty-nine were to be raised or built upon, 415 extended or enlarged, S07 were Wo be al- { tered internally abu 796 externally. Many of these buildings, two or more of the we Classes of alicra Je, aud in some Pabiic buildings... By reference to exmioit b @ detaiied statement of th be erected during the tweiv 6, 1871, amounts to che sum $654,605 iess than the estunate pposed t » expended in the alterauons of bull \- tes for the same period simounts $5,704,024, being a decrease of $465,500 1rou Wan | Loontion. 5 Weat Std wt... eu feet worth of 9 i feats inches ean | cation cases } wo exhibit £, appended. NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 187L—TRIPLE SHEET. thus snowmg @ total of $42,411,047 pro- xpended ia new bulidings and altera 1 5, 1870, to April 5, 1871, @ decrease 8,215 from 1869. NEW BUILDINGS COMMENCED. Two thousand one hundred and sixty-one new buildings were commenced from April 5, 1870, to April 5, 1871, being an increase of 6) as compared Wih the nu uber commenced durmg the year 1869, as Will appear irom the following table;— April by "2, Classification, Apri) 5, "71. 1869. Inc, De First class aweiltn 738 738 = Fy Second ciass dweilings 67 “ - Third ciass dwellings or iene meni houses. = : ia = Ww % 102 4 197 = 2 ite building “ 1 a Totals... 2,093 265 0 These buildings were distributed Im the various wards as (oliows:— April 6, 70, April’, 7, 1882. ch 4 Seventeenth. Eighteenth Nineteenth ‘Twentieth. Twenk Der. ii 6 3 a R rr Bry 4 a ry hs eat oot | eset £1 Bio! iF N There were completed irom April 5, 1870, to April 5, sil, 1,509 new buildings, being @ decrease of 879 froin the number competed In 186), These buildings are classified as follows:— Api: 5, 10, to Classifiortion, Apri, 71, 1859. Ine. Dew. First class dwellines Cy 931 pon oo Second class dwel ings, 286 = 60 Third class dwellings or ten- ement houses. 612 44 128 = Stores and storchouses + Wo 4 - u ctories and worksuops... 118 1h ; 6 ry oe Stal 13 3 x 1 = 6 ~ 4 4 = M 8 BS April 5, 170. to April 5, 7. 1869. Inc. Dee 3 rt) - 1b 9 4 G = 1 6 = 8 w 13 5 = 33 2 8 = 10 9 1 = lz 1s = 6 2 a1 1 = , a 37 = 1 ‘Tenth. 36 34 2 - Bleventi.. 45, 40 6 — Tweitta. 2a 353, - ry W 38 = 19 15 7 2 ert 24 3 40 35 = ® Pt highte Nineteen! ay 35 = 306 165 82 B w= lis. wl = rT? 24 7 37 es 2-189 9,978 M7 826 Of the number of new bulllings completed 1 was commenced In 1866, 2 in 1858, 353 In 1869, 280 from January to April, 1870, and the balance, 1,258 dur- ing the last twelve months. There still remain in process of completion 993 new bulidings, ALTERATIONS COMMENCED, From April 5, 1870, to April 5, 1871, alterations were commenced to 1,157 buildings already erected, being an incresse of 61 over the number com- menced during the vear 1869, as will appear from te following table:— April 5, °70, Classification, April 5,71. 1869. Ine. Dee, First class dwellings. ~ 103 1s pa 8 | Second class dwelling . 476 “4 Third case dweliin tenement houses) + 198 w7 16 — First class atores + 10 60 10 = Second class stores. a 86 = * ‘Third class stores. esses 10 5 5 - Factories aud workshops 18 ” = School hous: 3 - 1 Biables.. % - ul jurches.. = aS Yuvlte buildin, FY} = 4 Totals..... 1126 31 These bulldiags were locatea tn the wards:— Aprit 5, °70, n April 5, °TL, 1869. 40 54 = “4 33 oP) P = Po 7 7 6 % 36 43 14 6a ® a 5 bi — 34 14 8 29 40 = 36 pa 86 8 43 15 “4 8 8 ps i 4 Se He: Twenty-first, ‘Twenty-secon 65 3 = Totals... 1,187 6 179 ns ALTERATIONS COMPLETED. L During the twe.ve months ending Apri. 5, 1871, alterations were completed on 1,188 buildings already erected, au increase of 134 over the number completed in 156%. ‘The classification of the buildings is as follows:— April 6, '70, © Clarification. April by 71. 1360. Ine. Dee Firet clasa dwellings. 104 12 = rf Second clans dwein 46 5 = Third class d tenement. honse r 187 First ciass stores. Fl 66 3 Second class stor 9 a 25 Third class store: 10 5 5 Factories and wo uy 9 18 ea Schoo! houses é a ; 1 Charenes im Pubite buildin 35 8 7 a Totals... cee L138 1,054 182 18 ‘These buildings were distributed in the various wards as follows: April 8° April 5°71. 1869, tie Dee. 50 43 7 = 2 iu ai = 20 4 = 4 20 a = 7 20, Fn = 4 aw 33 om 6 tg 0 i9 = ” 56 a = 74 6 6 fe ; ya oat eee: tke 3 _ Tenth. 5 % 18 = fe “- = 10 a 52 12 a to 45 20 = a) 9 a 82 7 : % 78 6 13 pe ‘Twenty-hr r = Twenty-se 68 6 rs fi Totals 1054 206 78 Of the number of alterations completed 80 were commences in 1869, 116 between the months of January and April, 1870, and the balanee, 1,041, dur- ing the last twelve months, One hundred and fifty- four built sUll undergoing alterations, PE BUILDINGS. of unsa‘e buildings, walla, i a and acted upon from April 6, In70, (o April 6, 1871, Was 1,073. Of this number GL have beea taken down and entirely removed and 730 have been made safe and secure, leaving 282 in process of removal or being secured. During t wove pertod surveys have been held buildings, aud 6 were taken into court and ns issued. ieloeation, nature and disposition of the butid- gs reported as unsafe may be found by reference VIOLATIONS. The whole number of violations reported by the Insp é, 1870, to April &, 1871, 5,60. Of te above the provisions ot the law have been complied with in 2,741 cases, leaving a balance of 889 not disposed of. Of Uns Dumber 278 are dings requiring fire-esc: and the balance, , are Violations of Various sections of the law. uctailed statement of the above violations inay found by reference to exhibits © and D, ap- ed. During the year 249 cases have been placed in the nds Ol the attorney of the department for prose- and penalties collected in tne following Anite 850 60 & 30 10 John Kopp. # lisaac Griggs ». 60 [Sprinemeyer & € wy leat Fate 4 ’ J. Genrty O 11 |Franels Kenlbac $0 T. & J. Gearty 50 "|udotph Peter Fy Li Edward Morr Fi 8. B 10 bo 60 FA 4 x When Ke « 10|No, 81 Carmine st. “ ‘ib av « of 16th at., 50 1 “ fe of dist st, 9 feet east of 24 av ha South she of dist st., 420 (cet east of 94 av, Nov. 4} No. $86 East 31st st. sesneee os - MW jSouth side of 47th et. feet weat of lth av. Norihwest corner of 10h av, and GUth st. South eide of * foe: west of 3d av... Southeast corner of 4th av. and 8th st, Jan, " 5]South side of 125th at., 148 feet west of 5th Feb. 7]No. 123 Amity at... * 1U] No, 441 West 28th $8) No. 2.8 Eaat 33th wt “ 17/Secont A Bad Mar, 18|No. 123 Arnity at... ” 38] No, 123 Amity at. 93 North sice of SAth si., 650 feet west of Muth av. Total... ..seceeererereresres, ‘The following statement will show the whole nun for prosecution from apili 6, 1070, to April 5, 1871, wil » john toey. Julian Crevier GM. Mittoncht. . Metzler... R.N. Woodworth’ bomeuiaae scstoundlel i ber of cases sent to the attorney of the department fh the action taken thereon:— & Suit com imenceite rm April 6... ian ae Cornelius Horgan. []Wilfam W. Sinith ‘Wames Gallaguer. .) bantel Smith, ‘|Jobn scobel, .|Wi liam Stevenso1 ‘Thomas Kelly. {| Robert Boyd, 2. Di No. 3 No, 1,002 ud a South side of East j ‘0. 1 it No. 121 Norfolk st. No, 1.3 Norio.k +t. 8d av. northwest corn North side of 46:h st. +/Walden Pell :|G. P. Sturtzman.... ./Samuel Hawk... i baat si South si ‘|George Richard French. West side of broad: South site of 35th ste. John Connolly... John Connoliy...... John Connoily....+. John Comnouiy.. James Wells... » GL Ath av... 1 , 43d st, No, 336 East Sist st North side of S5th si J. lin ‘Thompson. 2 M chanel Kurke.. No. 183 F No, 8; 7th st. No, 42 Ann st. South sive of South side of 11 No. 18 Dry Dock 10. 14 Dry Dock +/Denms Lyons. ‘/Pbiiip Malone... :[J. F. Gein, Thomas Ryan :|Willjam Doon D. Jobn Hoey. .|Jacop Hatzel N it Bot North aide of Zouh st., No. 48 Columbia. . 412 test orth pide of uta si No, 612 bast 13th No. 42 Pike st, South side of B0th ington av No, 258 broome 81 Joseph Kali Henry L. Bulkiey.. Maria Mansfield. . {Maria Mausceid. [[ William K. Peyton: {]Joha Denner. James 8. Dale, ‘atrick Brean: . Joon A. Foley, John Campbs .|Benjamm Andrew! Benjamin Andrews. amin Andrews ‘a of 1th av., No, 67 Washi No. 514 Eas ob Stiner Deviin, Timothy Boyle. M. T. Condon. Patrick McArdle. ch De No. 639 Washingion No. No, 139 East S3d st.. ~| No. 303 Kast 11th st. Harvey Weed A. Hammord, James Mulry. ‘|James Muiry. iltames Malry! James Mulry. mes Mury. vstian Brand. .: No. 61 Kaward Harrigan. » 61) West 37ch at J. Stretmeister. No. 117 E venue Kaliroad 0 lizabeth Mex James Moore Conrad Trost Grand Central Hote ‘Thomas Hoit iho Hot T]Mbast aide of 10u av, 1) No. 123 Amity st «| T1th av., souinenat co Tj sast tide of HU avy *[iuast ete of 11th av. Nos, W2 and 904 Cher: North side of 4th ste, :Jobn Ktioker: Johu Kinker Jobo Kitake LK Kipp. yoodworth Tloarrets J. byem 210 Wilain Schwefer. NO. 293 Ath wy No, 172 Bast Jouephs, vd. Pinan In a large number of cases the violations were re- moved tmimediaiely npon the service of the notice, and the;penalty was remitted and no pro-eedings instituted, and in a great number also no penaliy attached, the violations having been removed with- In the tine allowed by the statute. ‘The jarge increase of Vioiations reported during the past year is owing to the survey of tie city which 14 being laken, and the defects thereby found existing in buildings Which were erected prior to apy law governipg her consirucuon—ieaving but Location. T2Lat st,, northwest corner of Bd av ata at, 75 teet west of Sd av. nie i southeast corner of 109th st northwest corner of 109th st... it 1sth a North aide of 103th st, Jortiandt st. 6 James st. (rear). Freach’s Hotel, Chatha: st corner o! Bath at, av., 25 feet north of B51 thwest corner of 125d et Action tiken. Violation geroved-—penaliy remiiies., do. do. do, Violation i ved. aii id. jolation removed— ry paid. Violation femoved—penally Temitted, . do. do, do. ao. do, do, Suit pending. Violation Feimoved-—penalty remitted. lo, do. do. do do. do. do. do. do. do. Suit pendin, Violation rethoved—penalty remitted. lO. 0. Suit pending. de ait pending. Violation removed—penalty remitted. 5 do, do. do. do. do. de. do. do, Smt pending. Violation: removed) penalty remitted, 0, do. do. ‘Violation removed—penaity remitted. do. uo. do, do. do, do. do. do. do. do. Suit pending. do. do. Violation removed—penalty remitted. Suit pending. suit . Violation remrved—penalty remitted. lo. do, do, ‘Suit pending. Violation removed—penalty remitted. do, do, do. do, do. do, do, do. do. do. do, : do. 1h) feet west of av. A.|Suit pending. U0 feet west of 8d av..| Violation removed—penalty remitted. Violation removed—penalty paid, Violation remoyed--penaliy remitted. a0. 1s d | Suft pending, “| Violation removed—renalty remitted. ao, do. : do. do. Suit pending. 145 feet west of 3d av. Violation not removed—penalty paid. 78 fret west of 81 av...|Violation remoyed—penaity remitted. Seer tee do. pending. Violation reinoved—penalty remitted. e. 10. Suit pending. folation removed—penalty remitted, do. do, do. di Sult pending. . Violation removed—penalty remitted, do, do. do. do, do, 0. s1-|Vioation removed—penalty remitted, 221] Suit pending. rt Suit pending. Violation removed—penalty remitted, 0, 0. Violation removed—penaity paid. ‘Violation removed—penalty remitted. a Suit pending. Violation removed—penalty remitted, , 100 feet’ west of Lex- do, do. do. be do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. éo. suit pending. do. do. Vioiation removed—penalty remitted. do. do. do. do. Suit pending. 0, | Violation removed—penalty remitted. Suit pending, do. Violation, removed penal jolation = Suit pending. : ame Violation removed—penalty remitted. 0. rr sutt pending, @ 0. feet south of 102th 26 fect north of Stth st. Cg 0. Suit perding. Violation remored—penalty remitted, ao, 0. do. ao. do, do. do, do. do, ‘Sutt pending. Bod feet weat of tat'av-| 30h pending, Violation removed—penalty remitted. . 10, a do. do. do. do. do, do, do. do. do. do, 0. do, do. do. do. do. is do. ao, do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. Victntion temoved—penalty ‘pat .| Violation re ed —| It sult pending. mi 0. do. Violation removed—penalty remitted, lo. ‘Action discontinued, Suit pending. Violation removed—penalty remitted, uit pendin, Violation removed—penalty remittea. -+../Suit pending, of ith av do, do. Violation removed—penalty remitted. Suit pgading. 0. jolation removed—penalty remitted, Suit pending. tulut.on removed—penalty remitted, do. do. Suit pending. Vivlation removed—ponalty remitted, suit Pending. Ww street, do. Suit pending. Yivlation vemoved—penaly remitted, ng. bf 250 leet west of av. 268 feet west of av, Violation removed- penalty remitted. Vioiation removed-—penally paid. poit pagtng do. rier of bad at... 1 feet south of Bld st, * a souk of 62d 835; 0 fent w Violation not removed—penaity paid, Suit pending. do. do. do. #0) (eet west Of 0h ay do. Violat'on removed—ponalty remitted. Suit pending. : 06 do. do. feet went oi 9d uv" 2G feet from Qt a ) feet (rom 9d ay few cases wherein the violations were commitied on buildings in course of erection or undergoing alter auons, Complaints emanating from any source relative to those matters over which this department has juris caucuon are promptly ukea up and favestigated, and a book Kept at this oilice for the regisiry of the Same, ‘The Whole nuinber of such complaints re- ceived and acted upon during the last tweive months Was $42, Of Which, upon careful cxamination, no Cause ior complaint gaisted in 141 cases, 35 were | tur -|Violation removed—penaity remitted. | do. Violation removed—penalty remitted. | y, | serious results, One of then, however, is worthy of viciesion mores pentny remitted, | do. ‘removed upon verbal notification being Ferred, "x" provea vuitdings. requiring. means of a in Fly fire 107, proved unsate buildin; escape and 62 proved violations which were eutered on the books of the departinent, and notices served requir Said Violations to be removed, and said unsale buildings to be repaired and made safe or taken down aud removed. Inspectors have prevented during the last wweive mouths 617 cazes of Violations berg placed im ang upon buildings pape erecuion or ration vy apprising ep parties in time to prevent-them. FIRE ESCAPES. ‘The whole number of buildings examined by the inspectors aud reported as requiring means of escape in case ot tire from April 5, 1970, W April 5, Is71, Was 1,832. Of this number 1, 054 were provided with the proper mens ol escape, ani of the number uuprovided therewith at the date of iny last annual report the provisions 0: the law have ..een compued ‘With 10 $46 cases, aking a sum total of 2,678 fre escapes provided to buituings during the ycar end- ing april 5, 1o71. A detaued statement of the buildings reported as requiring dre escapes during the iast Lweilve mvDths may be iound by refereice to the exhivit U, ap- pended, GENERAL REVIEW. From a review of the pre.eding facts and figures 4 wihil be seen that whe the past year has not been marked 48 one oi business prosperity, builaug en- terprise bas not been materially checked, ror the cost of proposed new Dullainys wad alferauions tor the twelve months embraced 1a the report as shown 18 Withiu abou $1,000,0U0 of tne amount expeuded In 1869, while the numer of A en) submitted to the departinent has been larger thac for tue season last mentionod, 1a regard to the Dutldtngs in the city it is noticea- ble Ural it is almost entuely cuniined to the upper Wards, DUE Comparatively few caauges tak.ng place in the lower wards. The gieatest increase both in Dew buildings aud alterations is in the /wenticth ward, but at, the rapid rate 0. increase as noved in report a1 the Wards in tue apper portion ol the city will, in a lew years, be enuirely but up. When this department was frst tovmed, tep years since, its jurisdiction did notextena avove Filty> second street; it Low extends over we euure isiand, and ihe jorce requsred to properly discharge te duties of inspection, as asoigned, must necessarily be wlarge one, The cierica: force how employed and required to correctly record the routine Work of the department 15 fuily taxed to keep pace with the demand mace upon it, & demand Whica, as the city grows, is daily increased. dn reference to unsa.e buildings, as will be noted, much has been accompli:hed in rendering thea secure, aud although much sull remains to be done great progress tas been made therein. Altention 1s called also tw the large number of Violauons of which cognizance has been taken during the year, but as tue luils of the cloy enlarge the duties aad responsluililies Of the Departiuent correspondingly lucvease, Wiue a8 its Objects and aims begin to be understood by the public, less dif- Hiculty is experienced in enoreing tue provisions of on aud regulaung the Matters under ks con- trol. ‘rhe number of tire escapes attached to buildings during tue last twelve mouchs, us stated, 1s 2,673, Inaking in all M201 since the department Was formed, ‘The attachment ot these saleguards against danger 1 regard as of special importance and as aiecung the paviic welfare. ‘Tnerciore, in tus par- tcuiar, every effort is constantly ma.e to lupress Upon both iuspectors ani owners of property the a@usulute necessity of tuis Measure providing for salety in case of fire. evuring the year several instances have occurred (duly reported tarougi the paolic press) in which lite woud undoubtediy have been sacriiiced but for the means of escape provided, lu regard to hotels, proceedings have been insti- tuted to render tiem mure secure in this respect, and lam happy to state that, with one excepuon, ali the Owners and proprietors of tuese pudlic bulid- jugs have expressed tueir Wiilinguess vw co-cperate W.li the department a8 s00n as Lue proper plan can @ determined upon which will insure safety. On some of the ho! Mt may be aided, vperauious have already commenced, ACCIDENTS. During the yeartwo accideuts of note have oc- curred, ‘The lirst of these, which toux place June 17, 1s7y, Was the Jali of w bullulug 1 process of re- moval un tie southeast coruer of Second avenue aud Twentieth street, Fortuuately no lives were Josi, and the Cause Ol the accidelt Was, tual in the demolition of the building upoa the adjoming pre- mises and immediately adjacenc terety, suulcieat care had not been taken to properly protect the walls ot the building in process oi removal, Witich occa. sioned the Jaiung of the corner wail thereut agaist tue buiding No, 033 Secund avenue, crushing 1a che north side wail, floors, portion of the root and rear wall of the same, and leaving tue remaiuing portion of the buiidiag im au insecure and unsaie condittva. lm wedlately upon notiticauon of the acciaent | pro- ceeded to aad removed all the dangerous portions of the eng phat hal been lett standog, aud secured the building trom furtuer accideat. ‘The only other serious accideny occurring during the past year was tnat which happened oa the loth day of December last, the all of Hale’s pianoforte factory, in Thiriy-filth strect, near Teath avenue. ‘The building was in process vu erection, and by tue disaster four lives Were sacriticed. ‘The circum- stances attending this sad affair are of too recent & date lo heed a extended relerence, but it wall be remembered tat, im the thorough investigation which followed, auring tue progress of which every eflort was made by the pubuc press .o Censure this aepartment, 1t was lully proved Wiat m0 blame could be attached thereto, and this on the evidence of ¢ | Some of the most ski.led and experienced mecnanics ia the ciiy. In my opinion greater care should have been exercised on the purt of the contraciors in bracing the buliding. Under the law existing, bow- ever, without power except to sugyest, 1 was aud &m powerless to act. 1 ain Of the opiuion, however, that 1 the butiding had been completed beiore the severe gale, the accideut woulu not have taken Place, as the material used in whe construction was Drst Class, and in ail respects was We work being prosecuted tn conformity with the provisi ns 0! Wwe Jaw, A copy o1 the verdict of the coroner's jury, a3 rendered in the case, 7 ae appended. THC 1, Tne death of Annie Hamilton was cansed by the faliing o1 the building owned by Mr. Hale aad built by alr. Cochran. 2. We exouerate the owner and builder from all blame, as said building Was put up according wo Jaw and built of the best materials. 3. ‘Phe law 1n our opiuton is defective, and we re- commend the Legislature to so amend or revise 10 as (0 Muke special provisions tor wll bsolated build- ings. P we fina that the - Building Department have performed their duties iM tals Malter according to a We beveral additional accidents of minor importance have also occurred within the period covered by this report, which, but ior the precaution exercised by tuis depuriment, might have been attended with special mention; I refer to a threatened casualty in Connection with the premises Known as Nos. 346 and S4o Bast ‘Iwenty-tuird sireet, The circumstances are these:—At midnight, June 10, is7u, | was noti- fied by Captain Cameron, of the Eighteeath police precinct, nat the buildings 1 question were 1 an ‘unsale condition, belag iable to Jali, apd required. atieution. 1 proceeded immediately to the ground, ald, upon examination, found tuat the foundation ‘wall in the cellar, supporting the purty wall dividing ‘the two houses, had given way, and tnat ihe buiid- iug was, a3 reported, in a very unsafe and Jan- gerous slate. belore my arrival ail the occupants of the premises, embraciug some thirty-two famuies, had been removed, and were then in the street. Upon further inquiry 1 learned that the agent, with- out filing any notice at the oitice of the department, had begun to remove portions ol the main founda- Uon wall for the purpose of making aiterauons therein. ‘Ine proper supports hud not been placed in position, und, as @ Natural consequence, the enure structure was touering and likely to Jail at any moment, with the torce that I could summon the walls Were shored up and over precaulionary measures taken, so that alter the labors of a night the structure was made secure and the danger averted, I mention this circumstance In order to show the importance, wneu any change is designed in the construction or alteration of a bulidiug, that this departinent should be nutified of the fact, In the proposed new law, referred to here- alter, a special Clause 1s inserted providing for these Which, aituough the measure may J arbitrary, lias been proved by experience tu be absolutely necessary as a& salcguard agaist Senge aud lor the proper protection of human ule. A CITY SURVEY. In 1862, soon Aiter the formation of the depart- ment, | instituted a general survey of the buildings in the city, With the intention of so continMuy 16 that a complete record in detail should be ou file in my viice fur use and reference. Owing, uowever, to tue limited force at iny command, and finding that tie work could Not be prosecuied without negiect- dag more essenuiil duves, | disconunucd it until a Uine should come When 1 could be assiwed that the Jabur would be properly periormed. ‘She yalue of 4 Work OF Lis description cannor be Over-estimated, Jor Mm addition to luformat on obtained as to the Dumber, Character and ciass of buildings on the Isiand, QUrOg an MVvesugation carried on by com- perent luspeciors, all delects 1 construction can be ascertained, and upon reports veing received te proper remedies can be applicd under the provisions of une 1aw. Believing, therefore, that the period had arrived Wiheu @ thorough survey of tie ciiy should be made, abd (Wal 1b Wasa Necessity that tis department should be more faily iaformed ia reward to vhe con- struction of all buildings prior to the passage of te act creating it, In October last Lrecommenced tie Work previously discontinued, Suice tus Ume 16 has been carried on with diigence and despatch, unl pow, at tue date of my report, 6,577 buddies Nave been imspected, ‘The survey ts being made jiom the Battery northerly, aud is pursued syste- matically, the viocks beulg taken separately and cuch building betng sunjected w a criucai and thorough examluauion, whem a record 14 made of Als exact condivion, With all necessary facts per- tuning thereio. Upon each specific examination the following miormiation Is required to be obtained Jor record ou the part of the ducers cugaged Inu Work:—Location of builaing, ward and vwner, of Jot, size and height of banding and number Klories, maverial Used MM Construction and of front, Materia) of roofing and of cornice: iron shutiers, Whether provide tor fut; roofs and their descripuons qhestions as ty fre escapes, trap doors, scitties and Huikheads, walls coped or nol, independent or party; thickness and depth of upper wails, strengin of WED the #2e OF Ubers and girders; also, Moors are overioaded, Widch Ol stas and hatis mm Lenement houses, and number or famtiies occupying the buildings, method of heating ond ings, and Whe apparatus, general safely, and how Occupied, and th @ sutimary Of the above facts a& Statement as to the geuerai condition of the ouLding. Ail these particulars are required to ve ait peas therefore, when Muighed, the survey wil aiune of uitormation wich, for relereace only for builders bat for the pubitc, cannot fal be of the greatest value, When completed it will Comparatavely an easy muller (0 conunue fi Fr as new buildings ure projected or ones alvered they can readily be as igned their pi on the ist, The work Is being prosecuted at @ rap! rate, ubout one thousuna buildings , er mouth de! iuspected, and it wil be pused forward with al Possivle des] b, OF as fast as the ca apiliuesof my omce will allow without mterieripg with other more important duties connected therewith. = ne BULLDINGE, in presenting My annual repor: irom yeur to year, ihave at times made suggestions ta regard te ths construction Of butllings in the city a3 nave seemed to me right and proper, Iron being now so exten- sively used in butiding, I do not dee it out of place to express my Views ac this time in relitou to thie: subject, for certainly no branca of .udustry which has engaged in the erection o. buildings in’the city of New York during the last Live yeurs has made such rapid p) s, linpeled by actual requires ments, as that of the construction of area work used in our modern edifices, ‘Ihe uiore ready adaptation of iron to every style of arciutecture, dnd its supe Tiority in point of strengva and Ureproof quali in comparison with other matertals, have rendere its adoption @ matier of necessity. ‘Thus it enters, Jargely into the construction oi almost every build- Ing Now erected, not only of those whose facades are of iron, but also for those of brick aud stony, a3 the facilities afforded, where room aud slg are desired, by ircn beams, girders aud liuleis lor large opens ings, render their use of great beneiit and ulmost uulversal requirement, doing away with ait obstruc- tions of intermediate supports, suca us columns, posts and picrs, Corresponuing to this increase’ demand there has arisen a berplexity in Unis dvepartmeat which L see No possipie means of averting otuer Luan the moda Proposed as hereiafter ment: ned. it 18 @ practice more Cuinmon «han otherwise, I re- gret to say, in the coustrucuon of iron columas,. beams, girders an. tutels, tv ake Liem ol greater thickness at the ends than im the midule, gradually tapering them of, beginning a short distance {rol the ends and continuing \owards the centre, Thi 4s done in order to deceive the inspector and make Lhe article appear strong aud suvsiautial, while it if in reality an insuflicieat support, ‘Che outward aps pearance 1s generally made to comply with the rew uirements Ol the specications aud plans made by the architect, the maker the articie des. ring the beneut of whe metal saved. ‘the oaly way to dis« cover this deception is by drilling through ‘the iro at Various places aud measuriug the thickness of thi various parts, which 13 ouly done at covsiderable expense; besides, tuis drilling tends to unpair thé strength, Beains, lintels and girders are frequeatiy of long Spans in the clear, and sustain great weigiits, usd ally of an entire wali four or tive sturies in height, or several floors, each of large area, 10 be loaded with heavy articles of merchaudisy, or Irequently of both wall and floor suriuces. ‘Pts resders it of ‘the ulmosi Importance that tne use of nune bub proper and substantial beams, giruers or iunteis of @ BUs= tatning strength, ample under all the var.ations our temperature, shoulda be perwitied, aud that the greatest care should be exercised, at tie hands of most Competent persons 1a this the vitai wate of) the building, not only to secure it against ung, but for the prevention of loss of tie. But even under the closest supervigion we cannot rest enurely assured, {or the reason “cautioned be: fore, and also from the fico tuat the maker afforded great facility by the use of puint in cover- ing over a defective beam, lintel, column or giraer.) ‘Thus they may be made of puor metal with the sand-holes aud other tnperiecuions puttied or cemented up with a cement in common use among those engaged iu the manuaccure of tron work for buildings, and which becomes nearly! us hard as iron, Making it almosé Lupossible to be detected, exvept vy Lhe Closest scrutiny and by the vigorous use of @ ham.uer aud Chisel, Another ditt- culty attending the use of beams, untels and girders 1s the introduction of new forms without a previous knowledge of their safe susiaining Weights. Of new, atented forms (invention Cannot be curtatied) wi ave no standard Or uthority on which to base an opmion, While of those inost In geaeral use we have tor the Smaller sizes rules based on actual expert- ments from Which to compute their breaking weights. of these newly invented beams or hutels 1 have to record the failure of two during tne last year, letling down the entire froat of the buildiag; one of these had marked upon it as its sale susiuming weight 180 tons, andit broke with a weight o! but fiity-turee tous, Of the other forin of giruer, such as 1s in {es eral use, two other buildings have tullen, caused by tneir fracture, and in not less than forty different cases I have caused supports to be placed mterme« diate between the clear of the span of the girder, beam or lintel, also in| #& number of other instances have lwondemne the beaws and cal ny inem to be taken oul of toe building and replace: by more substantial ones, in cases where I have required that @ support should be piuced in the centre of the beam it has been an injury to the value of the building, aud the owner in most cases woukl have Willingly borne the expense of a new beam, which would have given him a clear space. ‘nis Would have been done had not the wall been milt upon if, aud it would have required tae shor- ing up or ering down of the wall in order to replace the frau girder, Re 4g a rehedy forthe foregoiug I would recommen® thal every girder, beam or lintel should be tested aweight bya competent person selected by thi department, qualified in his experience as to the strength of materials; that such person should giv & certificate as to its ability to resist the transvet strain coming thereon, obtained by actual test, an that the sale weight when 1n use shall be at the rave of one-fourth the breaking weight. ‘ This law in regard to we testing of fron girdera and beams for buildings 13 1 Jorce in ali wae large) cities of Europe, and its early adopuon 1s of the utmost importance to the building interests and tor the preservation of life im the ciiy of New York, THE BUILDING LAW. The defects existing in a building law for a great city hke our own can ouiy be discovered from ac- tual experience, and therefore, although the exist- ing law has effected much 1u securing for the metro- polis a better class of structures, and atthe same time exerted a strong influence in the prevention of} accidents, still from time to time tue operations of the department have clearly shown tbat Changes should have been made which Were absolutely necessary 1m order wo make the law an instrumeat productive of the greatest good to the greatest number. The de fects, as they have been discovered, [ have en- deavored to point out in my annual reports, and in uhis way to call attention to tue important and ne- cessary changes. Since the act became a law, 1D 1862, some amendments have been added and some of my suggestions adopted. Very many of the pro- posed changes, however, owing to the pressure of other business before the Legislature, or from other causes, have up to the present time been negiected, The accident in Thirty-iifth street, hereiofore referred to, @ tendency to draw pub- hic attention to the subject and to arouse the com- munity to such an extent that a more perfect build- ing law was on all sides demanded. ‘The discussion which ensued in reierence to the sad occurrence noted was productive of goon, for 1: led to a review of the enure subject of vuliding in the city, tue laws regulating tie same, the means to be used to avert a similar calamity i the future, while many practical hints were thrown out caiculated to mae teriaily improve the building law as ip operaticn. Having myself long felt the necessity of the changes’ procemes 1 prepared an aincuded bill and presented. it to the Legislature at the present session, at the: same time urging its passage. Before presenting it, however, it was submitted toa number of practi- cal architects and mechanics for their cousideratiol and the bill as Jramed was endorsed by them. I wil also state that before tue proposed new act was sent to Albany it was also referred tw and received the entire approval Of the Board of Fire Underwriters of this city. This bill, it gives me pleasure to say, has Pasgea boih houses of the Legisiatare, aud now awaits the approval of the Executive to become & law. An extended reierence to tie new provisions. embodied in the bili is unnecessary, tor to the best O1 my apility | have labored to make tt in all Its pro- visions one which should fully meet the requtre- ments not only of the present, but also one adapted vo the future growth and greainess o! our city. ‘That it wil make building more expensive is not @ fact, for it is only upon poorly coustructed struc- tures—‘'shaim bulldings’’—vrected ior speculative Purposes, that any additional expense is entailed. In the erection of good buiidings no Increased ex- penditure is rendered nec.ssary, und the tendeucy of tue Lew law will be to promote generally the buliding interests, whi ater security against acciuent 1s Insured, & system ol direct responsibility being established, In the passage of the bilk through the Legislature, allow me to remark, that LO Capluious Opposition Was m de, as bas been the case in former years, but ali seeming tu recognize the necessity and importance of the measure, gave it their hearty and cordiat co-operation, Should the new law go into tinmediate eifect lam convinced that a manilest improvement Will be ex+ hibited in the workings of luis department, one ch will result In a great good, for the changes used are only those warranted by the experi- ence of the past, and if carried cut either by myself or @ successor can alone benelit the pubiie and reflect credit upon the government of the metro- polis of which you, sir, are at the present ume calef Inagistrate. For the details of the work of my department for the year reference is again made to the various ex- hibits accompanying this report, and for tue opera- Uons of the departmens the Uiree months prior thereto attention is directed ty the addenda an- nexed, All of which is respeetiutly submitted, JA M. MACGREGOR, Superintendent of Buiiaings. ARREST OF A GANG OF COUNTERFEITERS IN CaLy- FORNIA.—For some time past United States Maranal Morris has had information that a gang of counter- Ieiters were operating on this woast, and kept dill- gent watch for them. ‘hey appeared to apprehend danger, for they cautiously avoided spreading their bogus currency, ut least to any noticeabie extent. But the fate certain to overtake men who adopt this calling has at last overtaken them, ‘The gang has been broken up and four of the party arrested at Los Angelos by Cnited States Deputy Marshal Duu- lap. In their possession ne found £1,490 in national currency, Which appears trom a despateh by Marstial Morria io be on the Farmer facturers’ National Kank of Pouvhkcepsie, and the City National Bank of Utica, = There are not many countertett notes on these banks In circulation, but they ave very well executed and lable to escape de- tection unless closely examined, The four men were taken vefore Univwd States Commissioner Lander, of Los Angeles, and our despatches this morning state that the examivation in their case has been continued anul the lwth of June tnatant. ‘Tho plans and operations of these tadividuals have been successfully Dipped in the bad; and from the vigilance manifested by our detective departments OT fad Hele kd any Oiler lilegal character can not prove long-lived or sucyssfai on this coast. san #rancised Alia, June %