Show I t a r 1 The Washington Disaster 9 t. t HERE should be a rigid investigation i of the ther r circumstances which led to the Knickerbocker I theatre theatre catastrophe in Washington D. D C. C More t. t than one hundred lives were snuffed out without V warning arning when the roof of the structure fell un un- under f der der r the heavy weight of a new snow That however how- how ever ev r does not offer an explanation for forit it would seem 1 seem that normal land and substantial construction 1 would have withstood the strain of the snow r l Inquiry should be directed with the view of Ad determining I g wh whether ther the accident may be attributed at- at to deliberate intention to escape the ex- ex excessive ex ex- e costs of construction which prevailed l when v en the b building was created Duri During the past t- t tt t few w years interests launching new new construction paid a heavy premium to economic conditions of of r f he day r There can be no denying the fact that y Tn in some instances the qu quality lity of the building has been een sacrificed in the endeavor to cut down the Jo costs J V The Tile majority of American cities however t f provide i ide adequate te building inspection laws toi to f prevent resort to the practice where public or t- t semipublic buildings are being built The Distract District Dis- Dis 1 tract of Columbia has these safeguards and if the t r fc Inspectors were fully alive to their responsibilities x if would i would seem a difficult matter for contractors i Ifo fo deliberately short their work And yet faulty Construction i fon seems to tobe be the only logical exI ex- ex ylI fp I i nation for the Washington disaster but only a thorough investigation can can determine the fact f 1 The investigation should hould be made not only E f. f with the view of determining g responsibility forthe for the accident but also to to show how the country at large farge the importance of careful inspection for building construction Wherever public buildings buildings build build- i ings gs have been erected since the outbreak J of the war and the attending difficulties in hi construction t city officials should check previous inspections in inthe i t the e hope of uncovering g any altY defects which hick ma mahave may h have ve been overlooked in the original inspection Contractors everywhere should give heed to the dangers of construction which sacrifices strength and durability for slight savings a aM aw in the costs w M |