The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-05-15

ing article on this subject to the National In
el1igencer:
The frequency and destructiveness Of fires
in this country demand an investigation Of the /
4 causes and fthe means of prevention. In the
London Quarterly Review, January 8, 1855, |
will be found very instructivg and authorIta-
live review Of tie annual reports Of Mr.. Brain
wood, who, in 1888, organised the famous
fire brigade, and was for many years its chief. I
He also wrote another work g Fire proof
Buldngs,' and 10 that I am indebted for
most Of the facts opinions and suggestions of
this article. One of the most common causes
of fires, especially in public buildings, is the
ignition of woodwork from the vicinity Of hues
and stoyeppes. MIR. B. states that wood con
tnuously exposed to very moderate heat,
such as that Of steam and hot-water pipes,
will in a>space of time, varying from eight to
ten years, become so nfammabe that it will
take fire at a temperature very little over that
of boiling water The wood undergoes slow
process Of dessicaton and charring. and only
awaits the admission of air which it gets by
shrinking and cracbing) to burst out into
flame Three instances of fires from this
cause have occurred in the block where the
writer lives-two of them he predicted, aud
the third was caused by cooking-range sit
ting on a brick pavement laid on closely
ioiscd wooden floor. At the time the fire
broke out, there was very little fuel in the
range, but it had been hatcHing for months,
perhaps years
Now for the means Of prevention. 1t is a
great mistake 10 think that interposing brick
between the wood work and the source of
heat is sufficient or safe. Brick is slow but
very sure conductor Of heat and wonderful
lY retentiye.. From fire that occurred in
London from hot-water pipes, it was discov-
cred that where the pipes were separated by
their own diameter from the woodwork, no
charring of the latter was caused. Air is the
best non-conductor known, and fues and
pipes should be surrounded by an open space,
while the wood should be sheathed with
bright tin. If these hints are acted on, our
public buildings, churches, theatres, and no.
tells will be much safer.
Another obscure cause of fire is spontane-
Gus combustion, which is apt to occur from
oiled sawdust, waste cotton, and bitumnous
coal, put away too fine and wet. Luclfer
matches ought never to be permitted to lie
about and the WaXen ones should not be used
at all, as rats and mice will take them into
their retreats, and by the friction Of their teeth
may ignite them. Many other causes Of fire
are enumerated, such as curtains and candles
or gas in dangerous nearness, reading IN bed,
hunting bugs" clothes horse upset by
monkey, jackdaw playing with matches, rat
gnawing gas pipe, &c, &c
A common, almost universal cause Of the
rapid destruction Of our houses, and the diff
Guilty of arresting the burning, IS the hollow
wooden floors and hollow wooden partitions
found in almost all our wooden structures
When fire breaks out in room the heat very
soon brings the plaster down, the pine floor
and ioists are soon burnt through, and thus
creates a tremendous draught, while the par
tjtions act as chimneys to convey the ire tt
the upper stUrvo the roof itself. 10 lesser
in great degree Isis evil is not difficult, and
should think, not very expensive. The cit!
of Paris is remarkably exempt from destruc
tive conhagrations, and, [ am told, the appa
ratus of extingushment "a garden SOUR
and barrel of water excites the mlrth Q
an American. Now for the reason OF TIL
hapDv exemption from fires and fire compa
MES I'm Paris says Mr.. William Hoskn
(who writes book on the subject,) "lnstea
of using hmsy laths for their Partitions, the
use stout oaken pieces OF wood, as thick a
garden palings These they nail firmly Q
each side of the framing of the partition, Il
the space between with rubble and plaster
naris- and thickly coat the whole OF the wa
with the latter. The floors are managed l
the same manner, as we'll as the under side
the stairs, which are thus rendered almost Z
freproof as a stone flight" do not dout
that the same results may be obtained IN tn
country with cheaper materials. BFlckoaI
cemented with mud, will supersede the pastt
Of Paris. and many Of out native non-resino'
woods, which are only good because inc
won't burn, will answer for the oaken latl
which we buy by the cord to burn. WIS
some of our practical men would set an exam
nile in this matter and | am certain the cor
munitv will save in insurance the lrreparao
loss Of our household gods, and IN anxiety
mind far more than the additional cost
huildinr Too much confidence must not
ronosed in iron and stone as building mate
ais Mr.. Fairbacon, the very eminent I'm
lish engineer, states that cast-iron, nc a te'
noratuTe of 600 degrees, which is less til
three fines the heat Of boiling water, rapid
doses its cohesion with every increment OF ne,
readily Yields to any superlncumoent "els,
and by It's expansion thrusts out the wal
This fact makes it the more necessary 10 pl
trct the interior, where the fire must begin.
Another very important means OF pTeFe'
inc the extension of fires IS prescribed oy Il
in England. No warehouse shall exceed 20
900 cubic feet in contents, and every moi
must be separated from the adjoining one
a party wall rising five feet above the re
How many terrible disasters and enoFm[
losses in this country would have oeeh aver 1g
BY such law? Look at the Li?ds ELL Ho
find from the same source OF lnioi'i,"'
that our means of rescuing persons, IRON . gu
ing buildings might be improved, n of :,
each ladder there is trough made OF s.
sail cloth, and protected on the outer sac l;,1
copper wire net, down which women ch i
and feeble persons are rapidly and safely :,
The London fire brigade IS not e1emPs !, =
false alarms, and the writer states that nan q
force were employed in November -
from IL P. NJ. to 4. n. IN running al'el
aurora borealis. AS | said before, am
practical man, butt hope these stolen
oestions will elicit discussion ana action