Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-26

The Chicago fire has had the effect of calling
attention 10 some faults in the architecture o.
our cities, aud to discussion of the means
available for checking the spread of a confagra.
ton once started, so that, at the worst, it may
moi sweep over any large section of city. Some
OF the features in the prevalent styles of build
ing are manifest sources of danger. Among
them are the heavy wooden cornices and high
French roofs, SO called, with which most modern
city buildings are surmounted. These combust
bic structures are often so high as TO be beyond
the effective reach of Gre engines, and fully eX.
posed to the force of the wind, and are so GOV.
cred by thin coating of refractory material
slate or metal, as to shed the preservative water
but offer no adequate protection against fierce
fire. The Chicago conaagratiou was not needed
10 prove that these piles Of dry timber OF
the top of otherwise nationally constructed
buildings are excellent means of spreading 9
fire, but by fixing attention upon the general
subject, it may impress this lesson among Others
upon builders. Another lesson is that many, in
fact, almost all buildings popularity called fire.
proof, are by no means actually indestructible
by that agency. The Chicago Tribune building,
the court house and the water works were all
considered fireproof, but they were all DESTROYED
although the two latter were favorably situated
tor escape, as they were surrounded on all sides
by open spaces. They would probably have
been spared if they had not had wooden roofs.
The Tribune building seems to have been the
staunchest of all, hut its large and numerous
windows, unprotected by iron shutters, proved
fatal to it.
On the subject of fire proof buildings, Mr..
Mullett, the government architect, has lately
been expressing some of his opinions in a con-
versation reported by journalist. His opinions
are entitled 10 great respect, for he has had more
experience on this subject than almost any one
and has studied it carefully. He says there is
only one really FIRE proof government building
in the country, the appraisers stores in Phadel.
phia. That is built of brick, the only absolute
~ TIRE proof building material in use Granite
will not stand a fierce heat; the stone cracks
and crumbles under it. Marble will resist fire
itde better, and some kinds of sandstone
better still; but none of them are proof against
me concentrated heat of mass Of
burning buildings close at hand or course
many stone buildings are practically fire
proof, so far as their exterior walls are concern.
cd, because they stand at such a distance from
Others that they cannot be exposed to an intense
heat, even if all the nearest buildings sbouId
burn. But none can claim even that measure
of security unless its windows are protected bv
iron shutters, and TO be an effectual protection
the shutters should be double, separated by the
thickness of the wall, one set on the outside and
one on the inside. Iron in a building may
prove a source of weakness instead of strength.
Iron pillars will give way in fierce heat, and
iron beams, in their great expansion, may
thrust against wall so as TO destroy its stabil-
iiy. The difficulties in the way of making a
building absolutely fire.proof are SO great that
It IS PROBABLY impracticable 10 construct
one that shall be reasonably adapted for ord-
nary business purposes. 1t is possible. how
ever to make them much more secure than IS
now common. The requisites are well undor-
stood; thick, solid walls, with as few onepinoe
as may be, and those projected bv iron shutters
IRON roofs and beams; from the latter are sprrr,r
HAT brick arches, on which the floors are lo;a /,
mortar. Buildings SO constructed with proner
attention to details, though they cannot no ca,i
ed absolutely fire proof, will probably survive
any ordinary confiagration. At any rate ney
will delay its progress instead of adding TO il.
fury.
Another suggestion to which the fire has given
rise, and which seems 10 have some value in il.
is that al intervals through a city barriers
should be provided which a FIRE cannot pass.
The idea is somewhat like the modern one OF
building ship with water-tight buIkheads.
dividing into compartments, any one of which
may be filled with water, aud vet the shin as a
whole preserve its buoyancy. The most effect.
ual barriers would be broad, open. bark like
STRIPS extending through the city. These womb
ee valuable for other reasons, but unless nro.
vision was made for them when the civ was II
~ infancy, they would be too costly. The nex,
best protection would be rows Of buildings AL
sclately o. approximately iire-proof dividing