New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-10-26
FIRE-PROOF BUILDINGS.
AN INTERVIEW WITH SUPERVISING ARCHITECT
MULLETT

AN INTERVIEW WITH OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MULLETT.
The Washington correspondent Of The Gin.
cnnaa Commercial has recently had conversation with
Mr. MuIlet Supervising Of the Treasury Depart
meut on the subject OF proof buildings. In
TO a remark made by the correspondent, he said:
"why, my fr1end you don't know what you're TALKING
about Yoa now know that there vas s nov nreProo
aWby n. Tribune ONCE was regarded reproof and
other marble and granite buildings were 40 regarded.
believe they only lacked iron shutters lVentnred 70
from fddlesticks" he answered msPrishly "Ihopt
you don't think that granite marble building is IRE
Don't Rs' ae wnon Ss
building stone in the world; Il win resist time and damp
sn% "a and not but but It 3
Bile will not burn up as soon az granite; Sen1
stone about the SoSa besssd IDIOTS
that vault Is built OF granite 1t IA nre ana Dureia
proof Nothing Of the sort wanted 60 maES
can get into a granite vault in no time with large
and small sharp % Sa news %s bsfo know
It, When subjected severe heat 1t cracks ana sp1S
S e ak o. G mo- STan Sa building is not
"Well, what sort Of building Is nreprooi
noticing the question will stand heat great WHILE 60
will marble great while But wooden cmpoiai h al
@ 1be Iira,o Court House man must he fool to
do q thing like that I'D also like to know nov sen
as to think he chicago Tribune office was nreproo,
when more than half the windows did not
crash through glass and SASH People ought TO under
stand these things when building what they call re-
proof buildings; for reprOof building that Is MT fire.
proof is no better than that Is MT Do you under
standi Now can't always do as want 10 ID tne
iron shutters Off sometimes have to put wood In
places where stOne iron ought to be- ont II Is NJ De
those things They think that II building is made OF
granite marble; that g ali that s necessary iron
shutters and all such things cost something make my
estimates for public building but they are always cut
down have to cut down my plans Now In TINS Chi-
proprietors Of The Tribune will have iron blinds on
their upper windows In their next building; D.. l.,
What difference will it make" asked, II granite Is
not hreprOOfl Z"
Granite ia mt dre.proof" he continued, bnt, as
said before it will stand good deal Icis probable that
the CourtHouse would have stood had it not been for
the wooden cupoa and the open WINDOWS lhe Ir7Gume
tiers outside and inside all the windows It's by
no certain If the fire ragged with the Intensity that
"What then Is to be DONE" asked, al granite, and
marble, and sandstone not freproofi Is not the
Capitol the Treasury the Patent office, the POst-Ofce
"Why, bless your soul no Not of them But they
away from other buildings ept the Post6fee II
cago should fear for the POstohice building Why my
dear sir" he continued in limo more t SnnPpisis
t S@t one ,'4 rePr y} government 6uGng in the
couutryi That's the Appraisers stores IN plliadei
lutey fire proof building material know Of They say
the Seneca stone reprOo and 1t has stood some won
ugrful but the government DululnRS nave
been built OF it. or course granite and marble good
enough, buildings are apart frou others THAT'S me
grounds around them Then there would be no Danger
But have great faith In iron shutters"
"DO you know Muett, how much the Government
will lOsei"
mo, 10 not, but it wont lose so very much was
talking with Secretary Boutwell, about 10 yesterday
There was good deal gold there, but the Secretary
expects get all OF that, whether It's melted or not AS
for the greenbacks they may not be preserved In
the Safes OF the Government will lose nothing
il tun OF them burned So Also with the postage
As for the caSl lOsL Dy tuo dON-
eminent, 1t will amount to very little"
" How about the rebuilding VI the Government Dulu-
ings IN ChicagoT ~, -
"Oh, we can do nothing toward rebuilding until Con-
press makes the appropriations We are powerless L
have no doubt that Congress will be liberal toward the
fallen city, but it will probably be far into the winter
before any action will I've taken Until the new buildings
are up Government will have to rent such apart
nents procure. New safes have been or Will be
sent the Government officers and they Will nave
to do pretty much the people generally thcrerough
it Tor time L ordered several safes from Cincinnati
largest size aud the best that could be
got"