Ellsworth American., 1871-11-09
What Buildings are Flre-Proof?
OPINIONS OF GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT
MUJLET.

OPINIONS OF GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT
MUJLEr.
The Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial has ''interview-
ed Mr.. Mullet, the Government archi-
tect, on the subject of fire proof build
ings, and here are his, opinions:
Mr.. Mullet says there are very few
tire-proot buildings III the United States.
He ought 10 know, for he has had all the
government buildings in the country on
his hands for several wears aud has built
the best OF them, and il is probable he
has devoted a. much time, study and iu-
veStigatiou to the subject as any architect
to be found.
Why, my friend, said he, don't, YOU
know that granite. when subjected to "A
strong heat crumblcs like drv plaster.
1t il the best building stone in the world:
it will resist time and heat, and damp,
and rain, aud everything else but won't
resist fire. Marble is not much better,
but i ,oi:c marble will not burn up Il.
soon a granite. Sandstone is about the
same, with some few exceptional varie-
ties.
Now, good many blessed idiots
think that il IA vault is built OF granite it
Is tirc and burglar proof. Nothing of the
sort. If wanted to make a secure vault.
| shouldn't make it of granite. A skill
fnl burglar can get into granite vault
in no time
How
Why, with a blow-pipe With
large blow-pipe and a small. sharp blaze
we'll handled, q burglar can crack block
OF granite to pieces before You'd know
it. When subjected to Il severe heat it
cracks and splits oil in flakes, and YOU
can crush it into sand with yo fingers
On. no, Il granite building i not fire
proof.
We'll what sort of building is fire
proof =
A granite building he ans wcred,
without noticing the question. will
stand heat great while, 80 will marble
a great while. But wooden cupola. or
-tcrplc, o. tower must not be put on top
ut il, like that on the Chicago Court
House
Granite isn't fire proof, he con-
tiuued. but 4, said before, it viii stand
good deal. 1t i probable that the Court
itpusc would have stood hal it not been
fer the wooden cupola and the open win
dows. The Tj1baae office would prob
ably have stood il it had had iron shut
tcrs outside and inside on all the win
dpw~. Net it is by no means certain, if
the trc ragged with the intensity that is
de>rribcd''
What, then, is to be done | asked,
il granite, and marble, and sandstone
are not fire proof: |, not the Capitol.
the Treasury, the Patent Office, the Post
Office Dcpartmcnt-are not these fire
proof:
Why, bless Your soul, no! Not one OF
them. But they are probably safe, for
all that. because they stand away from
other bulldlng--all except the Post OF
flee. II we should have such fire in
Washington "a that in Chicago | should
fear tor the Post Office building. Why,
my dear sir, he continued in a mo!e
snappi,h tone than ever, do YOU know
there Is but one tirc-proof government
building in the country? That's the
Appraisers store in Philadelphia.
Is it possible: And that is the only
on.!
cts the only one know Of
w hat the material?
Why he answered ''it's brick Brick
Is the only absolute fire c-proof building
material | know of. They say the Seneca
stone is tirc-prooi, and il has stood some
wonderful tests, but none of the Gov
efnment buildings have been built f it.
OF course, granite and marble are good
enough, if buildings are apart from
others. That's the trouble. Govern
ment buildings ought to have big grounds
around them. Then there would be no
danger. But have great faith in iron
shutters
OLD But GooD.-A skeptical Young
collegian confronted,an old Quaker with
the statement that he did not believe in
the Bible. Said the Quaker, Does thee
believe in France!' Yes, though |
have never seen it, have seen others
VINO have; besides, there is plenty of
proof that sucn country does exist
Then thee will not believe anything
Ihee or others have not seen" No; TO
DC sure won't Did thee ever see thv
DrainsE Mo- Ever see any body that
lid! No Does thee believe thee
mas any?