Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-22
The Great Lesson Rcpeatcd-EO. 3.

ject in detail.
1t is of the first Importance i'll discussing this
question. to enquire into the CAUSES which lead
to this great and universal liability to fire. and
among the first that dcmaud our attention is
the great error originally committed in the lay
ing off and plotting Of our cities, in very many
of which the streets are So narrow that the
radiation of heat from fires invariably lgnltes
the buildings Oh the opposite side, and Ordinary
fires which could, in themselves, be easily con-
trolled, have, from this cause, hec0lne the trult-
full means of general cont1agrations. Especially
is this the case when there happens to be Il SUI
ticcnt current OF air or wind ut this Juncturc,
and this is sure to be the case with large fires IN
confined localities.
ID In conjunction with narrow streets, high
and lofty buildings afford the most favorable
conditions for large fires, the reasons for which
arc very apparent; the air becoming highly
heated like IN oven raliatcS its heat iii every d-
rrc,ion: strong currents of fresh air rushing
through the narrow streets, bring fresh supplies
of oxygen to iced the tlImcS, am! the colSc-
uucucc is, thar Il regular blast furnace Is set 10
operation, which mclts all before it, aud when
once in full force, under these conditions Moth
ing can withstand its attack. Wood Is Consumed,
brick expands and cracks, stone crumblcS, iron
mclts or warps, and the atmosphere Itself has
become so hot that those who are cndcavorlng
to stay the destructive element, cannot APP
proach sufficiently near to make available their
engines and appliances;
I'd. 1t is almost needless to mention ~ THIS
communication what would be the effect On
those buildings which are composed principally
of wood. Experience, that universal teacher,
has taught Us all, that in this class OF bulldogs
We are simply adding tuH 10 the flames, ADD
hence in all ci;cs aud iowns there should be
inhryib!r laws against their Introduction.
4th Brick and stone houses. with WOOD ~.
nalneutation, such Is cornIccS: nurchcS: door
and window trimmings, Nr. Oh the cu;sdc.;'tc
liable to the rlvagcS of TINS terrible destroyer:
those who build III this malncr are only partial
" protected: there are many v"i'.cral'le
points exposed, that the ticn,i sclz..s upon theuI
with greedy avdity the first opportunity that
is presented, and then commences to eat I:ls
way to the interior, and when once he has gam
ed IA Judgment within, it Is next to All inp"S-
sihii.y to drive him thence until !c has finish
ed his work Of destruction.
9TH. There arc no greater causes "i liability
TO fire than the 1lausard root Us constructed in
this country In IT'S erection it requires fully from
fifty to one hundred per ct. more OF material
|
which is torclbly apparent tn any who view t>
form aud arrangement during construction.
They are also painfully struck with The fact thar
cumbustible material could not be placed more
advantageous, oil arranged on better or more
scientific principles TO invite it, destruction by
fire than this form OF roof presents. Its sides
being neary vertical and but slightly inclined,
offers the most favorable form TO receive the
full force Of the rays Of hea, which may strike
its surface on the outside from burning houses
contiguous to i; and soon its ,laty covering sue
cumbs to the tiercrnesS of the heat, splitting
into fragments and failing off, leaves the
sheathing and raitcr> exposed to the full force
Of the flames, which, from their high posi-
ton, and quantity Of cumoustbe matter, the
strong currents of heated air carry the burning
fire brands far aud near threatening destruc-
ton to all within it, reach. 1t has honestly
earned its name of fire trap and finder box. for
it has done all that it has been charged with
and during the brict period Of its existence IN
this country. it has been the prolific cause OF
more destruction than any other destructive
evil
9th. Iron, stone, or brick houses, with wood
en- iosts, floors partitions, and stairways al
though not so liable TO fire from without, yet
if FIRE is communicated within. they yield just
as readily to the destructive element as do
Others
In dealing with this subject we should not
forget the fact that it is to the combuStbIlty OF
material used in the construction Of buildings
which causes their liability to fire; hence if non
combustible material were used or were there
different material used in building, so placed
arranged and combined, that the conditions of
combustion would be wanting then the danger
from fire would be obviated, or at least placed
at minimum.
Before leaving this division of the subject |
would like to advert to the dangerous manner
as at present pursued in the general construc::
ton OF houses. The joists are usually placed
about I6 inches between centres, which when
the floors are laid, and the ceilings plaster
cd, there is an air duct or hue about Is or If
inches between every jost, affnrlirg the most
favorable condition for ignition and cOmbu>-
ton. These air spaces act as so many tlues and
channels to convey the fire throughout their
entire range.
The same may be said 10 regard to studded
partitions They nccessaraly, from the manner
of their construction, form one OF the means OF
conveying the destructive element from Que
story TO the other, the intcrStices between the
studding acting as so many feeders to the
flames.
Stairways also, as at present built, are open
to the same objection and criticism, leading as
they do from the lowest to the highest parts OF
house, and being built OF ignlous material,
they present many points of weakness and vul
nerabity to the enemy, which he is not slow
to seize upon and mount with horrid strides
and 6cndish wrath to the accomplishment Of
the work of destruction.
The roof is another grand point Of attack. as
we'll from without as Within but being the
highest part Of building its liability to fire is
mostly occa stoned by the Judgment of fire fakes,
as on fat roofs, or from the strong radiation of
heat on its surface trom near burning build
ings if the roof is steep. Thus each style Of
roofs have their peculiar danger from the lodg-
mcnt of fire brands, as in the first Case or from
the absorption Of heat in the latter. The last
mentioned danger is always in proportion to
the pitch, as the more steep roof is the more
direct will be the action Of heat on It's surface.
It'll And now let us look at the effect of in
tense heat on material having the reputation
of being fire proof. We have a great advaut.