The New York herald., 1872-11-16
SALAMANDER EDIFICES.
Can Fireproof Buildings Be
Constructed?
Suggestions for Their Erection-What the
Men Of Science Say.

question that Is now most frequently asked by prop
erty owners and business men. The great mer-
camille stores OF Chicago and Boston. which were
formerly supposed to be invulnerable. crumbled to
the ground when exposed to the test Of danger,
and the public were not more astonished at the
speedy destruction Of the edinces than the archi-
tects who designed them. The only two buildings
in the burnt district oil Chicago of which particle
was left standing were the Post ONCE
and the tribune 0fioe, and even these were 30
badly damaged IS to be rendered almost complete
iy useless. They were built Of iron, constructed
In accordance with the latest ireprOof theories.
and yet they could not Withstand the action of
powerful and prolonged flames. The fire in Boston
originated In f1reproof building. was fed by fire.
proof buildings and only stopped when 1t had
reached the old brick houses Of which Boston is
sustly proud. II is evident that
OUR ARCHITECTS
have not yet hit upon the proper design on which
to model and the proper materials with which to
construct their buildings, ana the question natur
ally suggests ITSELF have they been wandering In
the dark for so many years and il so, can build
be erected in which property will be secure and
life safe
The citizens OF New York may well be proud Of
the numerous tasteful, commodiOus and magnia-
cent ediflces which the enterprise of the past few
years has erected. Our city is rapidly becoming
important in influence science and art, and in
architectural effects is vying with the Olden
centres OF wealth and fashion In Europe. 1t is an
all important question: and one that comes iorciby
home to every resident on Manhattan Island, how
can these buildings be preserved from the destruc-
tion which has overtaken others equally beautiiul
in the sister cities, one of which is just recovering
from her disaster and
Rising FROM HER ASHES,
w n her q
runss The alarming increase or great cen1agra
tions both In this country and in Europe is eXcit
ing the attention OF men of science and they all
agree that the only way to prevent them is to erect
buildings which will render it utterly impossible
for extensive 1res to occur. The schemes which
have been advanced for the erection OF these build
ings are very numerous; but the one which seems
to meet with most favor from the builders is that
brick should be mainly used in the construction Of
walls. Bitter experience has now proved that the
vaunted iron pillars and marble walls, however or
namental, beautiful and apparently indestructlbe,
do not fulfil the anticpatons OF their architects.
and they must be abandoned for something that
will better stand the test.
An experienced builder, speaking of the retail
store Of A. 7. Stewart Co., which Is generally re-
garded az one of the strongest buildings the city,
Stated that in his opinion the store would -
- BURN UP LIKE rINDER
in the event OF fire occurring similar to those of
Chicago and Boston. The reason he adduced was
that the iron tubes which constitute the walls are
too hollow, and when sufficiently heated would
only serve as fire conductors and would eventually
destroy more than they would save. The same
can be said Of numerous other store edi1ces which
and the owners natter themselves they are Sc, se
cure. against conhagration; but let the trial
Of fire come an and this this deusion % will be
OF surprise that so many buildings of q n0n-fre-
proof character should be yearly erected in our
OF materials and q little more money spent there
would be less necessity for insurance offices and
fewer causes for financial panic.
''THE BUILDING OF THE FUTURE:
what In your opinion should IL consist of2 was the
question propounded day or two ago to practical
walls should be of brick; we have no material
which can be properly called freproof but brick !;
put 1t in an oven and 1t won't burn; it will last
longer than stone and iron, and can be constructed
into lrmer wall. In the inside Of the buildings
inches eSe the e Rsf Maa mistake "a made
Boston was the thinness Of their walls. No
law required architects to make them more than
eight inches thick and the consequence was that
the fire. which might have been withstOod had
| they been strong enough, spread with ease They
ALL SOUND SHOULD BE DEADENED,
hat when they aa Ge @oS ~ they
Of fires in which the flames failed to penetrate to
the second foor solely on account Of the deaden-
/ windows with iron shutters, which would, in my
| opinion, be the greatest preventive against fire
ike ' hrc Vs is narrow and w
| spacious stores, in which immense quantities
OF combustibe materials are kept Few, If any,
of these stores are provided with iron shutters
in the event oil a great confagratlon the flames
| would penetrate from window to window and
almost simultaneously. would, OF all things, have
iron shutters erected there, and that right
soon, If we are not to have repetition of Chicago
| and boston. In the last place, In erecting fire.
proof building, would pay particular attention to
the rooi five are TO have a Mansard at ALL OF
which ! question the utility, would construct it
after the French models, OF materials which would
\ not catch tire, and abolish the ornamental wood
work which at the present time constitutes the
Si Wsls or nrcs party walls ''ss Of Saen salcieni
the windows and a nreproof roof, 1t would be
utterly impossible, in my opinion, for an extended
confagration TO occur"
1t would not, OF course, be practicable to meet all
these requirements IN the
ERECTION OF DWELLING HOUSES,
but much could be done in the way OF rendering
them much securcr II tine proper means were used.
In the lower parts Of the city, where are
tine sooSes de aea upon sa
tion is absolutely necessary. to insure the
safety Of BOTH The tenement houses, which are
rooted out OF else constructed upon safer models
before the city can be pronounced safe. As stated
before, II would be impIacticable to make these
structures hreprooi but something could be done
to have better hre-escapes stronger walls and less
1t is evident from the war that is being waged
that the Mansard Is doomed at least In some OF its
forms. Our merchants are seriously alarmed at
the fate oil Boston and Chicago. Another such dis
aster and the insurance companies viii be swamped
and the business interests OF the country severely
impaired. The parties interested arc beginning 70
realize this TACT and they do not sit down In fan
cied security when the present excitement has
passed away a thorough overhauling OF our build
ines may be expected and great calamity rem
dered impossible
Our precautions against fire are also sought TO be
improved by the Fire Department since the calam
lty OF Boston. as may appear on reading the l0loW
ing letter, which was sent yesterday to Conmis-
soner Van Mort by President liitchman =
HEADQU ARTERs FIRE DEPARTMENT.
New YORK, Nov. Is, 1872.
Hon. GEORGE NJ. VAN MORT, Commissioner OF Pub
lie Works:-
DEAR SiR--Have you any maps in the Depart
which the Croton mains pipes are laid, the supply
pipes diverging thercfrOm and the stOp-cecks or
shut-offs connected Herewith
ii so, can this department be furnished with
copy or copies OF such maps with view OF having
them autographed and placed In the various engine