The New York herald., 1872-11-15
SCIENCE VS.. FIRE.
Something About New Theories
Of Extinguishment of
Confagration.
THE "BLOWING-UP" BOARD.
What Is Thought of the
Proposition.
OPINIONS FOR AND AGAINST 1T.
Is the Theory a Sound
One =
What the Practice Amounted to
in Chicago and Boston.
THE SALT WATER PROJECT.
General Shaler'S Views Of a New SyS-
TEN and Its Feasibility.
Fearful 1nadequacy Of Our Present
Water Supply.
General Shaler'S Views Of a New SyS-
TEN and Its Feasibility.
Fearful Inadequacy Of Our Present
Water Supply.
THE DANGERS THAT MENACE US
Condition of the Fire De-
Dartmcnt.
Opinions Of Commissioners Shaler and Hitch-
man, A. A. Low and Others.

man, A. A. Low and Others.
few days since resolutions were adopted by the
Chamber OF Commerce OF this city looking to the
organization OF board OF engineers, as auxiliary
to the Fire Department, to be invested with
authority in times OF imminent danger from con-
nagration to take possession Of and blow up with
powder or other explosives such buildings as they
may deem necessary to prevent the spread Of the
dre. suggestion was also made by member for
q system OF supplying salt water in great and
abundant quantity for the exclusive use OF the
Fire Department In extinguishing fires
In order to learn the views OF gentlemen whose
experience in the science and practice Of lighting
the fre-fend should give their opinions on this
matter weight with the public, a HERALD reporter
called on Wednesday afternoon at the headquar-
ters OF the Metropolitan Fire Department to con-
verse with the Fire Commissioners on the subject.
The Board was In secret session at the time, and
1t was upward OF two hours before the reporter
could obtain an audience Of any OF the members.
At the end OF that time two members OF the Com
mission, General Alexander Shaler, who has re-
GENTLY returned from Boston, and Commissioner
Hitchman, being at leisure for q short time, cx-
pressed their views quite freely on the state OF
The department, the means Of prevention or con-
1agration and
THE ENTIRE DOMAIN OF fTRR.
General Shaler, in reply to question as to what
DE thought Of the proposal for 'Blowingupr
Board Of Engineers, said d:-T do not feel justified
at present in expressing my views in very decided
form on the subject but from the information
have obtained on the subject am prepossessed in
favor OF TIE system OF fblowing-up, or rather blow
ing down buildings, to prevent the spread OF fire.
10 state the subject more fully-my attention was
specially called to the blowingup Of buildings dur
ing the Chicago fire, and learning that o similar
expedient was either resortcd to or about being
applied the other day at Boston, / thought I
would go on to examine into the operations. I
consulted with Chief Engineer Damrelb Of Boston,
on the matter and he explained to me fully whist
had been done. He told me that as soon as 1t was
suggested that buildings should be blown up to
check the progress OF the nre he called the Board
OF Engineers about him, and the result Of their
consultation was that eight out OF the twelve
members expressed themselves a. very decideAly
opposed to the proposition. He found, however,
that the public destre and clamor for the applca-
tion OF some such extraordinary remedy was 90
very strong that he finally decided to ty
It. number OF buildings were accordtnRiy
destroyed; but Mr.. Damrell assured me that there
Was not particle OF good done by the operation,
ioe the fire burned over the debris very rapidly
after the explosion. Indeed, he gave it as his
opinion that the blowing up Of buildings under
such circumstances is quite mistake for the rea.
son that falling sparks from the fire are much more
likely to ignite the crushed and fallen mass OF
tamper and woodwork after tho explosion than
would be the case II the building were LEFT intact
TAen again, leaving ont the danger OF falling
sparks, II the hre burns up to the ruins OF the
destroyed buildings, 1t win run over the mass q
Anl1o
Dc the ouiidlng were standing with its walls in
tact and its timbers to certain extent covered.
Az soon as it was suggested to blow up these build
ings In Boston the authorities communicated VITA
General Sheridan on the subject a. to the method
to be resorted to- as 1t was understood that he had
blown up number Of buildings at Chicago during
the great Ore last Fall. The General replied that
he had nothing to do with the blowing mp Of these
buildings. that 1t was done bypersons not In su-
thority and on their own account and that 30 lar
~ he knew 1t had not contributed In any degree
toward staying or limiting the progress or extent
OF the nrc."
aThen, General you do not think that Blowing
up is the best method Of checking nre," interpo-
lated the reporter.
"wen, to tell the truth, I should be slow to
express myself In that form, though will say that
In the light OF my present information on the sub
fact s that the matter Is inst now being examined
into critically and carefully, and as 1t il one Of
these things that occasionally force themselves
upon the public attention IL will bear good deal
OF careful Investigation before any definite conclu
sion can be reachcd.n
"But, General, was this work done by the Fire
Department In Boston or by tr00psY
sIt was done by the Fire Department. or course
II might actually make great deal OF difference II
the
BUILDINGS WERE BLOWN UP
IN scientific manner There are many cCnsdera-
tions involved IN that question, in knowing how
and where and in what quantity to place the
charge OF powder. IL would. OF course, require
Judgment OF an expert order to tell whether GER
tam KIND OF building could be best destroyed with
certain quantity OF powder placed in q given po-
sition, and to regulate the charge so that as little
damage as possible would be done outside Of the
hArm sought to be efYected.N
do you think II W ould be advisable to establish
bureau or board Of engineers in connection with
the Fire department, whose duty IL should be to
blow mp buildings when 1t might be found advi-
sable p" B.
II cannot say that do. do not see any peces-
sity OF establishing such board. Its maintenance
would be matter OF considerable expense and the
board would not be called upon for the exercise OF
ts peculiar function once in ten years. Indeed, IL
voahA rover - caaled upon except 70 avert great