The New York herald., 1872-11-23
Brick and Iron Against Flame, Fury
and Fiery Ferocity.
An Architectural Opinion on the Destruc-
tibility Of Cur Noblest Structures.
Boston Theories Bursted to Pieces
by Scientific Facts.


tions-which every man puts to his friend or ac-
quaintancc, ''will we be burned out OF house and
hOmeT and "Arc we to be murdered in the streets
without redress justice2"
The frat question is the most pertinent one
"sHALL WE BURNED
cut of house and home ?" The suggestion that fol-
lows the last question is Are the stores, business
places tenements and dwellings OF the city safe from
nre or are they TO be burned up when the fire
strikes them like shavings or kerosenef"
GREAT MANY THOUSAND
persons arc heightened about the great number OF
6res that happen from day to day. Chicago, Bos-
tOD, Brooklyn, Jersey City--where shall the next
Gre burn millions OF property and endanger lives
OF men and women To furnish some nforma-
tion to
CITIZENS OF THE METROPOLIS
on these questions, HERALD reporter called yes
terday afternoon at the ONCE Of Mr. Arthur Gilman,
one OF the most celebrated architects in New York.
An architect ls generally the best judge Of con-
structon OF buildings, and his opinion may be
taken safely by business men and owners Of prop
erty. Mr.. Gilman
HAS A REMARKABLE KNOWLEDGE OF BOSTON,
and in particular he is conversant with that Sec
sion OF the city which has been destroyed by fire.
The Office Of Mr.. Gilman Is at Ill Broadway,
THE TRINITY BUILDING.
From the windows he has at dusk a splendid
view OF the Gothic phantom OF Trinity church anu
ITS ADJOINING GRAVEYARD.
His Office is in the fourth story, and he is sur
rounded by half dozen intelligent, good-looking
and industrious clerks. There are maps, charts
and plans, drawings OF churches and villas, hung
in eegant confusion all over the walls.
10 this oflce on the fourth story, Obedient to the
communication Of the policeman who stood in the
hall,
WITH A CANE IN HIS HAND,
the HERALD reporter assembled.
Mr.. Gilman Is gentleman handsome in figure
anu lace. lie lS brunette. with black n
straight and solid form.
TIE HERALD reporter stated
HIS OBJECT BRIEFLY,
mar SnG wtn e nI courtesy Of the Gc regime Mr.
~ would Ike to ask you Mr.. Gilman, few ques-
Ol the buildings In this city. Our people daily
send hundreds OF communications to the HERALD
oiiee about this alLabsorbng question, and we
Judge, as you must be, on the
CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES,
AZ wen as The subsequent results that may or may
not TOW from that terrible dsasterf"
MIR. GILMAN Sitting back in his chair and smok-
Matanzas)-Some of the newspapers of this city
have been led into grave error about the character
IN THE BURNED DISTRICT OF BOSTON.
An evening paper that will not mention, in
with the heading, "a Whole Fireproof District De-
etrOyed.n
REroRrER-Can You give us the name OF that
evening paper Mr. Gilman
Mr.. GiLmAN-I had rather not do it, Mr.. Reporter
II was very grave error and was calculated very
TO MIsLEAD THE PUBLIC
REPoRIER-i suppose You know Boston well, Mr..
Mr.. GILMAN taking whGl-I am well acquainted
with the whole OF the burned distric; and have
practised in Boston an architec, for twenty-five
years, and know the nature OF most OF the build
ings DESTROYED pretty thoroughly. There is not a
AS MUCH FlRErRooF AS THE NEW
Building corner 81 Ann ANN ana I'd. Nassau nar streets
or any one which had q claim to be so
Sonsaered der, N with the exception only Of the
supervision OF Mr. Muett. the principal United
states government architect, with iron beams and
THE EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE OFFICE,
The new banking building OF Messrs. Drexel 4 Co.,
progress the site OF the old HERALD Office in
Nassau street, at the corner Fulton street. There
REPoRrER-There is, then, Some difference be-
tween The socailed hreproof buildings Of Boston
Mr.. GILMAN-The character OF the district
burned in Boston resemblcd very strongly the
an TINS city, having stone fronts but with wooden
noors throughout, and with light wooden roofs,
MANsARDs, COVERED ONLY WITH SLATE
on the exterior surface, and OF course falling
Tne Boston sn Post ION Office appears from vn ali pabshed
accounts TO have completely withstood the force OF
the names, although nlled with
INFLAMMADLE sCAFFoLDIGG
in the interior. The force OF the flames
were checked in that direction toward state
street almost completely. II the buildings
which | have enumerated had stood in a
line with the Post ONCE think that the fire
would have stopped from lack OF combustibles
which to feed. At all events it evident that were
whole neighborhood composed of such buildings
IL would be quite impossible that a "Boston fire.,
could originate among them. 1t would be totally
Impossible that fire should start in a neighbor-
hood composed OF the kind OF buildings that have
mentioned.
ON the other hand they would be likely secure
barrier
AGAINST THE SWEET OF FIRE
which might destroy more combustibe material.
REroRTER-Then have you no hope Tor our city
IN case OF a great fire
Mr. GiLMAN-Let me explain. 1t is true that no
building can be considered Grcproof unless there
IL nothing in its construction that will burn and
unless there is nothing stored in il that will burn.
Now the Boston fire commenced in building not
only
BUILT AND FRAMED AND RoorED
with wood, but also stored TO repletion with arti-
a sSs The frames false
OF GENERAL HABEBDAsHEEY.
No more inflammabe description OF kindlings
could be desired. There were plenty OF
other stores IN me neigh6orhood OF the
Duncated and thus rapidly got up a very cxtan-
ave connagration
that could have been erected would have, under
fuch circumstances, been
PRETTY WELL GuTTFD OFT.
II would be next TO impossible to such
stock after the fire had once got headway III that
BEEN Sag e 1r has ing
kansard roofs been constructed with Cornelfs
patent corrugated non and plaster covering, as
tie new Building in Nassau street viii shortly
be, then there is every eason to suppose that the
result would have been different.
REPoRTER-Mr Gilman, what conclusions do you
draw from the premises you have advanced
Mr.. GILMAK--The Boston fire, so far
PROM FURNISHING ANY ARGUMENT
against Hreproof buildings, is in reality the
strongest and clearest testimony in their favor
might cite the Boston Post ONCE as an instance
TO support my theory.
REPORrER-Y0u know, OF course, Mr.. Gilman,
that citizens necElv luterngtpd this
matter OF freproof or destruetiblc buildings. The
man who suggest solution OF
THIS GRAVE ARCHITECTURAL PROBLEM
will be regarded as pre-emiDcDy the savior OF
property. We would ike TO know II there are
mahy 6rcproof buildings In New York, or II there
are many 10 be erectcdY
Mr.. GILMAN--I can name