Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-30
'ihc Ercat Lesson cDeafed.
lCnNCIEDEU

Ia I'M e'f'ni ~ Mr -if:T''HHFtH rH-'tte
We now come to consider this, the most i'm
portant tra:ch Of the sui icc' viz our Remedy,
rr conditions, # Salty, and pri nclpa!. among
ualIy Others which conlltu;c to this, are wide,
c.l.,nniou> STREETS. that are rot - narrow as
i, become overs. hut which will afford ample
room Tor the cxcr,ions Of our citizens and fire
men in batting with the comlnon enemy. A
we'll organized fire Department. thoroughly
equipped di>ci pllned and efficient in all par
tlcularS Is great acquisition ~ any city aud Que
10 which. in times ~ peril, our principal hopes o.
-uccor turn. Ia this connection We should not
forget the great importance OF a full supply OF
water at all times t. meet any emergency that
uay arise There should be water; more water;
.i-nly Of water, wherewith to qucnch the fiery
!! RI ot this great adversary.
Y further mcaus Of general safety We
should have judicous building laws euactcd
aud cnt6rccd regulating the depth and thick
thickness of al! walls relative to their height,
length, and position; laws, also, defining what
materials may be used 10 the different parts Of
q building, aud what may not DC used also de.
in;ng, regulating aud enforcing suitable pro-
.isors in building division and fire walls, so
that more substantial ard less dangerous class
If buildings may be built hereafter, and the
coumunitv projected from persons who would
otherwise build without regard 10 general pro-
lection.
IL t:i-cusziag the conditions Of safety ne are
me. at the very outset with the question. can a
building be made perfectly ire proof We
answer tia, it can be built Of materials which.
Of themselves. will not ignite or burn but as
heat i the universal solvent of course all mat
ter when fully exposed to it, intense effects,
will change their forms. more or less. therefore,
| WHEN viewed in the abstract nothing Is abso-
lutcly proof against fire, hence. the term fire
proof must be taken D qualified sense. But
this view OF the case should 20: discourage or
deter Us from seeking protection especially
"hen We consider this fact, that 1t IS entirely
to the iniama:,!c matter that enters into the
. construction Of houses We owe their destruc-
ton. In seeking for safe building materials We
shall fed that nature and art have supplied Us
win all that are necessary so that we have
on'y 70 select and combine them in accordance
with correct scientific principles, and W. are
comparatively safe.
OF all the materials considered fire proof,
b.ick and all other vitried earths o. clays,
stand pre-cmnently The first. stone second. iron
next AID concrctc last: hence. in the exterors
and interiors OF all buildings claiming to be tire
proof. some one or more Of the above named
materials should be used exclusively.
"" will now briefly attempt to describe a
fire proof house The foundations should have
broad. irtn t,o;inss. and its walls Solllly built
Of sound hard burned brick. laid in good hy-
draulic cemcOt mortar, for at least eighteen
inches above the surface Of the ground; the ex
terror and interior walls 70 be Well tied aud
strongly bonded together aud Of ample linen.
-ions TO .u-tain their loads, and subServe the
| purpose for which they are used. The outer
| face Of all exterior walls should be built Of
souDd red brick well burned and solIdiy laid
in mortar made Of fresh burned lime aud sharp
sand free Of loan. and thoroughly mixed. The
terialS yet should be firmly built All the ar
chitcctura! features. decorations and ornaments
used upon. and in buildings. should be con-
posed Of the above fire proof materials, made
and secured in accordance with sound cOnstruc-
tive principles.
The floor things are usually laid in cement
| concrete over scgmental, vault, or grolned
arches. As the case may require. This is the
| old manner OF constructing floors, but as this
| class OF arches require SO much material and
occupy 50 much space, they have been gener-
| ally superseded by iron glrders laid 10 series
| with light fat arches of brick between them.
| The whole is then grouted over and leveed up
TO receive the floors, which sometimes are wood,
but should be tile or Concrete.
The roof should be constructed entirely of
iron aud slate, or if 50 fat that slate cannot be
used, iron. properly prepared should be sub
stiiured. The principals, or ratterS, should be
well truS>ed and braccd with ties, stays, and
tension rods, and the roof covered or stripped
with iron Stats or lathS, 10 receive the slate,
which should be Of extra thickness, and sccur-
ed By galvanized iron Or copper hooks. The
states should be beilei or pointed on the under
side with strong hair mortar
S,arways should be Of iron though stone is
sometimes used in large public buildings, but
owing to its great wei ght aud cost, it will not
be much used in private structures for this pur-
pose. Iron is susceptible Of being wrought into
| any form or figure. combining Herewith the
greatest strength. Ii readily enters Into and
STRENGTHENS other materials, for which reasons
it is the best for S;alCwayS as we'll for It's orna.
mentaton or utility
Doors and windows are the great points Of
danger and weakness of every house They are
almost exc:u>ircy made Of wood, but there is
no reason. other than cost, Why they should
not be made Of metal, especially the doors.
There is weakness unavoidable in windows BY
reason Of the ragility Of glass, which meIts aud
iissoly"S at comparatively low temperature Of
heat, therefore to secure the greatest safety.
they should be protected by metal shutters,
either within or without or both. We have
nov described ire proof house as concsely as
possible. There is nothing combustibie IN its
composition, hence there is nothing to burn,
yet it may suffer some damage BY the intense
heat of burning houses near it. or by the burn
ing If its own contents. but in either case it will
be to a limited extent. Now should there be
community Of such houses the mutual protec.
ton arising from this fact will be so great that
they canuo, be damaged except By the ignition
Of their contents, which would be easily con-
trocd aud stopped in the room where it origi-
mated, without further damage.
With these materials aud constructed in
proper manner. the Mausarl, that grand con-
cepton' as some have called it. will be shorn
OF its danger, aud become as it was originally
designed. thing OF utility and ornament.