The New York herald., 1872-11-17
TIE "BLOWMG-UP' PROPOSITION.
What an Officer Of the United States
Engineers Thinks Of 1t.
METHODS OF DETGNATVE DEMOLITION.
Giant Powder or Dualin to DO the Work
Blowing Down Versus ''BlOwiRg
Up''-General Newt0n's Views.

Since the great fire ia Boston, which occurred |
only short week ago, the public mind has been |
greatly exercised In reference TO means OF prevent
ing the spread OF condagration in cities and sclen-
NEc men have begun TO investigate the problem
and find solution for it. The feld however, is SO
very novel, and much necessarily depends upon
the peculiar circumstances Of the case which may
arise, and upon the judgment OF the persons direct
ing operations against fire. that no definite rules
or plan OF action can at present be laid down.
The Improvement Of steam engines, SO as
70 throw greater volumes or water and
with greater force than has hitherto hcen en-
pl0yed, is naturally enough one OF the first means
to be suggested. Next probably, comes the gues-
N0n or abundant supplies OF water for engines of
greater suction power Various devices, also,
have been perfected for the combination of cheml-
sal agents having extraordinary qualities of extin.
punishment, and architects and builders have done
their utmost to perfect style OF building which
shah be ireproof II was naturally enough supposed
shat iron structures, with brick and cement
interior walls and floors, would be freprooL
Tue great fire in Toocy street, London,
shout twelve or fourteen years ago, first demon
htrated the fact that such buildings were not in
destructble by FIRE; for the burning of the mer-
Ghandise in the warehouses on that occasion gen.
Grated sufficient heat either to soften and fuse the
iron, or TO create such expansion of the girders
and pillows that the walls were forced out and fell.
Since the Tooley street fire there have been hun
dreds OF proofs that iron, brick and stone all
aestHctible in fires where great heat in great vol
sme sweeps through the edifces.
Among the most recent propositions for
DEFENCE AGAINST CONFEDERATION
Is the resolution adopted last week by the Cham
Der Of Commerce, OF this city, suggesting the cs-
adjustment OF a Bureau OF engineers an adjunct
oi the Fire Department, TO be invested with author
ity aud power ana supplied with the means to
blow up such buildings they may deem neces-
sary in order to prevent the spread OF FIRE in what
may be deemed circumstances o imminent danger
d great cOnhagration. The suggestion seemed 10
starte the community somewhat, alike by its
comparative novelty and by the extraordinary
power with which the Board was TO pc Invested
and the summary means TO ne employed b. them.
Ut course the organization OF such Il Do ri would
naturally insure the ng Of the work OF eXplo-
son IN scientific manner, according TO the best
rules OF englneerng. rms naturally leads to the
inquiry, what is the scientific pan o action in such
m emergency and investigation leads to the con-
rinslon that the suble IL entirely new,
and that engineering has never been devei-
oped in that direction. few days since
q HERALD reporter called upon Fire Commissioner
hhacr TO learn his views the subject ana the
result was that uhlc the General Was very eau
Aons In the expression oil any decided or absolute
snnion he lncilned To the belief that the OF
piosions for such 4 purpose was objectionable and,
N iact, Intellectual TO achieve the desired end. In
this he was fed by the opinion OF Fire Engi-
neer Damfel, OF Boston, who stated that the blow
Ing up OF buildings in That city did nothing toward
. limitation OF the ire. one OF the strong
est points urged against 1t was that the
are crept more readily the fallen timbers and
aebrS than il could do IL the building remained in
tact in the pathway of the approaching DANES. 1t
has been unlrequent in British cities to resort
tc such measures to check contagration, but The
operations have usually been conducted by troops
ef the Royal Artillery or Royal Engineers and there
are no data TO show they acted under any other |
rules than such Judgment dictated ana the inn |
mediate circumstances Of the case seemed TO de- |
mand. or course this would be there. as well as |
elsewere largely controlled by the Typographical
conigration Of the territory imperied by the fire,
the size, style of construction and nature OF mate
rial OF the buildings selected OF necessary TO be
blown up
In order to present to the public such lnforma-
ton oi q scientific character as there may be in
reference TO the
BEST METHODS OF ACTION
where buildings are to be destroyed by detonatlon
q HERALD reporter called upon General John
Newton or the United states Engin sers. and re-
quested expression OF his views at large on the
whole subject. General Newton is the oilcer
charged with the conduct Of the government
Gate, and mas had large and varied
practical experience az well rs education
usc OF explosive compounds generally The
General was found his otice at army headquar-
ters III Houston street and though engaged in con-
vefsation w.th a ifiend at oncc Expressed ms
utmost readiness to converse Oh the subject. In
epening his views he said -
II do not care exactly to speak authoritatively
on this subject, but have no objection TO stating
what think regarding ". There is no definite
course TO be pursued IN such matter, and
I do not feel disposed 70 be considered now
Is recommending any. 10 begin Win, | cen.
slider the use ol Gunp0wdcr an agent
OF demolition in such eXigeIey "a en-
Lrey erroneous ana ili-advlsed. Its effect
would naturally be to literally blow upn ana scat
ter the material Of the buildings destroyed. Now,
the real object 10 De sought would be 10 bow the
building down, to drop the labric IN as neayy and
compact a mass as possible upon its foundations
The principles OF construction OF all buildings, and
particularly the modern stye of lofty cdidccs, con-
sttutes them system OI nn2s, INTO which the
draft OF wind aud flames y drawn. and RACES with
great fury. Now, il all tne material be Frustrated
by heavy vertical lail, 1t Will as a consequence
pack down close, aud ire should il ignite the
debris, Will burn more slowly than when sub ected
TO draft. All the brick, stone, mortcr ana iron win
serve To smother the flames among the wood For
this reason
THE USE OF GUNpowDER
wonld be iniudicious as Its eject would be 10 scat
ter and extend the area Of combustibe debris.n
''Wnat explosive would you suggest, General as
the most ludicio1s aud effective TO &c employedS
II Think replied the General, that either giant
powder or duahn would be the beat agent 70 en-
p.oy They wonld make no scatter, but If properly
applied would cut building Off eose TO Its fcunda
tons or piers and let II iall.n
"Arc there any rules land down ia military cngi
neerlng for the guidance say OF an officer who occu
pies city fired by an eracuating enemy TO aid In
checking the confagraton by blowing up build
''No. there are no rules on the suhiect, no IN.
structons. he would bc guided solely by i'm
mediate Judgment"
''What is the peculiar Characteristic OF giant
powder In its effects as distinguished from gun
powder ~
: sWellu responded the General, giant powder is
a combination OF nitroglyceiine and earth OF
peculiar kind. IL Is very powerful when eyrcded
and acts on more limited snd direct surface.
Take, for example, an iron pillar supporting a
budiEg. ! would put ring OF giant power
around its base anc explode 1t, and the explosion
would cut that pillar or as clean ~
though cut with knife. " it is a
wall tnat is 10 be destroyed first pierce the wall
and in the same way surround the piers oi ma
sonry with the powder IL would blow The wall OIL
clean where the powder was used and would let
tie upper parts OF the wall iaG vertically.
What, IN brief would be your plan CT
DESTROYING A BuILDINGfV
'oh should simply pierce the walls so az to
leave piers OF masonry or brckw0rk, and surround
Ihese and all the pillars or other supports OF the
Dniidng WITH giant powder. When that was iPni-
Iea the building would go down- The pierre |
ing ol Inc walls would be matter I
easy Of accomplishment. bgt you would |
require worAnen a little familiar with the nature |
Vi the WORK 10 DC done few OF our sappers would
Ro around building Ike this and pierce the walls |
WIN thelr picks ~ very short time" |.
"WOuln the hlnMinn nI frnrt rn.u u huiid. |