The New York herald., 1872-11-28
LESSONS OF THE BOSTON FIRE.
Timely Suggestions ON the Constructio
Of the shutters, sashcs and Roofs OF
Buildings-The Proposed Punishment
fer Arson and the Management Of Com
fluQra tiOns.

Build1ngs-The Proposed Punishment
for Arson and the management OF Com
fagrations.
CnIcorEE, Mass, Nov. 25, 1872.
| To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD -
The recent connagraton in Boston and other
| fires daily occurring seem more like chastise.
| mcnt than unavoidable calamities. Only one
brief year ago the trump OF the Destroying Angel,
that spread destruction and desolati0n in Chicago
admOnished us to prepare for similar vlsitatons
Another phial OF his wrath has been poured out,
and we now realize the value OF the neglected les
son at the price OF life and immense wealth. IL is
TO be hoped that we will not pause for repetition
OF such calamity 10 stimulate US to sense of
duty.
Your able leading articles were first to urge the
necessity for adopting improved means for extin-
gushing large fires, and already host OF intelli-
gent and inventive correspondents have contrib
uted valuable suggestions through the widely circu-
lated columns OF the HERALD. Among these
especially the letter signed "Engineern emb0dies,
think, much that Is practical and worthy OF con-
sderatlon. Although, it seems to me, that even
the best ideas yet given on the subject are faulty,
inasmuch as the principle OF cure instead OF pre-
ventlon is made the essential element and basis of
all the proposed plans, which necessarily involve
immense expense, conceived as they are to meet
tie avoidable contingency OF a city in flames in
sired result at the point where II originates, and
thereby prevent 1t spreading. For l infer from
simple inductive reasoning that if it Is possible to
conquer some hundred acres of fierce flame by
any plan, mechanical or otherwise, one uilding
or block on fire could be controlled correspond.
| lngy easier, with less expensive arrangements
| and prompt action, under well directed and rig
idly disciplined force. But any plan not having
prevention instead Of cure as its chicI feature viii
| presume, be failure.
| While our sympathies were exclusively excited
Weeks ago, and that we should then. and not tI
then, Diindy gr0pe Tor remote untitled and undis-
covered remedies ana even propose the prepostcr
haps, not wonderful. But that such PROPOSITION
should now be endorsed BY the cool and deliberate
civilization which triumphs in Its achiev evenenls in
science and art with national wealth In Tie form
,. OF ia6or-sayng machinery the product OF in
labor OF 150 900 OF men and yet thai our mighty
slumbers should be disturbed by fears that the
morrow might find us destitute and homeless
amid the combined horrors Of fire and explosions
indicates our extreme helplessness and shows at
least that we not masters OF the situation and
points to the government or wealthy interests OF
the country the necessity OF giving due stimulus
to inventive thought, by the offer OF liberal re-
ward for the simplest and most effectual mode OF
extinguishing and preventing the spread or fire.
AS q preliminary to the general adoption OF some
more radical plan, would suggest q simple pre-
cautionary mode OF dealing with existing build.
ings. Several correspondents OF the HERALD have
already suggested the necessity OF using iron win
dow shutters. Not only should they be adopted
but It should be made legal enactment that the
window shutters sashes, sign boards, cutters and
copings OF all buildings should be made OF iron
instead OF wood, and that the roofs OF oil nat
rooted houses should be adapted to hold at least in
depth Six inches OF water, supplied IRON a one
halfinch Croton pipe fixed there for that purpose
Houses with slantinR-roois should have O two
inch Croton pipe liked engthways along the ridge
with numerous jet-holcs, from which copious
stream would now, keeping the roof thoroughly
saturated during the prevalence OF an adjoining
fire. In both cases tue faucets to regulate the sun
ply In any emergency should be easily accessible
TO duly appointed officers. AS water mixing with
fire stimulates ana assists combustion, SO 1t is,
only In the ncipient stage of fire, that
water DISCHARGED from the engine hose now
in use can do any good; when 10 reaches
Its eliminating point or 1crccness 1t should be
left alone, and an incessant discharge OF water
Kept up on the surrounding buildings. The gen.
eral adoption OF these means would not always
extnguish fires, but prevent its spreading and
greatly abridge and define the limits OF fremens
labor.
In addition to this make the crime OF arson a
CAPITAL ofence, and In all cases the death penalty
inevitable to any human demon convicted. with
such measures rigidly carried out o great city in
flames IN times OF peace could only, presume, be
conceived as an event 0! the past.
- szrs.rs...- 7. G. CHISHOLM