, 1872-11-19
Mr. Architect Boyington Ex-
plains His Position.
How the Mansard Can be Made
Fire.Proof.
Argument in Favor Of More Stringent
Fire Ordinance.

valuable columns to explain my position. In do
ing so may set forth some points upon more
fire-proof construction IN cur buildings, Which
would take up too much space to explain how
such constructions could be made more safe
than they now are being done. In the first
n7aca. the Times condoms all Mansard roofs, and
dononnces them as Of " barbaric taste." trust
the Times will excuse me for differing from its
cultivated taste. I am one who thinks the Man
eard roof moro applicable to certain style Of
building than any other, and should always be
clad to construct them as fro-proof as any
portion of the building. I do not see any good
reason for making them any more 80.
All buildings over four stories high
become more troublesome for putting out fires,
whether they be square, full wall, or Mansa1d
fronts; for it is only the street fronts that
differ from any other building, All partition
and party walls are built up through and above
the roof. Now, 30 far as the openings in q street
front aro concerned, they are generally filed
with wood frames and sash, even in what is
termed tire-proof buildings. The present mode
Of constructing the Mansard presents only the
same window exposure, all other trimmings ind
fniRh being either iron or slate. / contend that
the window without shutter, of q high or low
building, is where the great exposure is first
encountered, and if the building is SO high as to
bo out OF the reach Of the Fire Department, it at
once becomes dangerous; consequently I
have come to the conclusion that the great dan-
ger OF fire arises from the great height of build
ings, more than it does from the Cursed Man
serd roof" Still wo arc told that in the Boston
fro some Of tho standing wallis had the skeleton
of the Mansard still remaining. This, Of course,
on tho fro-proof buildings. Undoubtedly had
the walls beon carried up to enclose the roof,
the extreme hoight would hare thrown down the
walls. In conversation the past week with an
eminent architect from Boston, asked the
question whether they would be likely to discard
thought not, and lie ID not an advocate of the
MauEerd, only as it is More applicable to
goine styles Of buildings and local streets,
than the full square fronts. This gentleman
explained that the streets Of Boston were so
narrow, and the lots SO shallow, that they must
build high in order to get tho available room re-
quired Tor heavy business; consequently he
thought there was IN advantage In building, sny
g four-etory front, with one or two stories Of
Mansarl, which would recedo from the front, al
lowing Light to reach down to the streets, and
the alunsard could be made just as safe from
fire as any other form Of construction. The
Times refers to architects who do not think ia
yorablY Of Mansard roofs. Among them it
mention sthe Government architect, Mr. Mullett.
am informed that he has said he did not think
the Mansard roof any more dangerous from fire
than any other form. I'm certain he thinks IA
vorably of the style for some kinds OF buildings,
u
ecnted for Post Offices in different cities With
Mansard roofs, Of course fre-proof.
Now my customers need not feel that am all
Maneard. II they do not wish them they have
they will alow me to make them as fre-proof as
any other portion OF the building, or entirely
fire-proof. build many moro buildings with
out THIS style Of roof than With them, and ex-
pect to III the future. The Mansard style COM
menced it's career in the early part Of the
sixteenth century, and has been improving ever
since. The Times asks the question in l,s arti-
Gle on the subject, whether if q Van Osdel, q
Wheelock, or q Boyington r had m hung ont his
Angelo, Pladio, OF of later date even an lingo
Jones or Sir Christopher Wren, would have
fallen in with the proposition that an inverted
saucepan for the cover Of house was essential
to give the structure picturesqueness, ETC.. As
to Phidias, do not think he would be likely to
have much to do with the inverted saucepan in
his dag. which was about 900 years before Christ,
and WIS only noted as 9 sculptor Angelo and
Paladio's time was IN the fourteenth and III
consequently do not think they would have
been easy converts. Inago Jones WAS about the
age of the first Mansard, but the style wzs but
very family introduced III either OF their days.
Of action at about the same time. It is said that
Wren in 1865 went to France and surveyed all
the buildings of note in Paris. Soon after his
return from France. which WAS about the time
OF the great ufe III Luu4uu, II. L. 4ooos 1o ID
mentioned as having accomplished great feat
in introducing what was then chilled
fiat roof, with eight feet pitch one way, and
seventy on the other. This looks very
much as though he had then arrived at our pre-
sent mode of Constructing the Mansard. leave
this, however, for the Times to judge This iB
ali propose to say upon the Mansard.
While On the subject, however, there are other
forms Of construction fully as dangerous as the
worst description Of the hlangard. 7 will COM
y,ora cf thaTu tn 4n0thar Cf1-fnRfi0nh7
household 1tensil-the 1ong-legged skillet, and
for an example refer you to the new Times
building, now in process Of construction. In
this case the utonsil is set upright on its long
ing like an inverted bell. The Times building
reminds mo of such a skillet, which is SO
made for the purpose Of kndling a
fire between its legs: !l3 The fifth 5f a5;y sto5y
tho openings that the stories below are, conee-
quently the piers between tha windows are mere
stems, like the skillet legs, and hardly able to
support themselves without the aid Of the wood
frames there inserted. 4 Mansard roof would
not ordinarily have half rs many openings in
the same space, and, therefore, be lessdangerous
to an opposite fire.
do not wish to reflect in the least upon the !
Times architect, as ] consider him q gentleman;
I take it for granted that he has been oyerru1ed
in the design by the Tunes editor, he being an
expert in the manner Of construction and atye |
Of architecture, by which sec be is fond Of the
antique, not OF the 'tteathen Cainee, but |
bearing upon the modern Egyptian style.
The next point that wish to notice is, that in !
the Times few days eince it was stated that the
insurance companies had notified the Singer |
Company, or Field d Lieter, that unless they |
constructed tl,eir roof entirely hre-proof they |
would not give them any policies Of insurance.
Now should like to ask any candid insurance
man what object there is in putting fre-proof |
roof oyer an acre OF pine forest fenced in ?
We have run into another folly in many Of |
our buildings; TINT is ia putting np pine, cell
stead OF brick and plaster. Now 3 proper FIRE |
ordinance m would ronedy all these evils. do
moi think anything else will. The |
ordinance we now Layo does sono |
good, for, without it, yon would see
to-day many wood structures rign. in the very
heart OF our city, and others projected. It ia duo
from our city authorities to enact law that will
more thoroughly project the many fine build
allowed such long stretches OF wood partitions
and non-fre proof posts with out walls. Columns |
and girders Of iron can both be made tire-proof
so as to support themselves in case OF q ire in
the building. And SO can tho floors, even If
tho insts are of wood Hnt nr oonrea oo,oo I