New-York tribune., 1873-01-31
4 PROSPECT or SAFER BUILDINGS

The recommendation OF uOVefnOr DlA Con-
cerning an Improvement in our building laws
bids fair to be carried out. 1t will be recol-
lected that the main difficulty in the way OF
trustworthy supervision of new buildings III
this city has been a sort of division OF author
ity between the Superintendent OF Buildings
and the Supreme Court 1t is not very long
ago that we had judges in that court not be-
lieyed to be inaccessible to outside influences.
The requirements of the building law can be
modified at any time by the superintendent
with the consent of the Supreme Court. 1t
has resulted from these conditions that there
were numerous instances where unsafe build
ings were erected with the sanction of au-
thorty. Ii has even been stated that in cases
where the Superintendent was himself dis
posed to interfere with faulty construction, he
has been compelled to inactiOn by injunctions
obtained from a judge who was famous for
such flats.
The Governors proposition is that the re-
sponsibility OF modifying the building law
shall be shared with board consisting OF
the Board of Fire Underwriters and the Fire
Commissioners. with, perhaps, the addition oil
the American Institute of Architects. The
has been discussing this matter. 1t is evident
that its members are somewhat III doubt
whether a position of sufficient influence is to
be assigned to them. They were considering
resolution to the effect that they must either
have Just share in determining the charac-
ter and construction of buildings. or be re-
leased from all responsibility about them
We are glad to learn that 1t was at length
determined that the Institute will cooperate
with the Legislature in respect to new build
ing law The advice of competent architects is
more needed in this country than abroad
because here every builder considers himself
a competent architect If this advice con-
tributes a fair share to the determinations OF
a Board with power to regulate the cOnstruc-
ton of buildings, the prospect of wise meas
ures in this respect will be better than ever
before. Neither Fire Commissioners nor under
writer's can have the technical training and
knowledge about buildings that are expected
of architects. Besides, the underwriters can
always console themselves that an increase OF
fires brings increased insurance business at
higher rates With the architect, on the other
hand, professional pride and standing are in
volved in the safety Of construction.
A curious theory was broached by one of the
members of the Institute. Recognizing the
great danger from fire to which buildings are
exposed by elevators. he proposes radical
change in them. He would make them CHM
neys, carry them, open, above the roofs, and
provide openings TO them on every floor. The
notion is, to draw the flames into the eleva-
tor which of course is to be fre-proof, and
IL. tn m "A y
if there would be no difficulty about the draw
ing such chimney will give abundant draft.
But as it is not furnace that is to be con-
structed, we are not sure that such facilities
for draft are desirable. There are automatic
trap doors which seem to us much more likely
to cut off flame by cOntining it, There is
more than one kind of these cOntrivances
already in the market, giving the highest
satisfaction to users. In this respect all that
seems TO be needed is that suitable regulation
about the closing of hatchways should be
enforced Cutting of air has much to do with
extinguishing fire. Quite recently large
quantity of cotton samples took fire in an office,
from blazing particle that was thrown off by
lighted match. When discovered, the flames
seemed to fill the room. The office proprietor
happened to be an old fireman. He closed all
the doors tightly and rushed down stairs and
got a backet of water, ordering more to follow.
Then shutting himself in the office and having
bucket after bucket handed i'll to him, he wet
down the entire surface of blazing material, so
that by the time engines arrived, the fire was out
The whole art consisted in keeping out air
and applying water directly to the fire. Con-
triyances which will enable the public
promptly to carry out this principle, are in
order.
uLrnL, l,nArLLnE