, 1873-02-11

dall's building,-tllrce structures which deserve
to RINK a8 frst'clasa firo-proof buildings.
4. As to tie money, tho sanlo general argyll
mont OF creator economy applios in building a
house that will realst IRE, oven at greater cost,
than in building house that will burn down
readily, and communicate flames to tho noigl,-
boring houses. This argunent becomes n,ucl,
moro forciblo Us applied to n whole city than
when it iH contemplated from an individual
point Of Wow. Tho objection that Chicago poo-
plo had not tho money to warrant an extension
OF tho fro limits, within which no wooden build
ing could DO orectod, was strongly urged at tho
time tho fire ordinance was passed. Experience
has proved TINT it waB without foundation. No
moro building would have beon dono up to this
tl'no than has becn dono If thol fire limits had
not been extended, whilo tho ordinance has had
the effect, so far III it goes, Of checking those
foolish pcoplo who would have invested their
money In nero iiro-traps If thoy had not bcon
prohibited by law. Aa it las been found
that tho cost Of brick building is but amnu
percentage greater than the cost of o wooden
building, 30 it would probably DO found that tho
construction Of interiors calculated to resist fire
would not represent grcater difference ovor
tho usual inside work Of houses that arc NOW
built Of brick or atone cxtoriors, Ir, Arthur
Gilman, tho New York architect who is
giving the subject much study, oati-
nlatcs TINT tho difference in cost vou1d
not bo moro than Is per cont. His estimate ia
basod upon tho use Of network Of wrought
iron for flooring filled up with gypsum, hollow
brick partitions, mud hollow exterior rallg 80
that the plastering can bo put directly upon
tlcm without latling.
8. The theory that u city 80 constructed would
DO gloomy to tho oyo and clecr]ess to live in. is
altogether erroneous. Buch acty could DO malo
aa varied, handsome, and picturesque rs any
other. The e1toriors could have tho same gen.
oral appearance as now, since brick, Stone, aud
iron would DO used as at prosont. Tho interiors
might bo tinishod as deliberately rs over. tho diff
ference being that gingerbread woodwork
would give way to ornamontatlon Of superior
tastefulncas.- 1t will scarcely DO denied that tho
three buildings mentioned above arc as pleasant
to tie oye, and as comfortable to tho tenant, ae
any buildings in Chicago. Tho Manaard roof
might still bc usod by adopting the simple ap-
plianceB which would render 1t less lnflnmmable.
- light iron framework instead Of O wooden
framework.
Tho gentleman who LAS mado these objections
thinks that tho facilities for oxtfnguishing fro
should bo Increased by the erection Of watcr-
tanks in varioua SECTIONS Of tho city, connected
with tho Water Works, kept constantly filed, and
supplying tho highest buildings with water ut
the top. It Ia not to be donied that the improve
ment Of tho Firo Department ia at once prac-
ticablo aud desirable. Whether this improve
ment should consist Of an increase in the aupply
OF wator to 10 used only in case Of fro, or
by increasing tho Departments facilities
for toaring down instead OF flooding, is auos-
ton. 1t is probable that both methoda should
rocoiyo groater attention than ut present. But
the first requisite Of adoqunto protection against
firo Ia in tho uniform erection Of buildings TINT
will rosist fro. Whom wo speak Of nro-proof
1t ia in the common acceptation of tue
word. Everything will burn,-ovcn tho din1nonl,
which is supposed to be the pnrest form Of
carbon. What ID wantod is, TINT oyo-y building
shall bo 80 constructed us to afford substantial
to t1ro from without mud within. In
this sonse, tho old TRIBUNE building was ilro-
proof Had oyory building In tho burnt listrct
boon Of aimtlpr construction, tltn great Chicago
fro could never have boonso extensive.
Alderman Daileys resolution iii tha Common
Council, to provide for tho inspcction of build
ingu, il movement in the proper direction. Ills
plan ia to havo ono Superintendent Of Buildings,
and fyo subordinate Inspectors, each Of tho lat-
tor to bo allotted 10 special district. 11o does
not propose to croato separate department, but
to mako theBo inspectors subject to tho romoyal
Of the Mayor, IND to require tAem to report to
tho Board Of Police. All Of thom must be prac-
tlcal builders, aud tho Superintendent first
claas architect. 1t ahall 10 tho duty Of Inspeo.
toss to attend all fros. ouch n his own district,
to visit daily ovoy building In prooosa Of eroo-
lion, and to report to tho Superintendent,
Flo duty of tho latter Ia to giyo por-
Bonal examination In all casos whcro danger |
or infringement of the Law is reported to lin,
md then apply to tho Board Of poice for propor
enforcement. These. are tho general outlines Of
Tho plan. Whosher 1t Ia tho best suited to tho
demand for building inspection, Ia matter for
1iacuaston by tho Council. Alderman Dalloy,
who is himself practical builder, estimates tl.at
Eho expense Of such a system will be about
10000 annually. THO movement once startod
n tEts direction, the Common Council will |