New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-25
LESSONS OF THE CHICAGO FIRE.
BUILDING WITH VIEW TO PREVENTING GREAl
CONGREGATIONS IN FUTURE - PRECAUTION'


CONGREGATIONS IN FUTURE PRECAUTIONS
WHICH SHOULD BE OBSERVED.
TO the Edttor OF The Tribune
SIR: In looking over the construction OF the
buildings in the reconstruction of Chicago and Boston,
a. well as the usual construction of those cities as also
Of York Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other places,
find the brick work not ell bonded, nor well CON
GREETED together and where facngs Of marble limestone
granite &C. are made. the bonds between the exterior
facngs and backing not well made or properly con-
GREETED together. This will be understood by intelligent
nersons Of mechanical knowledge. This same difficulty,
And is appareut in the details Of exterior decoration,
az in the window and door trimmings the architectural
dressings OF fronts the hnishings and GROWING works
of the facades This relates to exrerors formed with
brick OF stone material. When an intense fire takes
Mace there is no cohesion TO form resistance 70 pow
rrful infammabe gases made by conagratons ana the
walls generally come down with the interior
is usually composed of cOmbustlbe constructive
matter placed IN position 70 create flame
Bindings having iron facades II is impossible 10
protect against the apOwerluI element OF desuucu1'
nfammable gas, created by great confagratlOn. No
human power preserve such structures ID hc pres
of intense ire proper use OF certain ,c i,rS
only can cDeekmae the names anu may HaEe ; ~ ~
tuTe An adjunct resistant may ne HiiGe pI ullIn- wy
shell Of the iron aengs with Oich-"ork Wen GO %
together with cOncreuOn of lime, sand ana grtFeI
well rammed so as 10 give density. Iron columns can
not trusted 20 resist intense nre wOd Rather
trust good whltt OAK coIuinn .u5 -
me 10 this decision II ron columns must De useu, sur
crete. hs may protect the IRON IhlS same dnculty
viii I've found the iron roof preparation IL Is not
.afe preparaton unless coated with the lime ana SAND
concretipc scientifically applied and so with all IRON
skeletons or fnshnCs used in the construction OF build
ings They are really more dangerous than wood III
rreaf fire Where fixed wood will make more haine, iron
vii make a quick Both are dangerous building
materials unless protected. 80, a.. 4.
AZ 10 the interior work for the support OF the hOors, IN
the majority OF cases find wOod-girders ana beams
supDorred BY iron columns and usually so constructed
that II apv columns OF the lower or Other stories
are disabled the whole structure above the
disaped supports with probability OF carrying rum al
through the ground strong fre IN the lover stOry
az such construction certain rum 10 the superstc
t,,re and tends the spread OF cOn1agrat0n. Inc
roofs are similarly constructed that II, Without any
engineering effort looking to self-suppOrt; .
faults OF construction shOulu DC promptly
and effective modes produced 10 suDdue ana
nrevent these destructive conhagratlons IL can DC
done. o. =, . locale.
butt up civ The public safety demands that inined
ATE protection should be enforced No great BODY OF
~ood -worK UNPROTECTED should be permitted in any
nuilt mn locality whether IL be village town. or
city Every municipality has the power TO protect IT
SELF In this particular. and should sternly use such
| poyer IL necessary To destroy wood or frame
budings proper coating can De apptd 70 tne eAle-
rror of every frame building 70 make 10 nereslstng as
well as adding It's artistic or architectural appear
ance An this can be quickly, economically ana simply
nrrformed As the modes OF subiung nres so as 10
rheckmate conagraOns, Trsper application Oh chen
icals and water Will IN short time save unions OF
dollars III value. a. DEhhoA'
Paterson, " j., July IS. 1874.