, 1874-12-13

plaques and leprosies in our time as the
! were Of old. The successful engineer s.
constructs his works that they shall stand
instead of surrounding them with lfe-sayinl
apparatus in case they fall In treating thi
fire question, We must start out with thF
plain fact that we want no more medicines
but something that will prevent the recur
renee Of the plague. Every fire gives pal
pable illustration of the fact that we have
now all the engines that can be worked with
the existing water-supp1y, but we continue to
have the same indammnble condition in tiose
parts of the city which have not already been
burned over. The extension Of the fre-linl-
its is the only tangible thing that has been
done in the way of prevention. We need
something more. The requirements of pub
lie safety demand that something shall be
done to better the condition OF tho buildings
we have in the districts that have not yet been
burned over Pine houses, and pine and tar
| roofs, must be rendered less inhanmqble.
| There are ways in which this can be done.
The pine houses can be incased with brick,
and their shingle-roofs covered with cement
| PAS%~Nk%A% ~AAN4AAA81
| in this city named KRoEsoHEIL, now associat-
ed with the architect THELEpoPE, at 1855 East
| Washington street, claims to have invented
| ire-proof paint which will protect tho roofs
and sides of frame houses from sparks and
| firebrands. Tho composition of this paint is
materially the same as that Of glass,-silicata
of alumiua and lime.
ohiaf ,5;Harapoo eoar,c 1,o that +ho
inventor has combined his sand and limo into
plastic fluid state like common whitehead
paint, which takes hold OF the wood, pene-
trates it to some depth, and does not wash off.
He claims tlat the silicate of alumina and
lime form chemical union, and are nom
combustible, Of course. Whateyer substance
is coated with this fre-proof paint burns
without fame-chnrs away into cinder; but
goes out Immediately after the substance fur
nishing the flame is removed. Thus shin
gle covered with this non-inf fammable paint
can bo slowly burned by holding it over
the flame Of gus jet; but remove the
shingle from tho flame thereof and it in
stantly ceases to burn, the fire dying out.
Tho inventor claims that the pine-shin:le
roof Of O house, coated with his fre-proof
paint, cannot catch fire from any quantity Of
sparks and brands which may be dropped
upon it by surrounding burning buildings,
and that the substance is such that fros!s,
rains, and changes Of temperature will not
cause it to crack and scale Of or lose its fire.
resisting properties, none Of which statements
are We prepared to indorse unreservedly until
they are ma1o good by time and experiment;
but it is an invention worthy of careful inves-
tigation under the auspices of Gen. SHl1RE,
OF the Fire Board, Or the Citizens Asso-
citation. # it be what is claimed for it,
the discovery can be made worth more to
Chicago than forty new engines, or any other
number.
The city and insurance companies can CO.
operate efectually il improving the condition
Of our frame houses. The insurance compa-
MES, instead Of combining to raise rates,
might better combine to refuse insurance on |
wooden houses and pine roofs that remain |
unprotected after q certnin date. The city |
can pass more stringent ordinances relative to |
the construction Of buildings and the repair
Of frame houses partially burned. In the |
latter case reconstruction should be prohibit !
ed in aA CASES. We ere not sure but the reform !
could be generally 1naugureted by the same |
system Of special assessments Us now prevails |
for the Improvement Of our streets. Ger |
talnly the protection Of the city frum de-
struction BY ize is more important than the |
paving Of streets. Any form Of prevention !
is in the direct interest Of every property |
owner. The expenditures necessary to brick
in wooden house and cement wooden roofs
(or cover both with fre-paint, it this is found |
to be efficiently will be more than repaid by |
the saving Of loss by fire and In the lower
premiums for fire-insurance.
What we desire to impress upon all who
are at work Ut the fre-prob}e1n is the primary !
necessity for preventive MEASURES, and thus
divert them from the present manis for In
creasing costly machinery aud appliances that |
have proved, and ever will prove, Intellectual |
in emergencies. When the preventive meas-
ures shall hare been exhausted, it will then
be time to consider new remedial appliances
Before this is done, however, We shall have
to provide water-system commensurate with
our increased machinery. The next step will |
oo Iuo suPP4y VI 1ocd0 appAluceS LOT eacn
house or ncighborhood. The next to provide
lighter engines for reaching outbreaks of fire |
more quickly than our present cumbersome
machinery. But the proposed enormous In
crease Of large fre-engines and hook-ant-
ladder companies, and men and horses,
should come last in tho reformatory process
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TIE TRIBUNE And CATHOLICISM,
The Western Catholic, IN organ Of Ultra
montanism published in this city, assails the
editor Of Tnz CHICAGO TRIBUNE through two
columns Of personalities, on account OF cer-
tain views with reference to tho relations of
Church and State which have been printed
in this paper. When the 1Restern Catholic
points out mistakes of information or argu-
mont, then We shall be readY to exnmiua