Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-10-02
WINS OF GEN. HEIGs.

~.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sept. -, ISL
Editor Star The article on the Public
Buildings in Washington, originating with
the Washington EVENING STAR, and extern
sively copied, contains some errors, which
should be CORE ted.
The roof OF the newer portion OF the
General Post Office buiIding-more than hall
OF the vhole-is constructed entirely OF iron
and copper. Nothing more combusiible than
these materials enters into it's composition.
and the ceilings of the upper story are en-
ilrely OF metal, or Of metal and brick com
biUed.
The roofs OF the wings OF the Capitol.
snd OF The corridors which connect the wings
with the old center building, are also %
meLal wrought-iron frames, supporting
wTOught-lrOn purlins, and In the skylighG
wrought iron sash bars, on which rest tue
roof-coyering OF corrugated copper, and I'm
the skyl ght OF thick cast plate glas :, known
as hammered glass.
Since the original construction OF the roofs
of the legislative halls In these wings, IL IS
reported that a coat of plsstering, as a non
conductor, has been introduced below the
copper. II so, take it for granted that the
plaster is spread on a metallic grating Of
woven wire, or something equally incom-
busubIe but have not visited the roof since
the plasteTiDg was introduced into it.
III is not generally understood, except
among men OF special training, that all
metals are more or less comOustible and
that with free supply OF air and plenty of hea;
materials of fire proof roofs 50 call, A. VIII
burn freely and fieCceiy, and that a ali these
materials al low red hea. are soft and heX-
IDLE any roof composed OF these when ex-
posed 10 red heat must fail.
Floors on the French system OF construc-
Ion, now commonly uset ina what are in
Tended 10 be lire proof buildings, generally
fail from hexure OF the iron beams waen
great mass OF iuhammable goois s.ored De-
low them takes fire.
TIE upper floor OF the Patent Office resisted
"A = I a.
and brick arched floor il il doubtful whether
lad similar iloOr covered the mo lei room
II could haveescaped destruction had the Goa
uagrallon originated therein. But as the fire
originated in the roof above the ceiling il
would probably in this case have saved the
model room and It's contents.
The upper surfaces or nanges OF the iron
beams IN such floors are better protected
against heat than the lower, mass o. seve-
raj inches in thickness of concrete, OF mason
~. or even OF sand and rubbish dlliug IN the
hdunChes OF the arches covering the iron and
protecting IL from direct con act with the
burning material. The lower ed yes or DANCES
of the iron beams have generally only an
inch OF plasteTing to protect them against
made red hot.
II is a curious fact, though shown TO be
true by experience, that = door of stout
wooden beams illed in with concrete or ma
sorry SO That air cannot circulate or fame
get access TO the sides Of the beams will re-
slst fire, whether above or below, longer than
These last yield as soon as the iron beams
are red hot, or as a part of their depth is red
Eot-the WOODEN beams do not get red hot,
do not lose strength appreciably until a good
portion OF their substance is reduced to a
coal thoroughly burned, and this C Dndition
is not reached until such floors b ave been
exposed TO fire for several hours.
The whole OF the two model 70 Dms de-
stroyed at the Patent Office burned out i'm 20
minutes. In that time a brick and wooden
team ceiling would not have been mate
rally diminished in strength.
so, too, the men OF the London Fire Brig
abe nave orders not to trust themselves IN
heavy warehouses la which the story posts,
supports between the floors are OF iron
or sJole-irOn bends, stone flies or ctlcines,
under heat-nor in such buildings wael the
floors depend for their security o. lion
beams. either of wrought or cast tTo 4. They
give way soon, suddenly and W IN Dut pre-
vlous warning. Buildings whose Il DOrs are
supported by brick piers or Pillar, or D.
solid timber posts, and whose fiours dep md
upon strong. solid timber bans or girier,.
they enter without fear, sure that II IS al L
terials Will resist fire for long q ne, aud
that they will give ample warning o,tor-
falling.
1t may De accepted as true that NJ BULL
ing but an oven or a furnace is actually ii =
proof, and even these do not last fore FER IA
der fire. The merchandise ordinarily ST.
IN any large wareroOm II thoroughly in
hamei, Will produce heat enough To destroy
it's roof
1t is therefore better in many cases that a
roof should be ire-proof only SO far as TO
re sist the accidental communication of fire
from without, as by sparks or the burning OF
neighboring buildings, and that A. be SO con-
structed that on the breaking out OF fire with
in II should quickly give vent TO the flames
and smoke.
A fire proof ceiling would have saved the
model rooms OF the Patent Once from fire
originating in the roof but the walls OF that
building are much more costly aud valuable
than the roofs and ceilings, and the fire hav-
ing taken possession OF the models, the Gust
ly marble facing OF the walls, the marble
pilasters and capitals aud cornice were saved
from calcinatiou and destruction, aud gen.
orally from DETACHMENT OF smoke, by the free
vent which the flames obtained. On failure
OF the roof the draft inward prevented the
flames bursting out through the windows In
the west wing, except in the case OF the four
windows which, on northwest and south west
corners, lighted two small corner rooms. Or
these the ceilings did not al first fail, and long
after the fire was declining in the body OF the
hall these two rooms burst out at the same
moment into flames, which gushed out Of the
widows, and 10 some degree damaged and
greatly blackened the marble about them.