Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-02-10
FIREPRoOP BUILDINGS.


During the year 1888 the property de-
stroyed by fire in the United States was
valued At slO3, 90, 600. One has to stop
to think over the figures before the
enormity Of the loss Is fully realized.
And, besides, the loss was not, as is the
generality Of money and speculative
losses, to the individual only, but 1t was
absolute loss to the country. The prop
erty did not pass from one party to an
other, but it was completely wiped out
Of bodily existence. And to what is
the vast loss chsrgeable? Insurance au.
thorities say, speaking generally, OF
course to carelessness. This human
failing Is undoubtedly largely response
bic, bat are not our cheap and hasty
methods Of building most promotiye Of
fires? Perhaps this may be classed as
carelessness, but 1t Is not the kind the
insurance companies refer to. The spe-
cies OF earelessness they inveigh against
is that which empties hot coal ashes
into wooden boxes, ueglects to put q
zine under the stove, runs a stoyepipe
through q board petition without
metal guard, leaves matches around for
children to play with or for mice to
gnaw and so on through long chapter.
Bat it 10 like that the average amount
Of carelessness will not decrease much
if any, and If this Is admitted then there
is only one direction in which to turn
to curtail the immense annual loss by
fire. And that Is to build more nearly
fire. proof than we do not. In this re-
spect we have much to learn from some
Of the motives for building so substan-
TALLY and securely in those counties
where son is willing to tread in the
paths his father trod dwelling or a
place Of business may descend through
the generations. In this country the
great majority build with an eye to sell
ing at profit sometime and the more
shabbiness they can hide behind the
plaster the better. That is not good
policy, the long run to build this Way,
will be generally admitted, but on the
other hand to what extent can q person
go in freprooflng building, having
due regard to common business usuages
In disposing, in case OF desire or nece5-
sity Of his property? Material that a
few years ago has deemed reasonably
safe against fire, has been superseded,
or been subjected to new conditions.
Brick Is safer than stone, and iron col
umns and girders will warp by heat and
let down their loads. Within short
time terra Gotta has assumed an import
ant position in the construction OF fire.
proof buildings. 1t IL sprung in fiat
arches for floors, with a span Of as
much as seven feet between the iron
Girders, the later being protected by till
casing; il Is used for walls and parti-
lions, for roofing, for settings, as Turing
Tor outside walls, and for covering iron
ON wood columns. 1t is somewhat ex-
tensive, aud is scarcely practicable to
use wholly except in the case Of COM
merciaI buildings in large cities, where
the absolute security against fire
offered commands enough higher
rent to warrant the outlay. Forming
part of the consideration for this addI-
tional expense is the fact that no insur-
ance il carried on the building or its
contents. So far as dwellings are con-
cercerned the interest on the additional
expense of tireproofing would in very
few cases pay for the premiums on the
insurance, which every careful person
'eels obliged to carry now, but if the
building was put up with the idea of
perm. snent occupancy the feeling OF
alb cute security against fire would be
rDIe than the money cost, an induce.
nent To make walls, floors and partitions
ne Il Sitting.