St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-08

spread of fire. Minneapolis has sew
eral buildings which approach as nearly
as possible to being fire proof struct--
ures-as near as present methods OF
construction will allow. Among these
which are considered as practically fire.
proof are Temple Court, the Guarantee
and Loan building, the Loan and
Trust, the Oneida block, and
very few others. Most of the
so-called fire-proof buildings are merely
slowly burning. among which the 1rlD-
une building was clasSed. In order to
show what really constitutes our near
est approach 10 a fire-proof building, in
the opinion of those qualified to know,
the GLOBE has interviewed several of
the architects of the city on this matter,
and their opinions are here given.
W. 3. Dunnell-I do not believe there
is such thing as fire-proof building.
[ think the nearest approach to it is In
putting up buildings with mill con-
struetiOn." That is, a framework wholly
of wood inside of brick walls. No air
spaces should be left. Wood will then
char, but will not burn. at least not rap
idly enough to cause loss of life. Stair
cases should be of brick and fire'prOof.
Walls may be covered with wire lath
and plaster.
w. 81. Dennis-In fire-proofing much
depends upon the sort OF building de-
sired. For a warehouse l should rec
ommend heavy brick walls. as few win
dow openings as possible, brick piers
for supports, with arches between:
floors laid on groined arches, and flues
to carry off smoke in case of fire. For
an Office building | should use steel
framework, protected by terra Gotta or
tile arches. corridor floors and wains-
coting of marble laid in concrete on
brick or tile. / would recommend hard
wood floors on concrete, and all doors
and windows and castings as light as
possible. Partitions should be of tile.
The roof should be as near the ceiling
of the upper story as possible. and
should be of cement or brick, and COW
cred with slate slabs. StaircaseS should
he of iron, and separated from the ele-
vator An important item is to have
heavy walls.
W.D. Kimball-A building can be
made fire-proof if isolated, otherwise it
cannot. There should be brick walls,
steel beams, terra Gotta arches, cast iron
posts, and floors laid on concrete. The
roof should be of tile.
I.W. Kelley-I do not consider any
building fire-proof that is filled with in
flammable material. Buildings can be
made practically fire-prOOf from the
outside On the inside, hollow tiles
around iren posts and girderS should be
used with tile partitions.
f. B. Long, of Long & kees-I should
use for body brick, or some non-com-
bustible substance. Beams should be
of iron, made hollow and filled with
some substance to prevent rapid heat
ing. A stream of water flows through
the center beams in some of the Eastern
buildings. Between the beams should
be hollow tile. Floors should be of
cement or tile, and partitions of cement
or tile.
f. d. Orff. of Orff Bros-There is no
absolutely fire-proof building. The
nearest approach to it is one constructed
of brick with iron beams, brick arches
and terra Gotta partitions.
T. A. Clarke-We have not reached
the point where we can make an article
fire-proof beyond a certain point. My
idea is that good deal depends upon
| interior arrangement. There should
be no opportunity for a chimney 10 be
formed
G. f. Bertrand, of Bertrand & Keith
"A fire-proof building is one that will
resist fire, and that can be best secured
by using iron girders and columns, tile
| partitions and floors and as little wood
| as possible.
The above are samples of what the
architects recommend for the construc-
| ton of fire-proof buildings. Nearly all
! of them speak of hollow tile. 1t is
pertinent to ask. would not the air in.
] side the hollow tile expan under
heat so as to weaken the building? All
will certainly expand when heated, and
walls, if bulged. will be weakened
Why not use solid tile? 1t may be re-
marked, TOO. that brick, or some ma
terial made by fire, is most nearly fire
| proof. Granite and other kinds of rock
are formed under pressure, and will fly
! off When subjected to intense heat.