St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-10
INDEsTRUCrIBhE BUILDINGS:

~ ELS
The eceut fire in this city which par
TALLY destroyed the stock of goods of
the Powers Dry Goods company. and
badly damaged the building in which it
was stored, should convey a lesson to
those who erect structures for the occu-
pancy Of firms carrying large stocks of
valuable goods. At many large fires the
loss caused by water is greater than
that by fire, while the progress of fire is
assisted rather than retarded by the
combustible nature of the flooring and
partitions. At the fire lii question great
loss was prevented by the substantial
and unusual construction of the floors.
These consisted of solid timbers about
six inches in thickness laid close to-
gether, and the interstices caulked so as
to make them water-tight. The result
was that while the water was thrown in
large volumes upon the upper floors it
remained there, instead of filtering
through upon the stock of goods below,
as is usually the case; and after tine fire
was subdued the water was drawn off
and the goods protected against the slow
percolation that was in progress. The
basement. where large quantities of
valuable goods were stored, was pro-
tected from inundation, and the entire
stock saved with little damage. Thus
fire that in a building of ordinary con-
struction would have involved loss of
half million dollars really cost but
few thousands, and both the Insurance
companies and the owners of the build
ing and stock are comparatively un-
damaged.
Experience has demonstrated the i'm
possibility of making a building abso-
lutely fire. proof. The cost of those that
are approximately SO preclude their
construction for purposes of ordinary
business. But there is little extra ex-
pense involved in providing stores with
such floors and partitions as saved the
Powers building from destruction and
the stock from serious damage. Some
improvements, too. might be added,
such as the construction of cutters on
each floor for conveying water to the
outside. The floors, too, might be laid
with slight incline, which would drain
them of moisture readily. This would
prevent the accumulation OF water, and
IL.
They burn slowly, also-so slowly that
there would be little danger of a fire
making such rapid progress as to get
beyond the control Of the department
before the arrival of the Ell gines. The
danger of the collapse OF the floors, and
the consequent injury to life and prop
erty. would likewise be greatly lessened.
Quite a number of the buildings in
the wholesale district of st. Paul are
constructed on this plan, which has the
approval of architects and insurance
men, as well as of the fire department..
With few Improvements, among them
the one suggested for carr ying off water
from the floors, it will be effective in
preventing great loss from both fire and
water. The subject is certainly worthy
of the attention of property owners
who contemplate the erection of bust
ness structures for the accomm odation
of our trade. Timber of the required
dimensions is easily and cheaply OBJ
tanned here: the structures built of it
are lighter than those of iron, and for
all practical purposes are quite as good
They are not fire-proof, it is true, brt
they burn so slowly that the fire depar t.
ment has ample opportunity TO subdue
the flames before complete destruction
results.
lndestruetibleb buildings in large cities
are unattalnabe. Those that burn
slowly give promise of best projecting
the contents from Injury by the ele-
ments Of lire and water, and the con-