New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-29
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL
DANGERS IN TALL BUILDINGS
RUST AND FIRE WILL BE DIsAsTRous-A DANeEh
TO THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE.

TO THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: have read with interest several articles
which have appeared In the daily papers emorac
ing the opinion of prominent architects relative "
modern building construction, and having especia
reference to the stee-framed brick and stone
xeneered structures now becoming so common Inc
views expressed are well-tmed and, as far as 'hes
co have a much better foundation than man! Oh
tho class Of buildings to which they rea'e' me
danger arising from oxidation OF the supportns
steel members OF such structures cannot safeiy
be ignored: but this danger Is not always conn"eu
"a the vertical posts but is imminent whenever
and wherever iron steel is used IN the lounua-
ton as a supporting material In some ciues inc
bases OF column piers are placed upon sr"iaee
of iron or steel rails in order to secure oroaue'
area OF support than would be conveniently pos
sible by means OF stone. Wherever this mas nee"
Aone disaster Is sure sooner or later to resui,
Ru, there 4. another danger to which all tall edi-
fees which depend for their stability on skeietoh
metallic frames liabe--the danger from h'e.
II "a well known that the load-carryins poruoh Oh
che modern tall building is Its skeleton mefahc
tram. the outside walls being usually mere screens
a k.en ont the weather. Such being the facts'
th.re ts nothing adequate TO prevent the heat OF a
confederation in an adjoining building from soften
ing the steel side supports OF any specimen OF .he
giraffe style of architecture TO such an extent ma
t,sv will Weld on the heated side. when. with all
s,s contents the building will topple over without
..s nns and crush everything within the compass
Of its fall II such result can ioow an ,a a.
a.. an internal blaze will be still more liKe! 70
hr,ng about disaster In great CONGREGATIONS, INN
walls OF brick stone are no protec.l" $500 ,h
Naming destruction. This was shown on terrible
scale at Chicago and Boston; But notnins III
hn.Sinr construction Is better known than that a
th;ck wall OF red brick. without openings is an Ell
rnc.ive barrier TO the spread OF fire from buiidlng
10 building ! have been assured that wren ,ne
old Potter Building burned, The Times" Bui hins
was saved by its two-feet-thicN southern o'''"
This matter OF danger from Are is too often over
looked in important public structures and appears
20 have heen in the case Of the Brooklyn briogei
rhnse land spans pass manufacturers ana
zion NAV any day become active. IL does not APP
near that there is anything TO prevent the storage
In the buildings under these land spans OF ma
rails from which large fire may al any t III
cause such explosion as mat "nlcn d. III" ean
torlc CONFEDERATION in Broad-st scattered nam
Ing ruin over acres OF buildings. il mas neNT
SAen determined what caused the eNpiosion.
II was ascertasned that there we're no eApIosises
etored in the building in which the explosion oc-
CURED but IL appeared exceedingly proDaoie Iiia1
fure OF materials. singly inert which, uiuer VIC
infuence OF intense heat. formed an explosive com
bination OF terrific potency, whose ccmpohehts can
naver he ascertained. In these days OF nigh eA-
rlosives' ii would not require nuch OF such ma ~
riais fired below either of the land spans or the
bridge TO work a dreadful ruin. II there Is any
place where the ounce OF prevention snu ua.
nromptly and decisively anticipate tons OF S".s
4. is in a close scrutiny of the contents or tAe
buildings beneath the land spans OF the btVoN, M
bridge These buildings should be constai1;y u'i-
der surveillance or. better stu. be eht"ely re-
yooved and their sites turned into parks.
w F. DURFEE Consulting tnelneer
West New-Brighton. Staten Island oc' 81 1000