The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-02

uninviting, while The sidewalks become
congested as the vertical capacity OF the
buildings grows greater than the horizon
tai carrying capacity Of the streets. a
more serious objection allegedis that the
permanency OF the metal skeleton has not
oeen demonstrated thoroughly. The evil
0enCe on this point is incomplete. Exam
pies OF the deteriora ton OF iron or steel
under peculiar conditions are offset by in
stances OF remarkable preservation under
other peculiar conditions. But the advo-
Gates of the system believe that metal
properly protected will prove about as per
manent as solid masonry.
They are also convinced that the system
Is necessity OF the present time and that
It's use viii grow. One reason is the con-
centTation of business in districts and the
consequent rise in the value Of real estate
SO great that only fifteen or twenty story
buildings will pay q return upon the
American Surety Company of New York
Is an illustration. II paid $1.500, 900 for a
pl Of ground about eighty-five feet
square, which would be st the rate of
s, 0o0,0 600 an acre, and il has sought TO
make the investment profitable by putriag
up the immensely tall building con spjcu-
Gus in lower Broadway. Another reason
for the extension OF the system is the Sc
curity IL offers against fire and the low
cost at which such protection may pe OBJ
tanned. The ordinary city house may De
hreproofed st a figure not exceeding the
cost OF ordinary methods. II was found
recently, in taking figures for 6 building in
Philadelphia to cost Sl25 900, that thor
oughly freproof construction would cost
only SO per cent more than the ordinary
method OF building. This increase would
be compensated for IN q very short time
by the decreased insurance.
The term fireproof, as applied to modern
structures, does not claim immunity from
IRE, for consicerab bic woodwork must still
De used IN the interiors, and the furniture
and property OF tenants remain 10 feed
fire; but it involves principles that have
reduced theft hazarsj 20 8 minimum. In
brief, all the metal framework the build
ing Is encased in material. which is en-
tirely incom bustible and slow heat con-
ductOr, and which protects It from the
direct action OF IRE. The materials used
chiefly for this purpose are brick, hollow
tiles, terra Gotta and plaster applied in
special manner on iron latbs. Every
square inch Of the framework must be so
sheathed. The floors are arches curved or
tat, OF terra Gotta. tiles, brick or other in
ombustible material. Inventors have vet
70 supply an acceptable incombustible ma
terial for the interior finish OF buildings
The best that can be done at present is 10
reduce the inaammable elements TO q min
lnsurn and endeavor TO cenfne the fire by
means OF frepToof floors and partitions SO
that It may do no injury beyond the con-
sumption OF local woodwork and furnish
ings.
The possibility of using frames and cas-
lngs Tor doors and windows made either
OF metal or OF sheet metal over wood and
doors covered with sheet metal seems a
question or but short time. i metal door
has lately been introduced in this country
which is well appearing, light ana incom-
busuOle, and serves as an effectual bar
rier against the spread OF flames The sue
cess that mas attended the use OF wire glass
IN skyl1ghtS has prom pIsd the suggestion
10 reduce external hazard from IRE by
protecting all windows, which offer the
most Vulnerable point of attack, with plate
glass, with silver or gilded wires EMBEDDED
in 1t. All elevator shafts and stairEays are
protected by fre-resisting walls Never
theless, elevator shafts remain q means
for the rapid distribution OF smoke from
floor 10 floor, and thus cause the danger
from suffocation IN case of fire in such a
building TO assume an Importance equal
to that OF the flames themselves This
danger to tenants from smoke was IL
lustrsted at the recent fire in the World
building.
The largest and most fnterestine test of
the new methods of fireprooting was the
burning OF the Chicago Athletic Club
building on November l. 1892, while il was
under construction. Il was the first ca Sc
on record where the loss TO the insurance
company on 3 building intended TO be
thoroughly hrepToof was more than 50 per
cent of its value. The fire was of very IN
tense heat, inasmueh as q vast quantity of
HooT1ng, scanolding, trimmings etc. was
collected IN mass. preparatory "a use. Yet
committee OF experts reported that the
occurrence furnished an assurance that
was lacking before-that the metal parts
OF a building, ii thoroughly protected BY
hreproohng, properly put on. will safely
Withstand any ordinary CONFEDERATION If
the quantity OF combustihle material the
building contains IS not greatly in excess
OF that which enters into the construction
OF the building itself
The committee also said that II the
building had been completed il would
never have contained eDough eombustible
material so distributed as to do sny con-
siderable damage to the building BY burn
ing. Notwithstanding the intense heat
there seemed 70 be no reason for question
Ing the integrity OF the building as whole
after the IRE, and no doubt existed that
the nEeproohng around the columns saved
them from collapse. The result 70 the
building included the destruction OF all
the interior finishing, plasterins. pini1ig
and, wiring, as we'll as parts of the elabor-
ate mont OF Bedford stone and pressed
DICK, but the steel columns and beams
were unInlured- The tile floor arches were
not damaged, in spite OF the bined
action OF great heat and frequent appIics-
tions OF cold water
The development of the new type OF
building is due very largely to improve
N ents in the manufacture ef terra Gotta
1t was first introduced as a htlildiu1 ma.