The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-12-03
FOOD FOR THE FIENDi
NEW YoRK's "FlRepRooFp SKY.
ScRAPeRS INVITE A HOLOCAUST.

Wipe out the Best Part of the Busincss
section-Too Much Iron, says Chief Of
Fir, Department Bonner.
New York's business scction--that
part of the city that includes tho newest
Of modern fireproof buildings - is in
great danger of being wiped out by fire.
Capitalists who furnish the money that
pays for erecting these new buildings
do not seem to realize this fact, although
the veteran chief Of the fire department
reiteratos this statement about once %
year. Read what he says.
THAT big section Of lower New
York some day will bc wiped out by
fire is probable if existing conditions
continue, Eire Chief Bonner said to n
Press reporter.
These conditions are the height of the
buildings. the material used in their
construction, tho narrowncSs Of tho
streets and the inadcQuacy of tho water
supply.
1t is u fayoritc argument that If worst
came To worst, buildings ahead of u
burning area could bc blown up, as the
farmer turns II dead furruw to check the
prairie fire. This theory is not advanced
any more 10y intelligent mon, says the
/ chief
"Wo can fight Il fire l25 feet high. or
I ten stories Above that we are well
nigh helpless. They say that the modern
| tall iircpruof building needs not rs much
/ protection ~ the ordinary low structure
But the treproof building is yet To bo
/ built The communists couldn't destroy
| Paris in 1871 even 10y the use of barrels
| of petroleum. In American buildings
D are all the necessities of biz, hot fire.
without the aid Of II drop Of petroleum..
| The large structures in foreign cities
/ are built far moro sulidly than ours
| Having fewer forests and less wood.
! European builders get along with little
! inside trim uf wood. Iron and steel IN
| these days have taken the place in this
country Of masonry. Nothing with
| stands fire rs well rs we'll constructed
/ brick wall. Iron columns are covered
with four inches of terra Gotta or brick,
! which fire and water can tear or in u
short time. Then the stripped iron is
left tn warp and twist and tumble.
believe the covering should bo eight
| inches.
with only ono night watchman in u
building, in danger like all mortals, Of
| sudden sickness or inCapaCity, and with
no night elevator, fire could get u
good hcadway IN the upper floors of II
90 or 80 story building. Bursting ont
Of the windows and famed by strong
wind, the flames could easily leap the
nHrrow streets Of lower New York and
Il ire of enormous cxtCht and damage
begin.
II have always opposed putting "A big
building IN city Hall park believing
that the time might como when that
area, nccdlul aS u base If operations,
would be the salvation If the city"
Most of the new skyscrapcrs have fire
fighting appliances Of thoir own Of moro
| or less value. Tanks on the roof and in
| the collar are supplied and kept full by
/ various systems, but these are IA much
for the ordinary requirements Of tenants
structures have standpipcs inside or out
sido the wall. Legally there il no way
Of compelling the builders of what is
called "iircprouf" building To put in
moro than the most ordinary fire appli.
ances, even above the l25 foot line.
Building "a 90 story structure Is much
| like building II dwelling house in one
rcspect-thcro's always doviations from
the plans and improvements upon them.
For every alteration from the drawings
filed with the building department the
permission of the board ui examiners
! must be- had. If the alterations are prop
| or, consent is granted, but ON comdl.
tlon that approved fire appliances BE- put
IN the building, particularly IN the up
per stories. These include u stipulation
that at least one elevator shall be ready
To run at any time in the night III or.
der that the iircmcn can get up and
down quickly; the putting of hose and
fire buckets ON each floor, and, usually,
IA standpipe, with couplings for each
floor. When the builders consent to add
these equipments and others deemed
necessary, including "A competent night
watch service, permission is granted to
make the alterations. This applies, of
course. only to buildings under con
struction recently. OF those already up
there is small hopo unless the under
writer's offer of lower premiums appeal
sufficiently to the pockctbook,
To the end that the fire resistance Of
building materials shall bo known posi-.
tivCly, fire tests have been made under
the supervision Of the superintendent Of
buildings. Three such public exhibitions
already have been held, and they will
be continued at intervals through tho
winter. When finished, Superintendent
Constable will mako report to the
lpurI ,fa