Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1896-11-14
FOOD FOR THE FIEND
NEW Works. "FIREPRooF" sky
SCRAPERS INVITE A HOLOCAUST.

New York's business sectton-that
part of the city that includes the newest
of modern tireproof 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
rciterateS this statement about once g
year. Read what he says.
THAT big section of lower New
York some day will be wiped out by
fire is probable if existing conditions
continue, Fire Chief Bonner said to
Press reporter.
These conditions are the height Of the
buildings, the material used in their
construction, the narrowness Of the
streets and the inadeQuacy of the water
supply.
1t is favorite argument that if worst
came to worst, buildings ahead of
burning area could be blown up. as the
farmer turns dead frrrow to check the
prairie fire. This theory is not advanced
any more by intelligent men, says the
chief
"We can fight fire 1875 feet high, or
ten stories. Above that we are we'll
nigh helpless They say that the modern
tall fireproof building needs not rs much
protection as the ordinary low structure.
But the fireproof building is yet to be
built. The communists couldn't destroy
Paris in 1871 even by the use of barrels
of petroleum. In American buildings
are all the necessities of n big, hot fire,
without the aid OF drop of petroleum.
The large structures in foreign cities
are built far more sclidly than ours.
Having fewer forests ard less wood,
European builders get clcns with little
inside trim OF wcld. Iron and steel in
these days have ;..koH the place i'll this
country of masonry. Nothing With
stands fire as we'll as u well constructed
brick wall. Iron columns uio covered
with four inches of terra Gotta or brick,
which fire and water can tear off i'll u
short time Then the stripped iron is
left to warp and twist and tumble. l
believe the covering should be eight
inches
"With only one night Waterman i'll a
building, in danger, like all mortals, of
sudden sickness or incapacity, and with
no night elevator, a fire could get q
good Roadway in the upper floors of a
20 or 80 story building. Bursting out
of the windows and famed by u strong
wind, the flames could easily leap the
narrow streets of lower New York and
fire of enormous extent and damage
begin.
II have always opposed putting big
building in City Hall park, believing
that the time might come when that
area, needful as base of operations,
would be the salvation Of the city. "
Most of the new skyscrapers have fire
fighting appliances of their own Of more
or less value Tanks on the roof and in
the cellar are supplied and kept full by
various systems, but these are as much
for the ordinary requirements OF tenants
as for possible use in fire. Some of the
structures have standpipes inside or out
side the wall Legally there is no way
of compelling the builders Of what is
called 'fireproof'' building to put in
more than the most ordinary fire appli-
ances, even above the 125 foot line.
Building 90 story structure is much
like building dwelling house in one
respeot-there's always deviations from
the plans and improvements upon them.
For every alteration from the drawings
filed with the building department the
permission Of the board of examiners
must be had If the alterations are prop
er, consent is granted, but Oh condi-
ton that approved fire appliances be put
In the building, particularly in the up
per stories. These include stipulation
that at least one elevator shall be ready
to run at any time in the night in Or
der that the firemen can get up and
down quickly; the putting Of hose and
fire buckets on each floor, and, usually,
q standpipe, with couplings Tor 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 hope unless the under
writer's offer of lower premiums appeal
sufficiently to the pocketbook.
To the end that the fire resistance Of
building materials shall be known posi-
lively, 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 the
winter. When finished, Superintendent
Constable will make report to the
board of examiners.
The cry for more water In the lower
part Of the city has been insistent for
years. Many have been the plans for
reservoirs at the Battery and on either
side half mile or mile up stream.
Every time an extra line of pipe has
been laid with the object Of furnishing
the needed surplus it has been tapped
up town. The fire and building depart
ments hope that the two 48 inch mains
being laid in Fifth avenue will be left
for the relief of the section below Cham
bers street. Chief Bonner says the Forty
second street reservoir should not be dis
turbed until water is flowing undiverted
through these mains to the locality that
needs 1t most and for which 1t Is in
tended.
That New York will be brought face
to face with grave peril from the 80
stored structures unless precautions
plentiful and timely are taken is not
doubted by those who have studied the
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