The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1896-11-10
FOOD FOR THE .FIEND
NEW YORpS "FlREPRooFp SKY
ScRAPERs INVITE A HOLOCAUST.

Wipe Ont tho Best Part of the Business
section--Too Much Iron, Says Chief o.
Fire Department Bonner. ai
New York's business seotion-tba,
part q, the city that includes the 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 building
do not seem torealize this fact, although
che veteran chief Of the fire department
lreiteratss This statement about once a
iyear: Read ~hat bsSsays
THAT a big. sectioii at lower New
York some day viii be wiped out by
fire is probable il existing conditions
continue" Fire Chief Bonner said to a
Press reporter. N'sf usB'a4Gi
These conditions are the height of the
buildings, the material used in their
construction, the narrownesa Of the
streets and the inadequacy Of the water
supply.
1t is a fayorite argument that II worst
burning area could be blown up, as the
farmer turns dead furrow to check the
prairie fire. This theory is not advanced
any more by intelligent men, says the
chief.
I'VE can fight fre los &c. high, or
ten stories. Above that we are we'll
nigh helpless. They say that the modern
tall fireproof building needs not as 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 big, hot fire,
without the aid Of a drop Of petroleum.
The large structures in foreign cities
are built far more solidly than ours.
Having fewer forests and less wood,
European builders get along with little
inside trim Of wood. Iron and steel in
these days have taken the place in this
country Of masonry. Nothing with
stands fire as well as we'll constructed
brick wall. Iron columns are covered
with four inches of terra Gotta or brick,
which fire and water can tear off in
short time. Then the stripped iron is
left to warp and twist and tumble T.
believe the covering should be eight
inches.
With only one night Waterman IN
building. in danger like all mortals. Of
sudden sickness or incapacity, and with
no night elevator, fire could get
good Roadway in the upper floors of
20 or 30 story building. Bursting out
OF the windows and famed by strong
wind, the flames could easily leap the
narrow streets of lower New York and
a fire OF enormous extent and damage
begin.
81 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 {
lighting appliances of their own of more
n less value. Tanks on the roof and in
he cellar are supplied and kept full by
7arious systems, but these are as much ;
or the ordinary requirements of tenants :
Is Tor possible use in fire. Some of the 6
tructures have standpipes inside or out .
lde the wall. Legally there is no way r
II compelling the builders of what is
allied 'fireproof" building to put IN 1;
more than the most ordinary fire appli- j
noes, even above the 1876 foot line =
Building 20 story structure is much y
Ike building dwelling house in one u
always deviations from .
he plans and improvements upon them u
or every alteration from the drawings -
led with the building department the
Of the board of examiners +,
lust be had. If the alterations are prop g,
:, consent is granted, but on condi- q,
on that approved fire appliances be put =,
the building, particularly in the up :,
II stories These include stipulation O.;
lat at least one elevator shall be ready .,
run at any time in the night in or 81
er that the firemen can get ND and ~
own quickly; the putting of hose and n
re buckets on each floor, and, usually, o,
standpipe, with couplings for each n,
DOR. When the builders consent to add -
lese equipments and others deemed L.
including a competent night
atch service, permission is granted to
AXE the alterations. This applies of T
'urse, only to buildings under con- r.
ruction recently. Of those already ND o
lere is small hope unless the under =,
riters' offer of lower premiums appeal 81
to the pocketbook =,
To the end that the fire resistance of a.
Hiding materials shall be known posi- .,
yely, fire tests have been made under
q supervision of the superintendent Of ~
lildings. Three such public exhibitions ~
ready have been held, and they will u,
continued at intervals through the ,,,
inter. When finished, Superintendent i;
Unstable will make a report to the 81
ard Of examiners. ~
The cry for more water in the lower
TT of the city has been insistent for y,
ars. Many have been the plans for In
at the Battery and on either II,
lie half mile or mile up stream. Iv
yery time an extra line of pipe has tb
EN- laid with the object of furnishing f.
g needed surplus it has been tapped
town. The fire and building depart oh