The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-11-12
FOOD FOR THE FIEND
NEW WORKS. "FlREPRoOF" sky
SCRAPERS INVITE A HOLOCAUST.

Fire Department Bonner.
New York's business section-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 fer erecting these new buildings
do not seem to realize this fact, although
the veteran chief of tho fire department
reiterates this statement about once q
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 q
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 fayorite argument that if worst
came to worst, buildings ahead of a
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.
"We can fight a fire 1876 feet high, Or
ten stories Above that we are well
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 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 a well 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. I
believe the covering should be eight
inches.
with only one night watchman in
building, in danger, like all mortals. of
sudden sickness or incapacity, and with
no night elevator, fire could get
good headway 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.
II have always opposed putting a 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 a "tireproof" building to put in
more than the most ordinary fire appli-
ances. even above the 1875 foot line.
Building a 20 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 on condi- !
ton that approved fire appliances be put
i'll tho building, particularly in the up
per stories. These include stipulation |
that at least one elevator shall be ready
10 run at any time in the night in or.
Ter that the fiTemen can get up and
lown quickly; the putting Of hose and
fire buckets on each floor, and, usually,
4 standpipe, with couplings for each
lOOr. When the builders consent to add
heso equipments and others deemed
necessary, including competent night
watch service, permission is granted to
make the alterations. This applies, Of
curse. only to buildings under con.
truction recently. OF those already up
here is small hope unless the under
writer's offer of lower premiums appeal
to the pocketbook.
To the end that the fire resistance Of
'uilding materials shall be known posi-
lively, fire tests have been made under
he supervision of the superintendent Of
uildings. Three such public exhibitions
lready have been held, and they will
g continued at intervals through the
inter. When finished, Superintendent
will make a report to the
oard Of examiners.
The cry for more water in the lower
art Of the city has been insistcnt for
ears. Many have been the plans for
at the Battery and on either
de half a milo or mile up stream.
very time an extra line of pipe has
cen laid with the object Of furnishing
le needed surplus it has been tapped
p town. The fire and building depart
ents hope that the two As inch mains
ling laid in Fifth avenue will be left
II the relief of the section below Cham
srs street. Chief Bonner says the Forty
cond street reservoir should not be dis
rbcd until water is flowing undiverted
rough these mains to the locality that
seds it most and for which it is in.
ndGd.
That New York will be brought face
face with grave peril from the 80
DRIED structures unless precautions
entiful and timely are taken is not
,ubted by those who have studied the
oblem Of maintaining safety with
ouItainous firebraIds in narrow
reefs. New York Press.
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