Evening star., 1896-04-14
THAT ABSURD ROOF
Comment Of Experts on the Post
Office Covering.
CONTRARY TO BUILDING REGULATIONS
And to Rules Followed by Builders
and Experts.
D A N G. E r FROM FIR E

d A N Ct E r f r O M f I r E
The city post Office roof Is still q subject
of public discussion. The treasury author
tiles having declared that the present
plans will be carried out unless Congress
makes provision for changing them, inter-
est In the matter is now turned in the di-
rection Of Congress. The defense by the
supervising architect of the treasury Of the
Roof now being placed on the building as
being Of good character and approved by
architectural authorities has called out
considerable protest from architects. build
.ers and others versed in matters Of con-
struction. There is very general agree
ment with the criticism made by the late
Gen. Casey, that the construction of a
wooden roofing over fire-proof building
like the post Office was an absuIdity.
Opinions of Experts.
There was an interesting discussion In
the Office of the chief Of the fire depart
pient this afternoon concerning the wooden
roof that is being put on the post Office
building Chief Paris emphasized his po-
sition concerning the roof by characteriz-
ing the same as menace to the lives of
the people employed in the office. Why, if
that place ever catches fire, he said, the
fire department will have a fight on it's
hands that will be most difficult.
Why. I see by the newspapers" put in
Assistant Chief Belt. that the architect
says the reef will be faced on the inside
with asbestos. and that will make it fire.
proof
That cannot be true" said Assistant
Chief KurtZ. "since it is well known that
you can heat asbestos red-hot, and ii you
put wood next to it, why there is nothing
to prevent 1t from catching fire.
have heard all about these so-called
I'll 1e-prOof buildings. with fire-proof roofs, >
said Assistsnt Chief Belt, but my expert
ence has been that a builder cannot be too
careful of the materials he puts in such a
structure. That roof should be of metal,
An Illustration Of the good results from
the use of such materials was seen at the
hre OF the paint store on 9th street some
time ago. In the rear part of the store,
where the ceiling was of wood, the lire
ate its way right through to the roof.
while In the front, where the ceilings were
of metal, the fire was arrested. The Star
should keep up its fight against that wood
roof"
Mr.. Smithmeyer's Remarks.
Mr.. John L. Smthmeyer, the architect of
the new Congressional Library building,
when asked today by a Star reporter for
his views as to the placing of a wooden
roof on the new city post office building,
without excuse. In accordance with methods
long ago abandoned, and an example of
the way things are run in the office of the
supervising architect
Il was in the supervising architects Of
flee this morning." said Mr. Sm:thmeyer
land, IN discussing this very subject, was
informed that the office is undergoing Sc
we're criticism for an action beyond its
power to remedy. The excuse given for
constructing a wooden roof on the post
office building, as stated to me- Is lack of
funds. But it seems otherwise, when it
Is called to mind that long after the build
Ing was under way it was found neces-
sary to provide for an area to admit light
and air at an additional cost and later to
relieve the heavy appearance Of the struc-
ture by smoothing some of the stone, the
extra charge being $23O,OOO.
"The day has passed for placing COM
bustible roofs on costly public buildings,
especially when there are tile, terra Gotta,
concrete and many other modern covers
feasible. For instance. the admiralty build
ing in London the largest public build
ing in the world, has not enough wood in
1t to do duty as a match stick.
IAN incident worthy of remembrance Just
at present is the memorable patent office
fire. That was a building as substantial as
could be desired, but its roof was con-
structed of wood, and there is no need of
referring here to the ease with which it
burned.
I'm connection with the patent office fire It
might be well to call to mind that in 1877
President Hayes appointed a commission,
consisting of Lieut.. Col. Thomas Lincoln
Casey. corps Of engineers. president; James
G. Hill, then supervising architect of the
Treasury Department. and Edward Clark,
architect of the United States Capitol, to
examine into the security of the public
buildings in the city of Washington against
fire. The report of the commission set forth
that those portions of the roof of the Capt.
tol Immediately over the eastern porticos
OF the Senate and House wings were con-
structed OF wood, and that the quarter part
of the roof over the old portion Of the build
ing Immediately adjoining the dome and
ceilings of the rooms beneath were of ordi-
nary wood construction. Should a fire oc-
cur In this portion Of the building, the COM
mission said, 1t might endanger the stabil-
ity Of the colonnade of the dome. After
describing the other public buildings in de-
tail, the commission stated that generally
the public buildings not of fire-proof con-
struetion and used for office purposes are
much endangered by the character of their
contents. and this applies, should think, to
the post office.
I'm 1880 was a member of a commission
together with Edward Clark and Alexander
r. Esty, appointed by the joint select com
mittee on additional accommodations for
the Library of Congress, and in my report.
In referring to the wooden roofs on the Can't
tol building, and speaking of fearful danger
In case of fire, took occasion to state, This
bluEder would be greatly enhanced should
any fire spread over the three roofs spoken
of in the report as insecure, which lie to the
north, south and west of the dome, actual
ly enveloping it on three SIDES
Il am firmly of the opinion" concluded
Mr.. Smithmyer, that it is a very big mis-
take to top the new city post office building
With roof of material such as that now be-
ing placed in position"
Not According to Atkinson.
Mr.. Glenn Brown, the architect, said: 81
have not examined into the matter with
sufficient thorougnness to warrant me in
expressing definite opinion. There are
some points. however, where 1 must take
issue with the supervising architect If
understand Alright, he quotes Atkinson, who
Is an authority on modern construction. as
favoring such roof as fire proof Now, in
point of fact, Atkinson does favor a roof
of slate or wood as a 'slow-burning' roof,
not as fire-proof one. But he means that
the slate should be put on three-inch h
nlanLs and I do NOT hel.euo tha4 on. ...s,,