Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-11-19
FOOD FOR THE FIEND
NEW works. "FlREoRooF" SKY
sCRAPERs INVITE A HOLOCAUST.

h9OsttOh-WOO Much Iron, says OhLeS VI
Riro Department Bonner.
New York's business section-that
part ofsthG city that includes the newest
of modern iireproof buildings is in
great anger 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
reiterates this statement about once
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 a
Press reporter.
These conditions are the height of tie
buildings, the material used in thcir
construction, the narrowness of tihe
streets and the inadequacy Of the water
supply.
It is favorite argument that if worst
came to worst, buildings ahead Of q
burning area could be blown up, as tho
farmer turns d dead furrow to check tho
prairie fire. This theory is not advanced
any more by intelligent men, says the
chief.
"We can fight a fire 1876 feet hi gh, or
ten stories. Above that we arc we'll
nigh helpless. They say that the modern
tall fireprOof building needs not as much
protection as the ordinary low structure.
But the freproof building is yCyt 10 be
built. The communists couldn't destroy
Paris in 1871 even by the use Of barrels
of petroleum. In American Landings
arc all the necessities Of a big, hot fire,
without the aid of a drop Of petroleum.
The large structures in foreign cities
are built far more solidly team 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 tho place in this
country Of masonry. Nothing with
stands fire as we'll as awell constructed
brick wall. Iron columns arecoyered
with four inches Of terra Gotta u brick,
which fire and water GIN tear off in a
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 in a
building, in danger, Like all mortals, Of
suddan sickness or inoapaoity, and with
no night elevator, a fire could get a
good iheadway in the,npper floors Of a
90 Ors80 story building Bursting out
of the windows and famed by u strong
wind, the flames could easily leap the
marrow streets of lower New York and
fireSof enormous extent and damage
begin.
"Iihaye always opposed putting big
building, in City Hail park, believing
that ithe time might come when that
area, meedful as hs1e of operations,
would be theaalvation Of the city"
Most Of the new slBscrapers.have fire
fighting appliances ofEheir own of more
or less value. Tanks On the roof and in
the cellar are supplied and kep5 full by
various systems, but these are as much
for the ordinary requirements Of tenants
as for possible use in fire. SomF 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 "firepioof' building to put in
more than the most ordinary fro appi-
anoes even above the LES foot line.
Building a9o story structure is much
like building dwelling house in one
respeot--there'E always deviations from
the plans and improvements upon them.
For every alteration from tho drawings
filed with the .bnilding department. the
permission of the board of examiners
must DO had. If the alterations arc prop
er, consent is granted, but on oondi-
tion 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,
a standpipe, with couplings for each
floor. When the builders consent to add
these equipments and others deemed
necessary, including competent night
watch service, permission is granted to
make the alterations. This applies, of
course, only to buildings pnder con-
, struction recently. OF those already up
= there is small hope unless the under
writers 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 a 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 q 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 As inch mains
being laid in Fifth avenue will be left