New-York tribune., 1902-08-03
TO FIGHT NEW BUILDING ORDINANCE
c E HARDING AND OTHER ARCHITECTS TO oP-
POSE IT WITH PETITION.

C E. HARDING AND OTHER ARCHITECTS TO oP-
POSE IT WITH PETITION,
George Edward Harding. the architect who drew
the plans for the Holland House, the Commercial
Gable Building and many other of the larger build
ings in the city, accompanied by three other archi-
tects called at the City Hall yesterday TO ascer-
tain the provisions of the proposed ordinance to
amend Section los of the Building Code. in relation
to freproof buildings. The office of the clerk OF
the aldermen closed at noon, and the archtects
were unable to get much information
The proposed ordinance, which was introduced
by Alderman Bridges, has received considerable ur-
favorable comment since its Introduction AT
public hearing there strong opposition. FIRE
Chief Croker objecting. and saying it would add
much TO the danger in tail buildings The proposed
ordinance would make It compulsory 10 have wood
covered with metal In all buildings over loo feet
in height or twelve stories high. The interior Of
this metal covering, the ordinance allows, can be
of the most infammable material. if the builders
wish Ffreproof wood is einnat9d ny me ii oEdi
nance. nance said: aid --'- mo - -
never knew OF a more dangerous anendnlent
being proposed. / have drawn plans for a number
vocated dreproofed wood better than another
sort of frepToof material have been informed
Edward Atkinson. of Boston. the Filipino agitator,
a eaS tb1ob 0t R his eog3s that it was introduced No
one claims that the so-caled fireDroofed wood is
but 1 claim, and prove. that it is absolutely
fre-resisting think the wood hreprooted by the
electric process IS the best thlng -tlat DullQer
can get, insure him keeping MS property intact
intends s4e:iiicaliy to do away with this wood
If this ordinance should be passed and metal coy
have office. not saying anything about HvilG
in a high building The Thin metal covering when
common wood underneath would Immediately be
and I Will do all in my power 70 defeat it. I pro-
pose. with these gentlemen with me. TO get up
petition OF prominent archltects and builders Whom
l sure are opposed 20 such an outrageous
understand that there viii be another hearing;
and we viii be present in fun force 10 oppose ana
mattar
I think my contention that freproof wood is bet
ter than wood covered with metal is proven by the
tests the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
9tkfrson' who is back Of this proposed amend
ment, and instead of showing to his satisfaction
showed conclusiveiy that it is. Common wood was
IN ad al o as csrreS ~ 3d Is v 9ut no n
consumed I do not see why this agitation over
kept up any way. OF course there instances in
every kind Of building material where there are IN
edly many kinds Of ireproofed wood that in
Tes ds egt h ih Rsrous woods treated By the eec
tric process. have demonstrated that wood can be
unlimited value in fireproof building material con-
structiOn. The tests in Boston Friday prove this.
In two skyscrapers drew plans for there have
been fires in the last year or two. In both cases
woodwork and pershable articles in the room in
which il started. but got no further as the fire
| proof wood would not burn. and stopped it. One
IRE occurred on one Saturday night. and was not
discovered until Monday morning, when the room
was found be entirely burned out regarde /
the Office furniture.
in the opposite case, at recent fire in building
which had no freproofed wood. Slight fire in ono
room burned five offices before il could be eX-
| tinguished The woodwork of all sorts con-
suned and the damage heavy. The amount
| of money saved in the two fires in my building
| more than made up for the extra charge of having
| freproofed wood. I certainly cannot agree with
| Mr. Atkinson. of Massachusetts and Manila. who
has conducted the there that there is good
I'm ireproofed woods. He is entirely mistaken. and
| the experience Of myself and many other archl-
| tects has this