New-York tribune., 1902-02-16

test expeTimentally. but this would dehbrate the
Wooo' besides rendering it, said. absolutely
Workable. Neither the Buildings Department nor
any other authority has as vet quite made up its
mlhd as to what commercially and practically is or
snould be- the best test OF hreproof wood. The
companies quoted above say. though. that the de-
partment is going TO work in intelligent way 20
estaohsh standard test that will az once satisfy
the producer and the consumer and protect the
public interest
The desiderata for ''hreproof wood as concurred
IN by the producers are:
That the chemicals remain in a pern1a nent state
IN the treated wood and that they offer every guar
antee or insoubtlity; that the chemicals be essen
uaIIN non-hygroscopic and non-volatile; that the
acius entering into their composition be sufficiently
neutralzed not 10 dsintegrate in any way the deli
cate tissue OF the wood: that the method employed
for the treating of wood shall not alter in any
the hbre itself, and shall leave TO the wood its
elasticity and resistance; that the chemicals
ployed shall Z have any corrosive effect on metals
that the wood once treated shall be capable of be-
ing worked and finished without special labor: that
paint and varnish shall adhere TO the wood that
wood once treated shall offer real resistance TO the
flames and stop It's propa ation shall emit fame
and shall char but very slowly.
1t is safe say all authorities accept these
conditions as fairly representing commercially
practicable hreproof wood. Commercially because
1t can be produced to these conditions at
cost low enough 10 allow the establishment Of Il
business based on commercial principles. "Prac-
ticable' because the wood treated to fill these
quirements he worked without detriment to the
artisans tools and the still costilier appliances Of
the mills,
In the talk with the companies before mentioned
il learned that, owing the fact that the
business is comparatively a one, the question
Of what constitutes a fair and satisfactory fire
proof test is the only which agitates the
trade for IL is claimed that the practice of inspect
ing freproof lumber al places of delivery works
hardships alike to the producer and the consumer
To the latter, because the department would have
TO have army of inspectors to cover Instantly
and at all times every building in process of erec-
tion; 10 the former because he would have to have
equally great staff of employees to insure that
the lumber passed upon his and that 1t had
been in no way tampered with a better plan would
seem TO be that suggested by the companies, that
the lumber be inspected the factories. each fac
tory being supplied with testing apparatus salts
factory to the department-the departments stamp
upon the lumber would be the guarantee 10 the
consumer that the lumber had satisfactorily passed
the Buildings Department test With a Uniform
standard test decided upon-and II may De co4I- COM
Buildings Department officials will work out one
there only remains the question of so amending
existing laws as 70 make tho use Of hreproot WOOD
compulsory in buildings Of all KINDS. --.- -
sought, when the New-Ycrk State Legislature had
the Tenement House law under consideration last
year induce legislation making II Obligatory
upon builders of these to use dIeProGf wood Inis II
thought would lead = further legislation com
pelling its in all buildings. But later when they
position their proposition met with IL might inter-
iionse law they Withdrew some Of the objections
urged were puerile-notaby that one which con-
jurcd up the bugaboO of return 10 the anclehs
days when this proud metropolis was town 81
wooden structures But one seemed TO be well
grounded. viz that law requiring thaI urtPiopl
wood be used In all classes OF buildings WOuld pe
impraCticable, since there were not enough com
panes engaged in the business Of hreproonng wood
TO supply the demand. and therefore Duidlng WoulI
be brought standstill 10 the detriment OF arcn-
itects contractors and builders and owners. II Is
panes engaged in the business, but their pIeSe4lL
capacity is least 10000 feet a day, and that Is
quite enough supply the normal demands WnlIe
OF them double its capacity with q
months warning. for the plans and SpeclncatlohS
are already prepared and they All nave ample cap
ital and facilities put them In hands at once.
OF course all this discussion Is based upon me
premise that the use of wood in buildings is lndis-
pensable and that hardly admits of argument, Tor
a hle there may be few forms OF CONSTRUCTION.
in which IL may not be- a necessity anu
vaults. FOR instance-in no othefs can d S""S'1'H'7
It be found .t.-
In all buildings where comfort and ornament auon
are requisites wooden nOors doors; panelS atlu Ger
tain other parts OF what is technically known as
the trim must be Of wood, for only Wood can
there be used advantage. And mark yo1, u doe; doeS
not take such 4 deal OF this wood. n non-nrepIool
nrev To the DESTROYER. fire, Should not tnen-the
absolute necessity for the employment OF nreP'lo,
MOOD in ALI buildings being recognizei-there oe en-
acted ieEislatiOn as Will MAKE w collPd4Sp ,
And granted that nreprOof wood be more-the com
ra ues saw a trhe mOre-eXpensive than that WIlC =
hss not been treated would not this excess dplrdI
the Waterbury FIRE and the long roii or ureS ILe-
cortat isflv within the last two weeks nN the
newspapers have cost the people or TINS one So
tiou OF the country And. by the way. II - 10 - -
,oI,r,urItfas when they rebuild their nre deNds-
tafed districts will have the good sense 70 pnl W
as well as the rest OF the work which enters INTO
r,f~tfo