New-York tribune., 1902-02-18
LESSONS FROM PATERSON.
STRONG AND WEAK FEATURES OF HER
BUILDINGS.
WINDOWS THAT WERE NOT INvULNERABLE
A DIFFERENCE IN CHURCH TOWERS.

WINDOWS THAT WERE NOT INVULNERABLE
"A DIFFERENCE IN CHURCH TOWERS
The Tribune's dispatches last week mentioned
three buildings in Paterson which had endured
the ordeal Of the recent fire in remarkable
manner. Their survival was cited as triumph
Of hreproof construction. Since Paterson's eX-
perience is instructive 10 builders and property
pwners in other places. The Tribune has OBJ
tained further details concerning the buildings
In questionable City Hall. the Second National
Bank and the Savings Institution.
Inasmuch as the City Hall was rendered prac-
tically uninhabtable on every floor. though its
handsome limestone walls still stand. perhaps it
affords less striking illustration than the two
bank buildings The Vulnerable part of the City
Hall appears have been its windows. which
allowed the flames to effect entrance. The
proximity of the Romaine Building was probably
q standing threat The latter. though outwardly
of brick, contained a great deal Of timber. In
surance men have feared the effect upon the City
Hall If this neighbor should once take fire.
The Savings Institution is a six story build
ing. the upper FIVE stories of which were Of
pressed brick. with terra Gotta trimmings. Be
tween the steel floor beams there arches
OF masonry the chief feature Of which was a
well known patented tile, which is thin and
long, like those used for flooring. The roof Of
this building contained no less than four layers
Of incombustibe material-patented tile. ordi-
nary roofing tile. Portland cement and gravel
Not only was the entrance Of fire from overhead
absolutely impossible. but its progress from one
story to another after getting in was perfectly
.precluded.
Nevertheless. the two upper stories. which
were given up to offices. were invaded, and tenn
porary mischief resulted The weak point here
seems TO have been the windows in the rear
which was the quarter from which the fire ad-
vanced. The windows We're covered with a type
of hreproof shutter which has the conf
dence Of building experts The shutters of wood
covered with tin. Since the frames IN which
they were hinged were of wood and not metal
however. the suspicion is entertained that the
fire obtained a foothold here. The fire which
destroyed the store Of Rogers, Peet & Co at
Broadway and Warren-st. a few years ago
entered the Home Life Insurance Building be-
cause the latter had no freproof shutters on the
north side. The experience Of Paterson shows
that freproof shutters not absolutely trust
worthy unless set in metal frames.
The Second National Bank, also six story
structure, has g shell of marble and a steel
frame The filling between floor beams con
sists Of ordinary hollow tile. formed into what
architects call 'sec-aental" arches, and covered
with cement IN 10 the level Of the floor, which
in the hall7 Of tile. but in the offices
of wood. The roof was of practically the same
construction the floor foundation. but had a
covering of slate The stairs were Of marble
Here again were freproof shutters. but without
metal frames, and the top story and the attic
and sharply inclined roof suffered in conse-
Quence.
The lessons taught by these two bank buildings
are I'D that brick, tile and cement prevent the
spread Of fire upward or downward when once
inside a building, except perhaps at the ee
vator shaft and (2) that freproof roofs, walls
and shutters will not suffice without metal
frames for the shutters. One other interesting
point illustrated by differences IN the con-
struction Of two church towers, one the Bap-
tist Church and the other on the Market Street
Church. At the base Of the former there were
openings for ventilating purposes, which let the
sparks IN. Thus not only the Baptist Church itself
was destroyed. but q great impetus was given
10 the conflagration, owing TO the height Of the
structure. On the other hand, the Market Street
Church had a perfectly tight tower. and with
stood the attack OF flying sparks and embers
admirably.
II is impossible to glance at the buildings still
remaining in the business streets Of Paterson
without discovering that a good many frame
buildings are sandwiched in among the brick
ones. Perhaps for q place Of Paterson's size
this is not exceptional. But q marked gain in
safety will be effected when this element is
eliminated from the heart of the city.