New-York tribune., 1902-02-13
FIREPROOFlNG PROVED.
SIGH BUILDINGS WTTHSTOOD
TERSON FIRE.
IN ONE. SURROUNDED BY FLAMES FOR
HOURS. OFFICES ARE INTACT
TOP FLOORS ONLY OF AN
OTHER DAMAGED.
OTHER DAMAGED.
rnr rr1rGRApH 10 THE rRIBuNE.l ]

OTHER DAMAGED.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Paterson. y. J, Feb. 12.-Thousands OF people
who focked into this city to-day TO see the runs
left BY the fire were disappointed In being pre-
vented from passing the danger lines guarded oy
the militia It well that the crowds could not
pass through the of the burned district as
they would have mpeded greatly the work going
on among the ruins. A much larger working force
than previously busy to-day tearing down
walls and clearing away the debris TO get at safes
and vaults Large wagons were running hither and
thither through the burned district with tackle
timber and machinery to carry on the emergency
work. Men were scaling shaky walls to put ropes
around them pull them down This Work Is done
10y teams of horses harnessed to long cables, and is
progressing rapidly.
Parts of the front wall of the First National
Bank Building torn down after breaking sew
eraI cables. The elevator shaft in the Romano
building also fell after three trials. breaking
many huge ropes. The elevator shaft in the Quack-
onbush Building in Main-st-, is now the most con-
spicuous object in the burned district II rises
eighty in the air. and has a section Of brick
walls hanging if. The contractors do not think
they can It down. and arrangements are being
made to bring it down with dynamite tomorrow
1t Is feared that the haste to get new buildings
I'D may initiate against quality of the struct-
ures. Business men anxious to get into suit
able quarters again that they may sacrifice some
thing both in the architectural character ana the
permanent safety of the buildings. Some puohc
spirited already sounding the warning
against this. saying that the property owners OF
Paterson should learn The lesson taught by the
ere and put up nothing but freproof buildings.
Others say it will be impossible TO get all the
business structures made ireproof, as the expense
of such buildings would be prohibitory on the peo-
pie who are only going to erect moderate sized
business houses. Everybody recognizes the value Oh
freproof buildings which has been conspicuously
demonstrated by the fire.
FIREPROoF BUILDINGS STAND TEST.
There were only three freproof buildings in the
burned district. and these are the only ones left
standing. though all of them were surrounded ny
the flames. They were the new City Hail. built by
Carrere & Hastings. of New-York; the Paterson
Savings institution building and the Second Ma
tional Bank building. both put up by Charles w
Edwards OF this city. The City Hall was built of
Indiana limestone. which soft that it melted
in many places around the doors and windows. Ali
the woodwork in the building was burned, but the
walls with the roof and tower. stand.
The two bank buildings are pointed to with pride
as the work of a Paterson architect The Second
National Bank Building is separated from the City
Hall by a 25-foot street. II was hercely attacked
on three sides by the fire The building on the
east side which was close TO the bank, was COM
pletely destroyed. was tie one on the north
The fire started in the Second National Bank Build
ing at the .roof and travelled down the elevator
shaft TO the cellar, then entering the directors
room on the ground floor. Not a drop Of water was
thrown the building. yet it withstood the heat
and fire for six hours. The flames inside the build
ing spent themselves and died out. only damaging
the top floor and the elevator shaft Not an office
in the five lower stories touched.
The Paterson Savings Institution building also
fought off the flames in marvellous way. 1t
caught fire in the roof and top story as the wind
lashed il with the furious flames from adjoining
buildings which were crumbling and falling before
the intense heat. For hours the flames ragged
around the building whicn burned slowly on the
TWO upper stories. AS the structures the north
and east fell. and the flames from them dropped
away the fire in the bank died down. Those who
were watching it at this time say that the flames
II the upper stories seemed 10 blow out OF the
window as with gust, and where there had been
sheets Of fire a moment before, nothing but smoke
could be seen and the building was safe.
THE MINIMUM OF WOOD.
The three buildings have steel frames and tile
floors with ashes or cement between the girders.
The minimum Of wood was used that material be
ing confined the doors and windows and the
floors Of the rooms The floors Of the Railways
corridors and other open places were Of tile or
cement
While il will be impossible TO get the business
men TO erect freproof buildings in place of the
destroyed ones. all the new bank and office build
ings viii be reproof. 1t is impossible to get archi-
tects or contractors here to agree on what kind
building material is the best withstand fire.
Some say granite is all right; others it cracks
and scales in heat. The Second National Bank
Building is white marble, and there is hardly a
stone in il that is defaced injured The Indiana
limestone in the City Hall proved he poor
der the severe test. The Beevile graystone in
ST. Joseph's Church withstood the flames splen-
ddly. Not a stone is cracked splintered, though
nothing remains Of the interior of the edhce.
Frederick ". Wentworth architect, who has
put up many buildings in this city, said to-day:
do not believe the city authorities can compel
property owners 10 build hreproof buildings in the
burned district II would be a very desirable thing,
hut too expensive for the character of the buildings
70 90 up All the big bank office and public build
hereafter. but to enact ordinance requiring
everybody to build freproOf structures would sim
ply prohibit the erection of any buildings
SHOULD Use BRICK OR STONE.
Ex-City Engineer Ferguson concurred in this view.
He said:
Fireproof buildings are the best always, but it
IS not TO be expected that small business men
afford such buildings. We should, however, have
nothing but brick or stone.
There was meeting Of the representatives of the
insurance companies to-day in the Piaget Building.
They arc anxious TO adjust all losses speedily. In
order TO dispatch this work they appointed COM
Tnittees TO act each OF the large buildings. By
thus distributing the labor the losses be figured
mp in a very short time.
The safe of ex-Attorney General Griggs was dug
OF the ruins OF the Paterson National Bank
building to-day. The contents completely de-
stroyed. Some jewery and relics he had in the safe
had melted. Mr.. Grlggs valued these very highly
FAST ERIE TRAIN WRECKED.