The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-06
NEED OF MORE CARE
In the Protection Of American
Buildings Against Fire.
LESSONS FROM RECENT FIRES
They Are Pointed ont by the Mu-
nicipnl journal and
Engineer.

s Recent disastrous fires at Waterbury.
Conn., Paterson, N. j., and New York
city have called to the attention of the
Municipal Journal and Engineer the fact
that an imperat need exists for more
rigid building regulations in American
cities. Particularly does this apply to
hreproof1ng and the enforcement OF exist
ing regulations respecting construction
within the fire limits and of similar rules
for the inspection of public buildings.
Adequate regulations would have made
the disastrous fires referred toimpossible.
Says the Journal and Engineer:
II restrictive inspection rules had been
rigidly enforced the Park Avenue hotel would
not have taken fire and disaster would have
been avoided. The officials have betrayed
their trust and have been recreant in the
discharge of their duty, and as a consequence
many.lives have been sacrificed as well as
millions of property destroyed.
Herein We*r have something to learn from;
our neighbors across the Atlantic. The Off
Gals of English and European cities are more
faithful in the discharge Of duties where
human life is involved than are the same
class OF officials on this side. The people on
the other side learned their lesson by expert
ence five hundred years ago. It seems to be
impossible for one city to profit by another
citys experience, and it may be necessary in
the course Of human events for us to learn
by the same slow and expensive process, but
tit seems to us that these striking evidences
of Official delinquency should be sufficient 10
put us on our guard In the future, and
forcible enough in their warning to make
citizens in general demand of their officials
q stricter account. Vi a.. e..
In commenting upon the fire question the
American Architect and Building News makes
some pertinent remarks upon another phase
of the subject, which we are pleased to quote:
This has been the history of so many de-
structive CONGREGATIONS, particularly those III
buildings intended to be Are proof, that ex-
perts have long agreed that no structure in
closely built city can be considered even
approximately secure against fire, so long as
it is provided only with ordinary windows.
Shutters of iron, Of wood covered with tin,
will protect windows If they are used; but,
in practice, such shutters are out of the
question for a hotel, and the only resources
available in their, place is the use of wired
glass. That such glass, II set In metal
sashes, and these in small frames, will keep
out fire as effectually as ordinary shutters,
has been many times demonstrated, and, II
1t we're not for Its unattractive appearance
and its disposition to crack over the wires,
the wired glass would be used very extensive
", on the advice of architects: The latter,
however, are obliged to consult the wishes
of their, clients in regard to the appearance
Of their buildings, as well as IN regard to- IT'S
security: from fire, and clients who are sat
isfed with network of chicken 1enclng III
their front windows, diversified with cracks,
and bubbles, are rare Nevertheless, the pro-
lection which it affords is SO valuable that IT
means could be found for making It. even
tolerably ornamental, its use would be greatly
extended; and it does not seem Impossible
that such means might be found. Some OF the
glass set IN small pieces in copper bars is
extremely pretty besides being nearly as
Are proof as the wired glass; and, If manu-
oeo1- TO a a
ter there are plenty of architects who could
furnish the designs for. Embedding In the
melted glass an ornamental pattern In wire
In this or some similar way, using also me-
tai covered doors and metal trim, hotels ;coulo
be made readily fire proof; and 1t does not
seen, unreasonable to suggest that the next
amendment tc the building laws might we'll
take the form of prohibition Of the use OF
wooden window frames sashes, or OF glass
in pieces of more than nine square 1ncnes,
in any outside or courtyard wall OF any hotei.
That there would be resistance to such an
enactment from the proprietors OF stores Oh
the street floors Of hotels, and possibly, from
hotel landlords and their guests is certain
but the latter would soon become accustomed
to the change, and would probably mo
aesthetic attraction, as. we'll as consciousness
Of safety in the subdivided glass, and the
objections Of the former should not pc con-
sidered in comparison with the safety or the
hotel guests whose lives are imperilled 10y
every sheet of plate glass in the building to
which they entrust themselves.
" It is about time that city officials throughout
the country were awakened to full sense or
their duty. The mayor, even though MS
authority may be limited, has an influence
which he Is IN duty bound to exert IN Drlng-
ing about right state of affairs in this con-
nection We appeal to the mayors OF Ameri-
can cities to use the full power of their au-
thority in an endeavor to bring about the
solution of this problem which is Of such
vital Importance. 1t can be done with lit
tie thought in advance, and we see no reason
whv immediate steps should not be taken to
remedy, the evil. H. ..