New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-01
The ROCHESTER FIRE.
Wbat II Teaches IN Regard to Frc-
urOOf Construction.

asasser % h-icg End stone ano TWISTED '1H 80
100 and buckIed girders strew the ICY pave
-. .-..,e,. wires arc down. and the shoulder
49, -.s-- hear mute testimony 20 the cestfacliol
..sr-oe l,,- the biz ere on Friday
Although li r. ea-fy Tor building eNpefls ana
..,,.--or safrsrrrs n determine with any degree
=, .--+-fr+,- 90 what extent The Granite Builolng
!. esYnnqes general observation made by aronl-
--~r- ere r-arshals and building contractors tehas
90 tre terier that che interior construction ana
.,ra~ wills q the tic Granite Building have hoJ
- g. -,-e- d4rraee a. was ~ first feared
vvitb TIC exception 5r blaze that occurred IN the
powers Pudding "a few years sEo. and which was
confined 10 "a single suite of rooms, the Sralll'e
rtrnrtrr fc frr only Eo-Caled freprooT pulollE IN
r-~ts.tr- 20 De severely tested by flames. For
-rfs faae1- local architects builders. owners OF
i1rpr -fr1Ctures and Insurance men are deeply IN
crested an The lessons % the fire. That this inter
sef IL not wholly local is shown by the commissions
rha+ many Rochester architects have received
e-,, ecev--7ro-k builders and architects 20 report
fg rrlI All that they possibly learn n the IRE
resisting properties 81 the Granite Building.
The Granite Building is AT the northeaet corner
~ Main and ST. Paul II is twelve-story
structure and was designed by Foster Warner one
~ the leading architects q N Western New-Scrk
7. s. considered 20 represent the best type Of FIRE
r7roof building. I'm that i IS example of the
terra Gotta tile and brick construction and the
rnrendid manner in which these materials resisted
The rnva-es NJ Fridays flames Is expected 20
weigh strongly when this style % construction is
compared with the use Of concrete The consensus
~ opinion here IS ONcfN elfllTGF ll idhtT 'L tle
hollow file construction. as exemplihed in the
Granite Building. Mayor James r. cutler. who he
one Of the leading architects or this city. is en-
rhueiastc the merits of forra Gotta construc-
zion The Granite Building resisted the fire re-
markedly well Dc said 10 O. cor espondeut or
Tho Tribune. and ir my opinion its walls. with
rae possible exception Of small portion 81 the
east wall. in almost good condition rs no
fore tho fire. ] believe that the building can he
restored az an expense not exceeding = per cent
Of is original cost 7 have given the interior only
o. cursory examination, but from what have seen
she terra Gotta ossings on the cast iron columns
seem 10 BE- intact" Mayor Cutler says tr1t he
considers iron superior 10 steel Tor the foundation
az n building and that terra Gotta is superior 10
concrete.
Il consider THO walls Of rho Granite Building rs
practically safe" said Fire Marshal walter. 70
is che first Fo-caued freproof building using terra
Gotta as protection 90 the iron work that has ha"1
severely tested by fire B0chester. IN -nv --'~-
ion. d. there had Iet been opening from me
-a-ffe building the old Tuoil Block. th~ Games
would never have injured the slNscraDe-- n cor
slider 81 as nearly freuroof as U is possible 7f
present o. construct a modern Office building
There is one lesson i- ra~tiru'a~ THAT fr.- f-r
has taught which fs thar she elevators should PC
inciosed within hrI-k or terra Gotta walls O.. place
90 onen iron work
Assistant T-e 1ra-sra-- p-azr ara Pierce w.,
orc regarded fr local architects as exports
building corstrartior. Say positively trst hollow
rle ~ terra Gotta i- far superior -o brick ana
concrete, ffi.'f BIB THO arches m ta' n''e '' or
easing tho upright columns 'hU Inspection 20 fra
Granite BUILDING shows tr7t win OBI. exception
80 few spots. a.. hollow Gotta rf--I.-a.
'1tact and formed Ia covering tHat Erft fsr intense
he.t from the iron work" saws Wr Err'
1ate made careful irtrf.fIrr rf fHr f.I'r.rE rrF
harc set t0 fnG twisted o- Hl-kfeF afrlar COZ
nun. while in the Goa building Dob tte rear -F fHn
Granite BuidinE where tfe arches are 20 brick
rrd concrete. trr iron beams arc rrr0--f. ono
rlurr af tHe r'rde-s arc hu-kie1. rr Vtrv nf tr-r
..,,...,.,-.. Fl, .-,... I'd, 81. ..... 49,, ...-.4
preferu DIE g. hollow torra Gotta riif.
lloster Warner tho architect Of the Granite
fnI'e,i ht present aIfhouEh p irturites thar tte
i'' HaIa.e -or tFirtt-,iA hours. sl+aks more s.'-
... "..... .lt flLfI..l. ny II" i'i'a
81 - ...I e, ...a i-i- 'l.Ll,.h u sld,
i.a.t 't'.T "'5 hi,9Nl l'e7. architects. Ar
t.'. ny ..--t ii'l .'iililS. Wfglsfi irnu beams
.. L.I.ri- a.h every ihrh ~ iae iron Wa pro
r.r.ar % the 5a.idiag Was granite and terra Gotta
50 -.e l"o street fronts and frick elsevhe-e
81 was connected al the ert floor with az old fash
t9ne6. c7mbustlnle building. This was the Buell. 4
Block. vcritahle Or" trap and the flames spread ]
eIhley Company reutol tho Buell. Rio-s and in /
order 70 connect ms annex with thei- main store
in the Granite Building the entire east wan of the
srst story OF the latter was c1t away. C7nsegNerr-
The Granite Building was = huge chimney 70
nj the other buildings that were DESTROYED. Proof
81 the TOP story windows. In view q this fault %
Htood the strain OF the Ere remarkably well II is
he best form q freproof building with cast iron
lated from the finder boxes reYt 10 n the ri5in
would have beer urinitred The tiame FOR -ris
zsoa lress r. construction is not 10 DC laid on the
shoulders OF the architect A great many of me
weak points in so-caIled areproof buildings are
cue 10 the demands Of the owners u an architect
we're allowed 10 construct a building on his own ,
responsibility. and according 20 his own plans. he
could put Up Office building that would be prac-