The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-24

Arrangements were made with the In
derwriters' Salvage Company Of New
York by which all cases not specifically
treated by the committee OF adjustment
in charge should be investigated, han
died, and a systematic report made to
your committee Of the results.
One Of the most important committees.
from an educational standpoint I'D in
the result Of its work. was that appoint
ed 10 have charge Of the losses on fire.
proof buildings. While heretofore there
have been Isolated cases Of heavy dam
age By fire TO buildings Of this class. no
such opportunity for studying its ef-
feCts upon the so-caIled drepTOOf build
Iugs from the brOadest standpoint had
ever been presented, and your commit
tee felt it might never occur again
Under these circumstau, es it was felt
that every effort should be made TO final
" present the companies with as much
data as possible for their future infOr-
nation To this end a conference was
first held with the owners of these build
ings, so that any opposition 10 our plans
might be met and overcome. and later
one committee was appointed TO have
charge OF the entire work.
Fire-Resisting Materials
Detailed reports on the losses on hre-
proof buildings conclude with a spe-
cial report Of Samuel r White. gener-
al appraiser. on the subject IF freprOot
buildings. He declares that ''structur-
al steel has in this instance proved all
and more than was ever claimed Tor II.
as on the whole in the nreproOf strUc-
lures il has not suffered over d per
cent damage The freaks Of the fire
can only be explained by the different
shapes and construction Of the buildings
and the changing of the wind These
tall buildings acted as fiues and carried
the heat away from some OF the low
er buildings that surrounds them"
The material which stood the test
best. according To Mr. White. was brick.
Next comes terra Gotta, followed by por-
Gus and semip0rOUs tile. The floor arch
IS in the big buildings stood well, where
properly put In. but column and 6irder
covering. partitions and wall-linins fail-
ed, not so much on account OF the ma
terial, but due largely 10 poor coastruc-
ton, and lightness Of material Gran
lite and marble. wherever heat came in
contact with them. cracked and scaled
off. Brick used 10 back walls stood the
test. but tile. poorly constructed in
most cases, was almost a total loss.
Wire glass stood the severest test. and
wherever the frame supporting It re-
manned the wire glass resisted the
flames. Mr White adds:
If frames were made OF metal or
fireproof wood and three sashes put in
each opening, one glazed with clear
glass TO be used during the day. and
the extra one with wire 10 be pulled
down al night. il viii stop any hre-"
Damage to SkyscrapeTs.
The figures showing the losses on the
several sl1ysCrapeTs are as follows:
Sound Sal Insur-
value. vase. Loss. ance.,
Union Trust S54o. l95 $3.50. 3S5 S2li. +SS $200U00
Calvert 1900 63L075 2S4.75O 363. 256 $4,000
Herald $500. 21L151 1896 121605 125C0O
quitable----l.U 500 21l.Sl0 lIl.595 10000
Merchants
Continental. J, US. 46l 81, 6l6 666,32S 10000
Maryland
Trust 900. 4O4,0 95 .......- =42,219 242,27S
Mr.. White reports that the loss on the
Continental Building was settled by thu
trust company's expert and the umpire,
and he personally believes the loss was
placed too high. Much of the loss oc-
CURED on the steel work in the area
ways, where it was light and of poor
construction The ornamental iron
work. he SAYS. was badly damag ed, but
considerable OF il can be used. Mr..
White gives the following figures as 10
the percentage Of loss in the different
buildings on steel and ornamental iron
work;