The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-27

rates of Is per cent. was ordered some
weeks ago. This order met with such vigor-
Gus protest on the part OF property owners
and agents that a further investigation
was made, and upon the promise or the
city to make good the deficiencies the in
surance managers agreed to suspend the
advance for a season. week or so after,
however further investigation induced
them to believe that the advance was nee
essary, that other cities had been com
PEELED to pay an increase for less cause than
Evansville showed and, in consequence.
the agents were ordered to collect the adj
vance, dating back 10 the time of its applica-
ton to May l. This revived the tempest,
and many of the agents, some of them
backed by their companies, refused TO col
lect the advance. This week another COM
mittee of the Indiana field men was sent
for by the governing committee, and visited
Chicago. subcommittee of the governing
committee is also booked to visit Evans
vile this week, and 1t is expected that the
outcome will be that the advance will not
be collected If the city of Evansville shows
that ii really intends to make the neces-
sary improvements. But. anyway, the
whole thing is we'll deserving of the title
OF THE Evansville Middle"
The most valuable report that has as
yet appeared on the Baltimore fire was
issued last week by the committee on fire
resistive construction appointed by the
National Fire Protection Association. This
report is an expert review of the lessons
taught by the fire and the following conclu-
sions will be found to be of interest:
Structural metal work must be properly
protected so as to successfully withstand
the effects of severe heat.
To resist distortion, steel columns should
be so designed as to practically equaliZe
the transverse strength of the material in
all directions from the axis of the column.
Well-burned ordinary brick of good quail
lty, properly laid in cement mortar, is the
best material now in use as a fire protect
i've covering for steel or iron columns.
This combines rigid construction and the
necessary fire resistive qualities.
Hollow terra Gotta tile, as ordinarily
used a fire protective covering for col
umns. lacks stability and breaks when ex-
posed to heat.
Plaster blocks and plaster on metal lath
are unsatisfactory for use fire protec-
tive covering for columns or other struc-
tural metal work
Pipes or electric wire conduits should not
be located inside the column covering.
The covering for lower fianges of beams
and Orders should not be less than two
posed metal clips nor by mortar alone.
Wedge-shaped fiange tile. held by skew
backs OF tile arches as ordinarily con-
the breaking of the tile. Shoe tile for Cir
ders also is unreliable for the same reason.
Terra Gotta the for floor arches is defec-
tive. as the lower web breaks off under Sc
grades of tile.
Floor surfaces should be of noncom-
bustible material.
The space between the floor and the floor
arch should be flied with concrete of good
quality.
Stone of any kind should be classed as
fragile, and especially susceptible to dam
age when exposed to severe heat. From a
fire protection viewpoint 1T is unsuitable
both for wall and pier construction and for
exterior or interior finish.
Good terra Gotta wall trim, when reason
ably plain and free from ornamentation
involving irregular shapes. is superior 10
stone. but not so desirable as brick.
Ordinary well-burned brick of good quail
ity is the most satisfactory fire resistive
material now used in building construction
Wall facings should not be tied to the
wall with metal bonding clips. All walls
should be bonded with full brick headers
1t is essential that the spandrel beams
used TO support the exterior curtain walls
at each story should be thoroughly pro-
tected, especially over windows. From a
fire protective viewpoint, all window open
ings should be single. to avoid the use OF
readily destructive mullions and light piers
between the windows.
Large. unbroken floor areas assist the
spread of fire and serve to augment its
severity. Buildings of considerable area
and having large quantities Of combust-
ible contents should be subdivided by sub.
stantial brick fire walls sufficient to form
a positive barrier to the spread of fire.
All room partitions, as ordinarily con.
structed of hollow tile, plaster blocks meta
lath and plaster or similar materials. are
readily destroyed by severe fire.
Vertical openings throughout buildings, as
for stairs and elevators, rapidly communi-
cate fire to all stories With buildings OF
considerable height or combustible contents
yond fire department control All such
floor openings should be Enclosed in brick
walled shafts. crowned by thin glass sky
light and extended through roof, and with
doors OnpninQS
closed vertical openings are considered to be
a feature contributing to the fire cost and
loss of life. Neglect to guard these open
ings is common throughout all existing
buildings, as well as in those hereafter
erected. particularly buildings of mercan.
tile. manufacturing and storage occupancy
Municipal buildings laws and insurance dis
elimination should be evoked to this end
Stair treads preferably should be OF iror
or it's equivalent. If slate or marble treads
are used they should be supported by g
All interior finish. both combustible ant
otherwise. is readily susceptible to tota
destruction by fire. This includes all orna
mentation. such as marble, metal grill
work. plaster and other less durable ma
terials.
Municipal building laws and inspection
should enforce good construction in all de-
tails. Inspection of Are resistive building.
In course of erection should be more FIRE
quent than is necessary for buildings OF
ordinary construction.
Buildings of fire resistive construction
with combustible contents, and hayins
numerous unprotected windows, do moi
serve positive barrier in retarding the
spread OF confiagration. From a fire
protection viewpoint il is essential thai
solid brick walls without openings of an,
kind should be provided wherever neces
sary. Where windows or other opening,
are necessary they should be few in mum
Der and of small area. They also should
be provided with the best known device,
for the protection of such openings agains
fire.
The contents of fire resistive buildin.
without proper subdivision and no adeouat
protection against exposing fires ar
scarcely any safer as regards destruction
by fire than IL contained in q building o
ordinary construction