The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-04
EZREPROOF METHODS
FOR HOME. BUILDERS
Women Dislike to Gige Up Wooden Construction
and furnishings to winch They Haze Become
Aftnched Thru Long Association of Idea With
tie Thought Of HOne-Adgn,,tuge of En-
closed ISfa1rauays Strongly Urged.

A very large share of the fire losses
OF the country are on houses, for it is
a rare exception to build residence
with any attention to ireproof con-
struction. +. w. Fitzpatrick, secretary
treasurer of the international Society
of Building Commissioners and Inspect
ors, is trying to interest women in the
problem Of freproof homes. One of
his magazine articles, called "Chat with
has been reprinted in pamphlet form.
He is inclined to lay the blame for
the conservatism about giving up
wooden construction and finishing to
women. He points out that the argu:
ment of cheapness in favor of wood
is no longer true. stating that a thoroly
fireDroof house will not cost, in it's mi
tlal expenditure, more than per cent
over the cost of wooden construction,
while, taking into consideration the
fewer repairs required to keep such a
house in condition, it's far longer life,
the lessened insurance-if, indeed, any
need be carried the investment in a
tireproof house is no greater anywhere
IN the country than is that: in an Or
binary structure. Many times, in fact,
the initial cost of the better mode is
even less than that of the poor one.
+,;na 1 am mot not !, aedvocating anything star
etihSAy ucW. says MT. F1CZpdCf1Ck,
nor great reform in building material
nor anything of that sort, but am sim.
ply urging. the adoption of as sensible
mode Of construction in our houses
as we have gotten into the way of using
IN our larger buildings. All that I am
advocating or urging is that the ladies
forego the little pleasure they may de-
rive from their dainty minarets of shin
giles, scroll-saw ornaments, beautiful
green-stained single sides to their
houses and the endless wood-wood-
wood trimming and finishing that is
SIMPLY pretty because we have grown
used to it, and substitute in the place
OF all this highly combustible material
other materials that will not burn and
that are not damaged if an incipient
fire does occur in the house furnishings
carpets, etc. Brick and tile are the
two materials that fulfil that require
ment, but if they are used almost ex-
cluslvely In the structural parts of a
house, slate and stone and metal, that
are Manageable by fire, may be used
the possibility of their being damaged
is virtually eliminated by the use of
brick and tile construction
Mr.. Fitzpatrick will be more likely
to persuade the women interested in
building to adopt non-combustible ma.
ter!ais than to adopt another feature
which he advocates, viz, stairways en-
closed in freproof partitions He says:
| Given if you still persist in building
of wood, in heaven s name, close off
your stairways, so that every floor may
be a separate entity and the stairway
not means Of at least immediate
communication Of fire from below.
Apart from this fire question, did you
ever stop to think that the open stair.
way, while perhaps rather attractive
esthetically, adds just about fifteen per
cent to your cares, work and inconveni
encee Every time you sweep a room
in the upper stories you are merely
transferring dirt to your lower stories
The stair means draught all winter
the addition of about twelve per cent
to your coal bill, and oftentimes the
addition of very large per cent tc
your doctors bills. You have com
Ipany downstairs and everything going
on upstairs is heard-awfullv embar
RAISING at times. Altogether. consider
the "feature' open stairway one OF
the worst curses Of our modern house
construction; menace to life, health
comfort and peace of mind. So. the
thing to do, however you build, is tC
close off your stairways.