The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-16
0 FIREPROOF BUILDINGS?
CONCLUSIONS OF EXPERTS FROM
san FR4NCISCO'S DISASTER.
n Wight BE Repeated Her -HarnIngs
Unheeded - The FreDrOof Building
Sot Impossible - More Protection
From Danger without Called For.

From Danger without Called For.
WASHINGTON, June l5.-That a great
eorSia grafton is possible in nearly every
biz city Of the United States is the opinion
ofthree Of the best known experts in struct-
lral materials in this country. That the
various municipalities Of the country have
not profted by the calamities in Chicago,
Baltimore and San Francisco is another
conclusion Of these experts, who also de-
clare that there is no such thing as a fire.
proof building.
Not that it is impossible to nave a build
ing frProof. for the experts show the
w 4 n report just made to the Interior
d ,,artment. The fact that the buildings
are not freproof is believed to be directly
traceable to the desire Of owners to cheaper
AZ far as practicable the ~fireprooflng and the
construction generally in order to secure
greater interest on their investments.
Richard l.. Humphrey, in charge Of the
structural materials division Of the Geolog-
ical Survey and secretary Of the National
Advisory Board on Fuels and Structural
Materials, declares that an earthquake
10 New York city Of equal intensity with
that at San Francisco would result in an
appalling loss Of life and property. The
same conditions obtain in every large city,
he says. and it would not take an earth
quake TO prove his contentious.
Shortly after the earthquake in San
Francisco Mr.. Humphrey visited that
city TO investigate the damage done by the
FIRE. the action OF the fire upon so-called
f~reproof buildings and the steps necessary
10 prevent, IL possible. confia grations in
the future. Prof, Frank Soule, lear OF
the college OF civil engineering OF the
University OF California. was designated
hy the technologic branch OF the Geological
Survey 20 proceed to San Francisco for the
same purpose. About his time the War
Department assigned Capt. John Stephen
Sewell, Engineer Corps, u. s. A., whose
reputation az an expert on ireproof build
ing construction ia international, to a similar
task. These officials ave completed a report
which will be published by the Geological
Survey in the near future. The general
conclusions they draw are referred to
above.
Prof. Soule says: "The damage inflicted
upon San Francisco from the direct
and Immediate effect Of the earthquake
vas relatively small, being estimated at
from 3 to 10 per cent. only of the total loss,
but subsequent and indirect effect was to
paralyze the water supply and its distribut-
ing system. start a great oonfagration,
render impossible it's extinguishment with
the means at hand, cause the death Of at
least 500 persons, burn approximately
t5O0,OOO,O00 worth Of property, render
hcuseless. homeless and miserable 200, 900
people and inflict remoter damages to bust
ness, commerce and labor only to be esti-
mated in the future. When we can see
plainly as we may, looking backward. that
nearly all OF this destruction and suffering
might have been prevented by wise fore
sight and provision we feel that we must
send a warning to all the cities Of the world.
Any city that disregards this warning will
be guilty Of a great crime"
Mr.. Humphrey says: "The defects Of
construction which are 30 strongly JON
demned by reason Of their failure in San
Francisco are no worse than those generally
p~ractised throughout the United States.
The same defects are common, and it is evil
dent that the same results would follow
an earthquake Of equal intensity in another
part Of the country.
a moments consideration will show
that the loss Of life and property in New
York, for example. under similar condi-
tons, would be enormous. The damage
to property in San Francisco is estimated
at $3.50, oOO. 900. but this sum. large as it is,
10 exceeded by the total annual expendi-
lures for new construction alone in New
York.
In three days the tremendous area OF
? ,5s3 acres was burned, destroying en-
tirely 400 city blocks. and in part thirty
two blocks. OF this 3l[ acres comprised
the congested district. on which there was
$3.50, 900. 900 insurance, probably represent
ing a value of at least $500 900 900.
In the Baltimore fire 1,Si3 buildings we're
destroyed. having an assessed value OF
tl2, sos, 800. In W years these burned
buildings were replaced by $40 buildings,
whose assessed value is SEQ, 600, 900.
These new buildings are larger than the
old and the widening Of the streets has
eliminated 700 building lots. 1t is expected
that when the reconstruction within the
burned district is complete there will be
less than 800 buildings. OF which the assessed ',
value will be fully $25 900. 900.
1T is reasonable to suppose that the as
tessed value Of the reconstructed San
will at least be double that at
The time OF the catastrophe
In his recommendations to the country
nm ireproof buildings Prof. Soule declares
that the high. steel frame Office buildings, ,
braced. will surely endure an {
earthquake Of even greater severity thar I
that in San Francisco.
This kind OF building has proved its
worth and reliability" says Prof. Soule.
and has come TO stay. IL has been tried G
and has not been found wanting. Minor
improvements will produce a perfect struct- 6
IRE" (
Concrete and reinforced concrete struct. q
ires are placed high in the estimation OF
The experts, who believe that they are as 8
veil adapted TO withstand earthquake or II
rre as any other type OF building.
For very tall buildings" says Capt. !
SeWeIl, the best type Of construction is :
Undoubtedly a steel frame. For buildings j
y moderate height. say up to l25 feet as
IN extreme limit, reinforced concrete alone
an undoubtedly be 80 designed as to give !
very, good results when subjected to either :.
rthqlake or fire q
Capt. Sewell believes that in order to q
'rotect The steel frame buildings against T
safihqnake or fire all columns should be a
'crered either with four inches OF brick q
~ aid In Portland cement mortar and J.
Nth all the interior spaces filled with con- u
.rete. or else they should be inclosed in an 81