Evening journal., 1907-07-27
NO BUILDINGS
TRULY FIREPROOF
So Says Government Board
After a Thorough
Examination
HASTY BUILDING THE CAUS

Large connagrations demonstrate
that there is no such thing as "a fire.
proof building. To label one as such
Is bad practice, since il gives a false
sense of security and causes a relax
ing of necessary precautions"
This sensational statement was made
by Richard J.. Humphrey, an expert of
the United States Geological Survey
in charge of the division of structural
materials
Soon after the San Francisco fire
and earthquake, a government board
was appointed TO make "a thorough in
vestigation of the disaster, and to pre-
pare thereon a report. The board con-
sisted Of three members, Captain John
S. Sewell, Of the Engineer corps,
United States army; Professor Frank
Soule. dean of the college Of civil
Eng ineering, University OF California,
and Mr.. Humphrey, of the Geological
Survey The report of the board only
recently was submitted TO the govern
ment While Individual reports were
made by members of the commission.
they submit point conclusions which
viii be of immense value TO cities and
to constructors and contractors of
the most sensational in the report and
probably will shock a good many peo-
Pile In Mr. Humphreys conclusion,
Captain Sewell, one of the best engi-
lneering authorities in the army fully
concurs on this point, he says:
Inadequate Methods.
THE Baltimore fire and the San
Francisco fire. as we'll as many other
d
conclusively that commercial methods
of fire prooiing are inadequate TO stand
any real test"
II is pointed out I'm the report that
many great connagrations, scores of
the large cities, are chapacterized by
poor materials and poor workmanship.
In the opinion of the board this is due
TO two causes. %, "a demand for
cheap construction, and co. too great
hurry In the work Of construction. It
is suggested, too that Inadequate
! knowledge of building materials on the
part Of contractors frequently contri-
butes to- the insecurity Of structures.
The eovtrnmentluOw IS constructing
extensive experiments IN building ma
terials, which, when they are conclud-
ed, will furnish immensely valuable
/ NAA'WANAR' W tAiA WIN AihN Nh AAAtA
ested Through these tests 1t is ex-
pected that the merits of all kinds Of
building materials viii be determined
definitely. Among the experiments be-
ing made are those relating 10 con-
crete and re-onforced concrete, both of
which now are being used extensively
in building operations
Lessons OF conflagrations.
In the opinion of the board, expressed
unanimously structures built of re-
enforced concrete are best able TO with
stand earthquake shocks and are best
able to resist the ravages of fire. The
members also agree that San Fran
cisco may be rebuilt as a successful
commercial enterprise, and that, with
proper precautions. the dangers of
both earthquake and fire may be re-
duced to a minimum. They point out
distinctly, however. that the lessons OF
all great CONGREGATIONS in this country
and in the world have not yet been
learned, and, until they are, every city
will be liable TO serious danger.
With this thought i'm mind, the board
issues TO the cities, not alone of the
United States, but of the world, sol
emn warning against poor workman
ship and bad materials in the CON
struction of buildings, its closing ad-
monition being;
ANY city that disregards this warn
ing will be guilty of a great crime.