The Washington herald., 1908-03-08
H0locausts Possible in Every
City and Village.
FIREPROoFING IS THE REMEDY
Engineer II. T.. Humphrey. of Geo
logical survey, Reviews Menace of
High Buildings, Narrow streets,
InfIammabIe Structural Materials.
Suggests Stringent Laws.

|
possible in nearly every city and village
In The United States, says Richard l.
Humphrey. engineer in charge OF the
Ps;ructuraI materials laboratories of the
government Humphreys declares il is
providential and not due 10 proper pre-
cautions that more Of these holocausts
have not occurred
In his official character as the officer
in charge or the structural material in
vestigations conducted by the technologic
branch of the United States Geological
Survey. Humphrey has made a thorough
study of fireproohng.
had Conditions Everywhere.
The shocking catastrophe at Collin
wood. Ohio. last Wednesday did not re-
suit from exceptional conditions" he said
yesterday, but conditions that are TO be
found in thousands Of instances through
out the United states
| The same or even worse fire traps pre-
vail in every village and town. and. in
deed. in many Of the large cities. Even
where municipal laws are supposed TO
govern the erection OF such structures.
the conditions are often worse than in
Collinwood.
"Such calamitles as we have had the
few months of this year do not come as
q matter OF surprise TO any one versed
on the subject. The Only surprise is that
these catastrOphes do not occur more
| frequently throughout this great country.
Laws to Compel FireprOOnnE.
Laws should be enacted TO prohibit
the erection Of anything except struc-
ture OF the highest fire-ressting type.
especially when it is 10 be used as
school. hospital theater. or other struc-
ture In which people assemble in large
numbers. who in the event Of great
fire. such as happened in Colllnwood,
would be to a certain extent helpless.
In our hospitals and public schools II
would appear unwise to erect structures
OF more than two stories In height Ia
such buildings. I'm addition 20 wide stair
ways. l would have one or two chutes
or tubes leading from the top story 10
the ground. These would prove not only
much safer than fire escapes. but also a
much more rapid means OF exit
The question OF the height OF buildings
and the character Of the interior struc-
lures Is continually agitating public off,
cials, but commercial interests seem 10
dominate. and buildings are erected that
are known not to be the safest for
the purpose. This condition pertains as
much TO municipal structures as to any
other class OF building.
1T Is a fact that money available for |
schools. hospitals. and other municipal I
structures is usually inadequate for the |
purpose. Officials in charge. in order To /
keep within the appropriations. are forced |
to erect cheap. fiimsy buildings that are
not freproof
New York Is Full of Fire Traps.
''The city OF New York is fun of fire
traps II is miracle that great fire
has not wiped out the greater part OF /
the business district.
"The remedy for these conditions Is \
not in elaborate systems for fighting fire. (
or any elaborate fire drills. which may
or may not be effectively carried out. I
but in the enactment Of strict municipal /
laws compelling the erection OF structures /
entirelv fireproof with materials OF the
highest quality, and especially in the pre- /
vention of the erection of fiimsy struc- 4
lures where women and children gather I
in large numbers. as, for example. schools. /
theateres. hospitals and similar buildings
Unless such action is taken. greater /
calamities than those at Collinwood and /
Boyertown. attended by even greater loss
Of life. will undoubtedly occur
The continual increase Of the height !
OF buildings, for Office or mercantile pur-
poses, as for example IN the city OF New
York. gives rise 10 many problems One
OF the most important IS the question
Of handling through the streets the i'm
mense population crowded in small
district. AS this congestion Increases
through the erection Of these great build
ngs it will be necessary In the near
future 20 double-deck the streets IN order
TO accommodate this immense population
and also to multiply the present trans
portation facilities.
Continual Menace of Great Fires.
'It IS apparent. therefore. that a great
calamity in the shape Of fire such as
visited Baltimore and San Francisco
must necessarily be the means Of destroy
ing the lives OF many people who would
be unable 10 get away in safety with
the facilities now existing.
Buildings should not be erected so
high as 20 prevent the fire department
from fighting blaze in the upper parts
Of such structures. unless these build
ings are supplied with fire-hghtlng ap-
paratus of their own. capable OF taking
care Of any fire beyond the reach of the
fremen.
AT present the average fire depart
ment is helpless, or seriously handicap
ped. in successfully coping with IRE
in building over 80 feet high This
means thet the fremen can take care OF
tie first fifteen stories Of a skyscraper.
Beyond that. the tall buildings will
have to look out for their own safety
against fire
Expenditures MiSdirected.
Tt is matter of record. borne out
by insurance statistics. that this country
spends enormous sums Of money IN pro-
viding equipment for fighting fires. while
foreign countries spend their money in
building structures which offer the great
est resistance to fire. The per capita loss
In this country yearly exceeds s.. against
an annual loss in twenty-One OF the prIn-
cipal cities Of Europe Of 3S cents Der
capita.
Estimating the population of the coun
try at Se.0o90O0, the loss from fires here
is s240OO0,00o. If we had the same condi-
tions that prevail in European cities. our
loss would be but $a6. 1000 a year
statements have appeared in the daily
fhro4tOt 4fo I