Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/80

 GO Sloan's Architectural Review and Builders' Journal. [July, FIRE-PROOF CONSTRUCTION. Joseph Gilbert's Patent Corrugated Iron Ceiling, for Rendering Buildings Ftre-proof. THE increased cost of erecting struc- tures of every kind, with the seri- ous nature of the large fires throughout the country, has naturally attracted the attention of the community to the im- portance and absolute necessity of con- structing Fire-proof Buildings, with a view to avert the progress of the de- vouring element ; to adopt measures for the better security of property, and to prevent a calamity so injurious to pub- lic and individual interests. The capi- talist, the mechanic, the philanthropist, in fact all classes, are to a certain ex- tent interested in this matter. In many instances, the parties most affected (pe- cuniarily) allow themselves to remain satisfied with a knowledge of the fact that they are insured, not taking into consideration that although they may be fully reimbursed in event of loss by fire, they would be vastly better off had such a misfortune not occurred, for va- rious reasons : among which we would inention that their trade would not be diverted from its regular course, that their skilled employes would not be compelled to seek other employers, and that they would not be subjected to many other annoyances arising in con- sequence of such a calamity. Besides, whatever aggregate destruction is occa- sioned by a fire, that much of the con- crete result of human skill, time, and labor, is lost to the world forever. In Europe more attention has been paid to rendering buildings fire-proof than in this country. The Fire Departments in European cities are small affairs in com- parison with those of our American cities, yet there are few destructive fires in Europe, and why ? The munici- pal regulations there are such, that all large buildings are constructed with the view of being as nearly as possible im- pervious to the inroads of fire. Were more attention given to the construction of fire-proof buildings in this country, the cost of our Fire Departments would be reduced to a sum merely nominal, and the rates of insurance would be materi- ally lessened as a natural consequence, with other beneficial results to both the insurers and insured. That it is neces- sarjr to guard against fire in all commer- cial cities, and throughout the country, no one can dispute, and no building of any magnitude in the United States should be erected without being made fire-proof; great conflagrations which have devastated whole sections of our large cities, and the great losses thereby sustained, prove this. The preservation of public records all over the country is sadly neglected, and should not longer remain at the mercy of the elements. The business community have of late awakened to the necessitj* of erecting fire-proof buildings, when it can be done with economy ; heretofore, the drawback with our builders has been the great ex- pense attending their construction ; heavy iron beams and ponderous brick arches have alwa} r s been objectionable on account of their great weight, and various methods have been devised to substitute iron arches for brick. All progressives who have examined into the merits of the Gilbert Patent Corrugated Iron Arched Ceiling, are convinced that the advantages peculiar to its construction are such as to entitle it to more than ordinary consideration, as it will be found a floor of exceedingly light construction, perfectly fire-proof, and containing all the elements of strength and rigidity which can possi- bly be attained. This veiy complete and valuable ceiling (or floor) was in- vented by Joseph Gilbert, practical builder, of Philadelphia, and letters patent granted May 14th, 1867, and by