Croker to Fire His New Home

Croker to Fire His New Home

To build a $30,000 house just for the fun of setting fire to it is the plan former Chief Edward E. Croker announced when ground for his new house at Long Beach was broken. The house will be three stories high, 40 x 60 feet, and will contain fourteen rooms, any one of which can be burned out while adjoining apartments are occupied. The test will he made during the firemen's convention here in October, by which time the dwelling will be finished and occupied. "The house will be completely furnished at the time, said Mr. Croker, "with rugs, draperies and furniture of artistic patterns. But everything in the place will not be proof against fire. We shall fill each room with wood shavings and cotton waste on which kerosene has been poured. We have such confidence in the material employed in the house itself and in the fireproofing qualities of the furniture that we are sure they will come out of the ordeal unscathed. The building itself will he constructed of fireproof block, which can he worked up into the most artistic effects. During its manufacture it was subjected to excessive heat. The exterior will he in tile Italian villa style—the first story in white, the second in red, with a red tile roof. Not a particle of wood will be used anywhere, inside or out. Doors, window frames, sashes and trim will he of metal, while the beams will be of tireproof material. The floors will he of a substance that looks like wood, hut which is chemically impregnated with resistant materials. The furniture will be of fireproof substances, on which tire has absolutely no effect. The sanitation will he perfect. The corners of every room will he rounded, there will be a vacuum cleaning system, and so the dwelling will he insect and ratproof. Closets will be fitted like innovation trunks, with all the fixtures in stamped metal, and lined with tile. The different appliances in them will work on ball-bearing rollers. Kitchen sinks and drainboards will be of aluminum.”

To build a $30,000 house just for the fun of setting fire to it is the plan former Chief Edward E. Croker announced when ground for his new house at Long Beach was broken. The house will be three stories high, 40 x 60 feet, and will contain fourteen rooms, any one of which can be burned out while adjoining apartments are occupied. The test will he made during the firemen's convention here in October, by which time the dwelling will be finished and occupied. "The house will be completely furnished at the time, said Mr. Croker, "with rugs, draperies and furniture of artistic patterns. But everything in the place will not be proof against fire. We shall fill each room with wood shavings and cotton waste on which kerosene has been poured. We have such confidence in the material employed in the house itself and in the fireproofing qualities of the furniture that we are sure they will come out of the ordeal unscathed. The building itself will he constructed of fireproof block, which can he worked up into the most artistic effects. During its manufacture it was subjected to excessive heat. The exterior will he in tile Italian villa style—the first story in white, the second in red, with a red tile roof. Not a particle of wood will be used anywhere, inside or out. Doors, window frames, sashes and trim will he of metal, while the beams will be of tireproof material. The floors will he of a substance that looks like wood, hut which is chemically impregnated with resistant materials. The furniture will be of fireproof substances, on which tire has absolutely no effect. The sanitation will he perfect. The corners of every room will he rounded, there will be a vacuum cleaning system, and so the dwelling will he insect and ratproof. Closets will be fitted like innovation trunks, with all the fixtures in stamped metal, and lined with tile. The different appliances in them will work on ball-bearing rollers. Kitchen sinks and drainboards will be of aluminum.”