国会大厦，得梅因
Specially reported to FIRE AND WATER ENGINEERING
本月初在得梅因州议会大厦,Ia., had a narrow escape from destruction by fire. As it was, an estimated damage of $500,000 was done, and the whole structure barely escaped being swept out of existence. Notwithstanding that it was rated one of the most fireproof structures in the middle West, this three million dollar Statehouse suffered a fire loss which will cost the State close on to the sum mentioned above to repair. The destruction wrought to this apparently fireproof structure is not only an evidence of weakness from an architectural standpoint, but is also an illustration of the entire dependence placed by the State on its construction. There seemed to be an absence of fire protection, and in the whole building was not even as much as may be found in the smallest store or office structure. The State house stands upon an elevation covering several square blocks, and is 1,200 feet from any street. There was no fire alarm in the building, nor were there any fire extinguishers, standpipes or other means of fire extinguishment, except a few bombs on the first floor. The only appliance visible which was calculated to assist in controlitig the flames was a small hose rack with one-inch hose, which would not carry water if pressure were applied. After the fire apparatus arrived, several lengths of fire hose were connected to the street hydrants with about sixty pounds pressure. The pressure, however, was greatly diminished by the long distance the hose had to be laid and carried over curbs, stone steps and through the high walls of the building. Fire Chief William Burnett and his men fought hard for eight hours before they succeeded in making any impression whatever on the fire, and for a time it was feared the whole building would go. As it was, only the house chamber, with its magnificent furnishings and frescoes, was damaged, together with the committee rooms—and domes in that wing of the building. Fireman Eugene Maxwell of Station No. 15 was badly injured by falling timbers. The Des Moines firemen did their work so well that Governor A. B. Cummins issued a vote of thanks to them. The State had no fire organisation of its employes to meet any such mergency, but the Governor himself donned rubber boots and, along with the fire chief, directed the fight. One of the serious features of the fire was the death of C. L. Linley, consulting engineer, of Chicago, who. while examining the roof of the house chamber the following day to determine whether it would be safe for workmen to proceed with clearing away the debris, went down to death with a section of the steel girders to the roof. Several workmen in the building at the time the fire broke out were overcome by smoke, but all recovered. It was the irony of fate that the recent expenditure of nearly $125,000 in improvements upon the building should have contributed largely to its destruction. M. E. Bell, architect, blames the electric wiring for the fire. He says that today the State house would have been fireproof against any ordinary dangers, but for the mistake of cutting open the air-ducts in order to place electric wires in them. The blame for the fire has been fixed bv the State executive council upon Harry Frazey, an electrical worker, against whom there was proof sufficient for the council to find that he dropped a lighted candle in an air-duct which extends upwards from a committee room back of the house chamber, in which the flames were first discovered. The State carries no insurance upon its buildings. During the past ten years it has suffered fire losses amounting to $859,000. In spite of this fact, the majority of the members of the legislature, who are in session here, and the members of the State board of control, who have charge of the State institutions, are a unit against the adoption of the policy of the State carrying insurance. They argue that it is cheaper for Iowa to carry its own risks and sustain occasional losses than pay heavv rates for insurance. Chief Burnett says that the failure to get a good stream of water on the fire was not due to lack of pressure, but was largely on account of the length of the hose necessary to make it reach the building. There were six lines of hose, averaging 1,000 feet in length. The highest pressure at the hydrant from which the water was conveyed to the building was 120 pounds. The pressure on the hydrants in the main part of the city at the same time was from 150 to 140 pounds. The city has no fire engines and never has had any. There were eleven pieces of apparatus used at the fire, two hook and ladder trucks and three combination chemical and six hose wagons.
