高层建筑的危险。
IN a recent issue we made some comments on the fact that the number of immensely tall buildings was rapidly increasing in the large cities. After saying that the “ commercial necessities of the country demand large and high buildings,” the article continued as follows :
Science must be called upon to provide the required fire protection, and this will come mainly through a better class of buildings made more nearly fire-proof than existing buildings are. It will not be long before business blocks ten, twelve and even fifteen stories high will be the rule in large cities rather than the exception, and those who now think it would be wise to restrict their height will find it more profitable to turn their attention to devising methods for making such structures safe. The introduction of elevators has made the upper floors more desirable for office purposes than the lower ones, and tenants will occupy them with little regard to the hazard they run in so doing. Our fire authorities are doing all in their power to increase the capacity of fire-extinguishing apparatus, but there is a limit beyond which even steam en gines cannot pass. To make these tall buildings comparatively safe, the law should compel them to carry their own fire protection as permanent fixtures.
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