TOPICS OF THE DAY.

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

WE shall expect to see decidedly beneficial results follow the increase in the number of inspectors in the building bureau. Mr. Esterbrook said last year that with more assistants he could keep dishonest builders from erecting unsafe buildings anywhere in this city. His force has now been increased from eighteen to forty, and doubtless the chief inspector will make his word good. Then a great point will be gained, for it is much easier to prevent an improperly-planned building from being started than it is to get it altered when work has once begun.

THE possibility of making buildings more nearly fireproof is exciting much discussion and attention just now. A newspaper man recently interviewed ex-Chief Damrell of Boston on the subject, and the following are his views as published : “ Buildings cannot be made absolutely fireproof, but they,can be made in such a manner that their swift destruction by fire is impossible, and so that a fire will not extend beyond the room in which it originates. Iron, brick and stone are not in themselves proof against fire. Brick is the best, but even that soon succumbs to intense heat. The materials used in building must be fireproofed by the application of fireproof materials, as asbestos, magneso calcite, terra cotta, etc., and the air between floors, as far as possible, excluded to prevent draft. There should be a belt or ‘ fire stop ’ on the wall or walls of each story, consisting of a coat or coats of hair, mortar, concrete or plaster paris, at least six inches in width, spread upon the wall be tween the furrings and of a full thickness of the same. It should extend up two inches higher than the lower line of the plastering. Also, every floor should have a coat of plaster paris, mortar, concrete or other non-combustible material, at least seven-eighths of an inch thick. An experience of thirty years enables me, I think, to fairlyjudge of the dangers incident to fire and panic, and I fully believe that the general adoption of the precautionary measures I have suggested would be the means of saving an immense amount of life and property.”