482 



EEPOKT OF NATIOIS-AL MUSEUM, 1903. 



Long length.s of tire hose are distributed everywhere. A'^er}^ ingenious 

 and important also is the instalhition of the water sj'stem on the three 

 sides of the building with houses opposite, by which, from the roof 

 downward, a screen or veil of tiowing w^ater can be set in motion in case 

 of tire, an arrangement that has already on one occasion practically 

 proved its usefulness, and which is certainl}- worthy of imitation. The 

 accessory stairways are of iron. The delivery room can be shut otf 

 from the adjoining })ook stacks by steel roller shutters. No tire is 

 allowed except that for heating in the basement. In the book bindery 

 and in the rooms reserved for emplovees at the noon hour, etc. , electric 

 heating apparatus is used. Everything, in fact, is done to reduce the 

 danger from tire to a minimum. If one wished to be rigorously crit- 

 ical, it might be adversely mentioned that the furniture, such as tables,*^ 



Fig. 00.— Chicago Public Library. A fireproof vault. (See p. 479.) 



stools, etc., as well as doors and elevators, are of wood, although there 

 is no real danger, as the woodwork is very massive. Notwithstanding 

 this, the building has recently been insured for $500,000, at an annual 

 premium of $1,000, for the special reason that the adjacent buildings 

 to the westward are c{uite near. The night service consists of a watch- 

 man and engineers, the latter working in shifts of eight hours. The 

 cleaning is for the most part done during the night, using the electric 

 light (there is no other) as is needed. 



In an equalh^ successful manner the architects have solved the prob- 



a The table tops are unusually massive, but have the disadvantage of warping, so I 

 found a great nunil)er of them, on this account, put aside for repairs. In the work- 

 ing and office rooms some of them are, as an experiment, covered with linoleum. 

 Iron tables Avith linoleum cover would certainly be preferable. There is, too, excel- 

 lent iron furniture for rooms, made in America (see remarks on this subject, p. 880 

 et seq.). 



