THE FIREPROOPING OP CITV BUILDINGS. 575' 



As the estimate of cost of the former scheme at Barossa for 

 increasing the Adehiide suppy was not less than £700,000, and I 

 hope by this sclienie to show that it can be done for under 

 £200,000. I think tlie importance of tlie matter will be readily 

 seen. 



This subiect is of the greatest consequence, not only to 8outh 

 Australia, but also to the other colonies of Australia, in all of 

 which the question of how to obtain water for domestic and 

 stock supply, as well as for irrigation purposes in good quantity 

 and at a moderate cost, is now generally acknowledged to be of 

 the most vital importance. 



Friday, August 31. 



The President, Professor W. C. Kernot, M.A., C.E., in tlie Cliair^ 



The following papers were read : — 



1.— THE FIREPROOFING OF CITY BUILDINGS.* 



By John Sulman, F.R.I.B.A. 



Australian cities have hitherto Vieen remarkably free from great 

 all destroying conflagrations. This immunity may be accounted 

 for in many ways. The buildings are not very lofty or closely 

 packed, artificial heating is less used than in colder climates,^ 

 manufactures are not fully developed, the fire-brigades are well 

 organised and the water supply is sufficient. But some of the 

 conditions are rapidly changing and the I'isks are increasing. 

 The causes of the changes are the simultaneous introduction of a 

 great amount of English capital and the adoption of safe and 

 speedy lifts. The former has caused a boom in city land, and the 

 latter has rendered the top floors of lofty buildings easily 

 accessible. When land becomes abnormally dear an adequate 

 feturn on the capital invested can only be obtained by " taking 

 it out of the sky." This movement is now in full swing in Mel- 

 bourne and ere long the heart of each of the chief cities of Aus- 

 tralia will be packed with eight, ten, or twelve story structures. If 

 these are constructed on the same principle as ordinary buildings 

 of thi-ee or four stories and a great tire should take place, the 

 destruction would i-ival that of Chicago. Our present mode of 

 building is to run up brick or stone walls as thin as the Building 

 Acti will permit, fill the openings with wooden frames, form the 

 floors of inflammable Oregon joists, cover them with boards, ceil 

 Avith thin wooden linings, cut them through from top to bottom 

 for lifts, cased in with wood, if cased at all, divide the rooms with 

 wooden partitions, erect a wooden staircase, and finally cover 



* Since this paper was read it has been revised and amplified bv the author. — Ed. 



