PREVENTION AND EXTINQ UISHMENT OF FIRES. 147 



grained granite, which is very beautiful, particularly adapted for massive 

 and strong work in building. Road Materials. — Missouri has an abundant 

 supply of street and road materials. Limestone of the hardest and most 

 durable kinds occurring everywhere, while Madison and the adjoining 

 counties produce green stone, trap, sienite and gray granite, which make 

 most excellent block paving. Thus imperfectly, without any desire to ex- 

 aggerate, we present a general view of the mineral deposits of Missouri, and 

 no argument is needed to convince the candid reader that if the develop- 

 ments of the mineral resources of the State are pushed forward in the fu- 

 ture as they have been recently, our great State will rise up in her glory 

 and wear the crown as queen of the empire. 



CHEMISTRY. 



Remarks upon the Prevention and. Extinguishment of Conflagra- 

 tions, by Theo. S. Case. Read before the Kansas City 

 Academy of Sciences, April 25, 1876. 



(republished by request.) 



In these days of frequent conflagrations and expensive insurance this 

 subject demands the attention and action not only of the scientific man, but 

 also of the prudent and economical house builder and owner ; and in treat- 

 ing it I have adopted the plainest and most practical method and terms; 

 believing that a Society like this can make itself fully as useful to and per- 

 haps more poj)ular in the community where it exists by sometimes discuss- 

 ing practical matters than by giving itself up at all times to abstruse inves- 

 tigations and theories. 



Taking the heads of the subjects in their natural order, I have divided 

 that of 



prevention 

 as follows, viz : 



1. Prevention by the exclusion of oxygen and atmospheric air. 



2. Prevention by fire-proof coatings of the combustible materials used 

 in the construction of our buildings. 



3. Prevention by rendering such materials themselves essentially incom- 

 bustible. 



4. Prevention by rendering bedding, clothing, scenery of theatres, etc., 

 incombustible. 



5. Prevention by mechanical obstructions, such as fire-walls, etc. 



6. Prevention by the avoidance of the causes of spontaneous combustion. 



