The Globe FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1249, 8 March 1878, Page 2

The Globe FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1878.

For a considerable time past the almost total inefficiency of the by-law referring to the erection of buildings within the city has been manifestly apparent. So far from affording —as it would do —substantial protection against tho spread of fire, the experience of the past has proved that it is quite the reverse. Besides this, a« we have befir; pointed out, the time has now arrived when the building block, or what is known in the now by-law as the inuer area, should be increased. The growth of population and consequent increase in the number of houses erected makes this a matter of necessity. It is, therefore, with great pleasui'e that we notice the step taken by the City Council in passing a new by-law dealing with the subject. This Avas considered at a special meeting of the Council held yesterday, and now [stands for confirmation on the Bth April next. The new bylaw provides first for the division of the city in areas, called respectively the inner and outer. The inner area, the boundaries of which are set forth is the portion of the city wherein tho operation of the by-law is to take effect; that is, inner area is another term for building block known under the present by-law. This inner area is an increase on the size of the present building block, which is an improvement. We are inclined to go with those who would like to see it still further extended, but not quite to the extent that Or, Ruddenklau proposed, It must be recollected that while taking all due precaution against the spread of fire, we must also be careful not to place difficulties in the way of improving the city by good buildings, in the shape of too stringent enactments. Were the block to be unduly extended, taking in localities where it is not possible for many years to come there will be any crowding of houses, tho result would bo a check to the progress of filling up our city. But while this is so, we must confess to a feeling that a slight increase could have been made on the area now proposed with advantage, and without its being felt as a hardship on those intending to build. However, as one of the councillors aptly put it yesterday, the present by-law is so/bad that, anything would be an improvement on it, so that we must be grateful' even for what has been done in this direction. The second alteration to which we will refer is, that it is rendered imperative under the new by-law that the front and back of ail premises erected within the inner area shall be of incombustible mate? rials. Hitherto —and this will serve to show the inefficiency of the present bylaw while taking precautions as to side walls, we have allowed the frputs pf buildings to be constructed of wood, A lire breaking Qp m one of a row of such buildings cminot but spread, as one of the exposed portions is of a material which acts as a conductor. This is decidedly a step in the right direction. Another excellent provision, and one which has been long wanted, is the making it imperative on any one building an hotel within the area, to erect stone or iron The rapidity with which a fire spreads w buildings such ag %>sp \n Christchureh, is well known, Wfrere wooden staircases are used the communication with outside is cut off at a comparatively early period, and it is matter for surprise that son>e fatal accident has jipt occurred from this very cause. The substitution pf gtpra or irfm for staircases in hojfcels will afford an opportunity to strangers —who may be ignorant of the means of egress —to escape ih ufafc .4' §}'&' n ft lture the erec_ tion of 'stone pi; frftn gtaißcasee in in hotels will be made amP </W : i{W to obtaining a license. Our readers will

a w -«+.li lis that even had this been the only I 'iniproveme:: f '' OU tlie pld by-law it would have been worth having—tne veov of the WW by-law, with one or two exceptions to which we wHi re#e», is pf a technical character, Thp first P$ the two exceptions to which we will refer is that having reference to non-combustiblo roofs. In reply to a question from one of the Councillors, the Mayor stated that there was no provision whereby the shingle and other combustible roofs within the inner area would within a Attain time have to be replaced with materials. This we incline to regard as a mistake. Wh arp retaining, in the midst of a thickly populated area, several aids to the spread of conflagration. It matters not whether there be five or fifty the risk of a fire being carried on is the same proportionately. We are not urging for an arbitrary. measure which would press hardly upon those who hold buildings having roofs covered with combustible materials. Let ample time be given, but there must be a limit after which, by the removal of these roofs, the risk of fire is reduced to a minimum, or nearly so. The provision relating to in the outer area is to the effect that they a*e to J?e exempt from the provisions of the by-law, as regards the liability to submit plans, give of erection, being liable to inspection, and paving fees on certain conditions, Those buildings in tho outer area erected twenty foot from any other building aro exempt, as those erected within twenty feet wjill httvo to build a party wall. Altogether,' the 'bydaw i,e a very great improvement on the one now ih-fapfifii and W%r tend, when carried out, to add yet another to o.yr woii.vcea of protection against, five,