DANGER OF SKYSCRAPERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9122, 23 June 1908, Page 3

DANGER OF SKYSCRAPERS.

That the architect of the tallest building in New York should cry a halt to present methods of skyscraper building is a novelty in itself, though wnen his reasons and theories are examined they are not hu mjch a paradox as might appear at first sight. According to him, the New Yoik of the future will not bo a city of sky-scrapers, but a .city of towers—of campaniles. Ha believes that the time has CKne not only to call a halt on the ereeMon of skyscrapers in New York, but to regulate for all time their conbtruction. To him New York is in gra/e danger from skyscarpecs, not onU on account of the threat of fire, but on account of the threat of suffocation. Moreover, the New Yorker wno wants New York to be beautiful has certain rights, in his opinion. He believes that air, light and sunshine are by far the most important things to be considered in the e.ejtion of office buildings and homes. The danger frjm fire he believes to have been reduced to a minimum by fire proof cousttuation. Accordingly, ha would limit the gonetai roof level, although allowing it to be indefinitely exceed by towers at stated intervals. Tuere are tuw-jver, who think that the danger from fire is pres3ing. "A limit co the heignt of builJings," said one public official, "should be set at one*. It is absolutely impossible successfully t;> combat fire at the heiga; tu which skyscrapers have now Dwn built. U de3s a limit be place.l at once thi city will be in grave danger of an apnalling catastrophe." "i have contended for yexvs." sj'id the Chief of the Fire Brigade a short time ago, "that no building should oe more, than fifteen stories in height or aoout 150 ieei. Above that there is a chance of nn appalling fife and the higher tin b.xildings go above that limit the graver becomes the danger." '•The proximity of tha skyscrapers in New York adds to the danger from them.' Our fire apparatus in not effective above the height I have set as my limit; yet were the fir* isolated i i i w single building with no otheri! near enough to bo affected by it, the iMaulting damage would not be so great."