, 1877-12-09
SAFETY LADDERS.

Since the disastrous fire at Field j. Letters re-
tai. store, where the cflosss OF the Fire Depart
lncnt 10 bring water to boar on the burning build
| ing were impeded by their inability to obtain an
cutfncc, public attention has hccn directed to the
| stand pipes and ladders, which have already hecu
placed many prominent buildings. md by means
Of which, it is claimed tue difficulty found on that
occasion might be obviated in the future. In order
TO learn the sentiments Ut Of those pa-
ticularly interested in this Important subject :
TE1uuSE reporter yesterday interviewed Fire. Mar
shat Ecnncr and 4 number Of leading insurance
ulen.
MARSHAL BESSER
was uncqnivocal i'll his Endorsement of the stand
ppes If the Field Il Letter building had been
h1ted with them his men could have reached the
root need have been sacrdceo, perhaps only = part
Of that. The combination ladder and s,ahd-ppe
Was dttca With brass couplings on each door to
connection WIS being made between the engine
and the plpe and te seat Of the lire could thus be
at once reached. II the ire were in the roof OF
top story length two OF hose could be
drawn up by. 4 rope and affixed 10 the top
of the slaud pipe, thus giving the requisite
stand pipe adapted to he contour OF the build
ing while hose. even if it could be carried to the
roof. WAS bent over tue cornlces and other psojec-
ltons, and was liable 10 burst at those points.
Owing to the great weigh. Of water, it IVES difficult
to throw stream to the top OF some of Chica@o's
largest buildings the water reaching It only IN the
the use Of the s1andpipe. 4As to 1!c ladder. it
would no doubt be usciul In enabling persons to
escape from ,otcls The Department hau no lad
dcrs long enough to reach the top story Of the
Pacific.
In this connection it may be stated that on Mon
day. Nov. -, the City Council passed an ordi
nance providing that all buildings {cxcept those
used exclusively private residencc6) Of four or
more stores must be lifted with or murc inc
tallic fre-escape$, and imposing 4 heavy fine 70.
ri0'Htinns OF the law The tire escapes must be OF
such construction Us is approved Dy the Mayor. the
Fire Ia7shal Superintendent of Buildings, auG the
Chairulen of the Council Committees on Fire and
Superintendent Of Buildings to give the required
notice, ata tue improvement niu=t he completed
within thirty days from receipt OF the no1icc.
11};, ALFRED WRIGHT,
Secretary OF the Board OF Underwriters, was also
asked fur his opinion. lie believed that stand
pipes outside tho building were very useful, and
the insurance companies were so we'll satisfied OF
thls that they granted rebate OF 10 cents on the
t1GJ "ter: enough Of them were put up. In cuscy
where tlc stock Of goods WIS very large this re-
baie was sufficient to dcfray the OF the ncces-
s.r5 pipes IN ycar, while the owners or occ,,-
piers Ut the building received the benefit right
along. Stand pipes inside buildings were Of uu
ssae wtlItrStr. They cuu1d not b. found When
how.
Several gentlemen connected with tho Board
hnrc similar testimony u tic usefulness nf The
pipes Mr. Edward TEAL, rs the representative ut
Tic non Hoard GUMpanies was also interviewed |
anu said that, ~ far as tho companies with which
hc WAS cunl!4cted were concerned they were ready
to make ii rcbute of t1un to 10 cents, according
u In" number uf pipes placed in position The |
tcas'ss given by these scntlcn,rn similar to
fhu.e advanced by the Fire Maral.a a,t icrd not
he rcpeated 1T length.