Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-08-21

Centre county Mr.. Kepler His native and
to the manor born" IIis early home was
near Pine Grove Mills. For some years
he lived at Philipsburg, whore he kept
popular and we'll patronized hotel, and
where he became we'll known AZ an encr.
gctic Democratic politician, taking an nc.
tive part In all political contests. lie after
wards became engaged In the oil business,
in which we arc glad 70 say he has met
with pecuniary success. While in this
business he naturally driftsd 10 the western
part Of the State, where he at present lives.
Jake kepler, as he is Familiarity called by
his friends, IL kind, generous man, pos
sesscs great energy Of character, and what
ever he undertakes % do he docs with his
might. May prosperity always attend him
LAWS or Local Interest CO.
lumbia Herdid, Hayes Griers excellent
journal, call attention 10 some laws Of local
interest passed by the Pennsylvania legis-
iature last winter, and which appear among
the. laws that have just been published in
pamphlet form. Among these Is one max
ing 1t penalty Of 500 fine or year irE-
| prisonmcnt, or either or both, At the dis
crction Of the court, for any person who
shall wilfully destroy, mutilaie or injurc
any tree, vine, flower, grass or ornamental
shrub, in any cemetery or graveyard in
/ the Commonwealth.
In compliance with complaint that
WAS almost general, for parties wantonly
Destroying the forests Of Pennsylvania,
the Legislature passed an act making ii
misdcmeanor for any person or persons
who shall 'wAntonly set on fire any wood
lands, barrcns or moors, punishable by
| lnc not exceeding three hundred dollars,
and to undergo an imprisonment not cr-
ceeding one year. Upon the conviction Of
any such person, the County Commission
ere shall pay the prosecutor the tum Of fifty
/ dollnrs 10 be paid by the defendant into
tho hands Of the Sheriff, for the usc Of the
/ county.
A very important act is tina! providing
for Ere escapes in buildings Of various
kinds, and the passage Of which was
brought about in consequence Of fires
breaking out in hotels, factories and other
high building, whereby many lives have
been lost and imperillcd. II requires that
every building uscd n a seminary, college,
academy, hospial, asylum or hotel for
the accommodation Of the public, every
storchouse, factory or workshop Of any
kind in which employees arc usually cm-
ploycd at work In the third stories, every
tenement house, every school building
where any such buildings arc three or
more stories in height, shall be provided
with q permanent safe external means Of
escape ihercfrom in case Of FIRE. Individu-
ale, companies or school boards failing TO
comply with the provisions Of this act shall
be liable 70 penalty not exceeding $500,
and also be liable for damages in case Of
death or injury arising from a neglect 70
comply with this law.
We give herewith the act relating 10
Ere escapes, o. IL is important ihs, ii may
be understood. Under iu provisions, ERE
escapes will have 70 be erected on several
buildings in Bcllefontc. Among these are
our three principal hotels, the business
blocks Of Mr.. Daniel Bush and Mr. Ed
ward Humes, and possibly other buildings
which do not now come under our notice,
but Of which the owners can easily deter
mine whether they belong 10 the class
mentioned.
WHEREAS, In consequence Of ares
breaking out in hotels, factories and other
high buildings, many lives have been lost
and great personal injuries suffered,
through the want Of sufficient means Of es-
cape therefrom, independently Of the or
dinary internal stairwAys therefore,
SECTION !. BE Il enacted, ,tc That all
the following described buildings, within
this common wealth, TO wit livery build
ing used a. seminary, college, academy,
hospital, asylum, OF a hotel for the accom-
modaiion Of the public, every storehouse,
factory, manufsciory, or workshop Of Any
kind, in which employees or operatives arc
usually employed At work in the third or
any higher story, every tenement house or
building in which rooms or floors are usu-
ally LET 90 dodgers or families, and every
public school building, when any Of such
buildings are three or more stories in
height, shall be provided with safe ex-
ternal means Of escape therefrom in case Of
FIRE; and IL shall be the duty Of the own
ers or keepers Of such hotels, or the owners,
superintendcnts or managers Of such semi
nAries, colleges, academies, hospitals, asy-
lums, store-houscs, factories, manufactures
or workshops, Of the owners or landlords
Of such tenement houses, or their agents,
and Of the board Of school directors Of the
proper school district, 10 provide and cause
10 be affixed 10 every building such perma-
nent fire escape.
Sec. 2. 1t shall be the duty Of the board
Of fire commissioners, In conjunction with
the fire marshal of the district where such
commissioners are elected or appointed, 70
first examine and test such Ere escape, and
after, upon trial, said fire escape should
prove satisfactory, then the said FIRE mar.
shal, In connection with the fire commits.
sioners, or q majority Of them, shall grant
certificate approving said FIRE escupe
Prorided further, That in districts where
A.. IL A.. 4.