New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-12
OPINIONS OF HOTEL PRoPRIETORs.

HOTELS OF THIS CITY CONSIDERED sAFE-PREcAO-
TIoNs AGAINST FIRE.
Hotel men In this city who were talked with on
tho subject naturally expressed general conii-
ience in the effectiveness of the arrangements
that are provided for the prevention OF tires. IL
was'doubted whether such disaster as that when
has visited Milwaukee could occur IN this CITY,
Where defects exist which arise from the construc-
ton of the buildings, it was said. increased vigilance
is the rule the part of prOpret rs OF essees Inc
value of hotel property and the advantage in insur-
ance rates gained through the perfection OF the IA
cilites for suppressing fires were mentioned as I'M
portant elements which led to the exercise OF care
and watcbfulness. 1t was admitted. however. that
not q few hotels existed which were open to grave
criticism as re CARDS their liability TO damage by fire.
C.. l.. Wetherbee, who. with the late Mr.. Hawk.
leased the Windsor HOTEL said last evening: the
greatest protection against fire in hotels or else
wher, il after all the care taken in watching Tor
any origin of flames 1t is the prevention Of fires
which excites the most attention n the part OF
hotel propriclors We can insure ourselves against
the loss of furniture of the building but we can
get no insurance against interruption ana loss OF
business. IL is also to our advantage to take Inc
utmost precauton against FIRE In respect to DOR IN
surance as of course the west rates are obtained
ny the st-protected property. / would not care
to speak generally of New-YOrk hotels because
have personal knowledge of the interiors of only
few. should say. however. THAT as rule New
York hotels are well watched and guarded against
the spread of flames. They probably receive the
best supervision in this regard of oil the hotels in
the country. As to the Windsor. every possible
precaution is taken We have twenty men up all
night pairolling every part OF the house. There
buckets of water FIRE and chemical extineuIsh-
ers ut different places in tho bnidiDg we hsys four
water-pipes in the house with hose every floor
and two stand pipes outside for tho oil the city
firemep There are three stairways leading from the
top TO tie bottom of the house and one iron stairway
Two re-esa apes lead from the rear OF the building
to the roofs of the houses that extend along Forty
seventh and Forty. sIxth-sts, to Madison ave.
There is also hose on the roof OF the huiel. In the
Office Is special fire alarm connecting with Police
Headquarters All our heating and cooking appa-
ratus is IN the basement under ground in hrepToof
COMMITMENTS, and we placed the laundry there
about two years ago. There are no hooks or Gran
nes in the house where rubbish coud be east or irc
s,nouldet undiscovered. Our roof IS covered with
gravel and believed that is tine kind OF root
adopted by all OF the leading houses
Al the Eucl ingham Hotel the means for suppress
sing fire are ample. Hose is upon every floor aud
neutrality-suspicious. also are provided, lnere are TWO
stnirways and one iron fIe-escape III the hnuse
night patrol is kept mp. The boiler, lufnaces, ctc
are m freproof rooms below the pa cement. The
hotel rs rated higher tnan most OF hers because Of Its
comparatively small size, IN addition 10 It's means
for preventing and extinVuishiDg fires Al the
Grand Hotel II was said that every pfecnntI0n was
provided agan fire and the opinion was expressed
that only in the very Older houses could disaster
like the burning of the Newhall House occur.
Another hotei proprietor said: I" me greatest
danger from fire of course exists IN those hotels
which have been onstructed out of houses origi-
nalv built for dwelling purpo~es There Is iitte
chance If fire in those hotels which have been bult
from the foundation up for hotel purpo>es
In their discussions OF the milwaukee, disaster
surprise was universally expressed by hotel men
that the fire attained 80 great headway In such
hotel. At The ST. Nicholas Hotel It Was stated mat
1, would lie impossible Tor u fire to attain any con
siderable start there before IL would be discovered
There are watchnen on every hoor and appliances
for extirpushi..g flames. Al the Aston House the
bitued no e was suoken of rs death trap. III WIS
aSse It'd that 1t would be almost impossible Tor
fire 10 tain any magnitude in that building. aud
that the guests would be IN no danger IN case of the
outbreak of a fire. There were electrical fire
alarms Bancock fire extnguisLrrs. and hose on
every floor. The building Was patroed' at night
by watchmrn and evtry precauion was taken TO
,ar,t AGAINST a calamity OF this kind.