National Republican., 1883-01-16
Foop FOR TIE FIRE r1ENp.
Nearly All Our Hotels ana Public Build
ings Need Additional Protection.

Nearly All Our Hotels ana Public BuilU-
ings Need Additional Protection.
Tho recent human holocaust at Milwaukee
and the still later hotel fire in st. Louis have
intensified public feeling in this city in rea-
tion to the probable insecurity afforded by
local hotels, school buildings, churches, and
other public cdifccs. TO present correct
statement of facts about the condition of such
local structures, n REPUBLICAN reporter
called on Mr.. Thomas b. Entwistle, inspector
of public buildings, and asked him what were
the facilities for escape from Washington hotels
should u fire occur in either
The National is perfectly. safe
hotel" said the inspector. 1t is well pro-
vided with staircases and is so con-
structcd that its inmates would run
little risk In case of fire. The Metropolitan
should have fire escapes on both sides, front
and rear. Its stairways arc not, in my opn
ion, sufficient. Williard's is a little better
than the Metropolitan, but do not think il
is sufficiently provided with facilities for cs-
cape. It's stairways are numerous, but think
they would be source of danger in n general
fire. 1t should be at once supplied with fire
escapes. The Ebbitt partially provided with
fire escapes. but they are of such character
as TO be of little avail in the great panic that
accompanies every great fire. Fire ladders,
with which the Ebbitt is provided, aro bad
for all but young, active men. The stairways
in the Ebbitt are pretty good. The Riggs Is
well provided with fire escapes and is safe,
though the staircases are not sufficiently
available in caso of fire Tho Arlington Is
well provided with starways, broad and good,
one incach corner of the house, five in ALL
IL has no fire escapes. In my opinion, every
hotel should be compelled to have such means
Of cgrCsS. Three years ago l issued such an
order, but so great was the camor against it
that the then commissioners directed the
withdrawal of the order"
"Thc public budings--in what condition
arc they? The district buildings, for example,"
" The district buildings are u fire coop.
Should n fire occur all the records would go.
They couldn't be saved. have reported the
bad condition of these buildings so often with
out any effect that | don't care to say any
thing more about them.'
'HOw about the thcatcrs and Lincoln hall2"
"Tho National thcator is better provided
with exits than any other public place in
the city. During performance tremen are
stationed on the stage, prepared to meet u fire
from the start. Fords Opera house is we'll
provided with means of exit, but the danger
lies in the certainty that people, in the panic
caused by fire, would Jump from the windows.
Lincoln hall is well provided with stirways
and other exits. The only danger there would
hC from the windows. People in n panic lose
their heads. think it would be good idea
/ to bar up the windows"
How about the government buildingsW
"Many of them are fire proof, either wholly
or partially. No danger of loss of life by a
| fire, but in some cases the records would in-
cvitably so. The government printing office,
however, Is u death trap"
"What is the condition of the churches and
tho public school buildings?"
81 can only say TO you what the report of
the safety inspection committeo-Mcssrs.
Cluss, Clark and mysclf--said when it was
made last winter This report declares that
only the Peabody, Henry, and Force build
/ ings, and the one at Tcuth and U streets, were
/ positively safe in all respects. In almost all
the churches, as in nearly all the schools, the
doors open inward instead of outward-a
serious defect. Tho great evil of filling the
aisles, during exercises, with seats to accom-
modnte larger audience, has been forbidden
| by the district government for the past three
years, and the police are authorized to arrest
the parties in charge if they should sec the
law violated.