New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-19
SEEKING SAFETY IN HOTELS.

MORE FIRE ESCAPES ORDERED.
Mr. EsTERBRooKs ORDERS REGARDING THE HOTEL
GRANTING AND -FOUR DOWNTOWN HOTELS.
Notices were sent By Inspector Esterbrook yester-
day to the owners of the Hotel Branting, at Madi-
son-aye an Fictyeighth-st.; the Merchants Hotel,
Nos. 80 and al Cortlandt-st.; the Cosmop Titan
Hotel. at Chambers-st and West Broadway; the
Summit Hotel, at Cana-st. aud the Bowery,
and the Warren Hotel, at Canal
and Ellzabeth-sts. Mrs. Sarah +. j. Taylor
who owns the Hotel Granting Is directed to pro-
vide additional means Of egress in case OF fre Dy
erecting two outside reescapes on the iity-elgih-
st. front, one to take IN the two eastcrly Windows
the other to take in the two westerly windows,
with balconies, ladders, &C.. complete for each
story and with drop ladders from the lower bal
comics to the ground"
ID. s. Gregory of No. % West Nneteenthst;
Mrs. d. G. Eliot AMI Mr. Henderson, whose adj
dress is not known to MrEserbrook, are the owners
of the Merchants Hotel The following notice was
sent TO them IN care of Henry f. Billings. the
lessee Of the building
You are hereby rcctei provide additional means
OF egross in OF fire by ercong outside htecsctpea
in front on Coriandist takils ~ the iOu nte WIZ
COWS, with bsconiee and ladders complete for each
story, and dro3 addrrs from the lower bacony 10 tls
ground. You directed To remove tue part
lions and doors in the Line VI waY Leading 70 tha
rear stairs ~ as 10 make 1t Tree and clelr OF oDsc
t0n and to permit persons 10 pas III case OF necessity
Nathaniel and Samuel j. Higgins. owners of the
Cosmopolitan Hotel are directed to erect /" three
outside fre-rscapes one of winch is to take IN the
two eastery windows another TO take in the two
westerly windows, both fronting on Chlmbers-s
and the other to take in the two northery windows
of the West Broadway front of said bullling each
of which is to have balconies and ladders complete
on each story"
Mr. Esterbrook did not think that extra fre-es-
capes were needed the Warren Hotel but he
believed that the small halls on the several floors
in the building ought to he supplied with doors TO
keep smoke from entering them in case of fire
on the stairs. The following briei notice was sent
TO the agent of the John 5. Giles estate. by which
the hotel is owned: Doors TO be placed on each
story to shut off the stair hall from the other"
The Summit Hotel. owned by George Rnckert.
now has fire-escape balconies "a far mp ~ the
fourth story the Canal-st front. Mr.. tnckert is
directed to erect "A balcony 10 take In two windows
on fifth story and to connect II b. iron stairs
with the balcony on the fourth story.
Mrs. Sarah T.. l.. Taylor, the owner OF the Hotel
Branting, at the northwest corner OF Madison-ayc.
and Ffty-eighth-st, is also the proprietor. The
house is Of brOwustonc and was butt ten years ago.
Facing Madison-nve. II has ortyfour feet front.
and back ninetyive feet. It's SIX storie6 high
about seventy five feet through the centre of the
LuIldiug from east To wesi, there IA solid BRICK
wall about eighteen inches thick, built up from the
basement to the ROOF. In conversation with ro-
rier of TINE tribune yesterday, Mrs. TaylOT sad
that she could no. understand way the Bureau of
Buildings should require the additional ire-escapes
at this time. The house was built ten years ago.,
SAID She " and was visited weekly by an examiner
By the advice of the architect ana tho concurrence
OF the examiner there was one ifc-escape placed on
the rear of the building. That was, told, IN
accordance with the Laws of 1871. Whom that law
was amended in 1874; notice was received re-
ouiring us to provide an additional trc-escapc
That was done, and now by the same amended law
we are asked to place two more on the hous',
and worse than all, 10 put them
on the side facing Fity-e ghth-St. i am especially
desirous of dong everything that can IN any way
add TO the safety of the house. but hate 20 lnjurs
nv property by placing those iron balconies and
stairs on the street side Of the hOuse. would not
OBJECT to placing them the north side II they are
necessary. The solid brick wall running through
the centre of the house is protection against loss
of life Dy falling walls We hive hose arrangements
on every floor; ljabcock hre-eXtin2nlsher on the
lower floor, and key 10 a box OF the Fro Depart
msnt in the office. Tns house IL Lee 4ted
by steam, with tho boilers unuer the side
walk The insurance is placed NJ the lowest posi-
bic rate showing how the insurance companies re-
gard the safety of the house. There are about
seventy rooms IN the house but many at them arr
parlors he house is filled with seycnty-hNe
guests There is only the single hail. and II IN really
like double house The halls are ALWAYS lighted
at night; there several men on duty uutli after
midnight in the house and there Is an efficient
.ttfV all uigu