New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-17
GUARDING HOTEL GUESTS AGAINST FIRE.

FIRE-EsCAPES ORDERED AT THE BUCKINGHAM
THE ALDERMEN AROUSED.
Inspector EsterbrOolI yesterday sent the 1ol-
lowing order to George Kemp, the owner of the Buck
ingham Hotel, who resides at No. 72O F1fth-ave';
You are hereby directed TO place on the front OF the
building known as the Buckingham Hotel, situated ON
the southeast OF Hiithave. and Ftleth 81, on
the Fieth-s side thereof an outside ireeseaPe Win
balconies taking IN the second ana third windows from
tine front on Fifth-ave each OF the stories ana -
ders leading from one balcony to the one below ana
heavy drop ladder from the lower balcony 10 bho
grounds also place on the eastery ehu OF silu puiu
ing two outside dreescapes with balconies AT least zen
feet long opposite the second windows from the north
erly and sOutheTy corners OF SAID esery emu on eao
story. with ladders connecting the balconies from one
comics to the ground You are also required 10 cuo
through the partitions do2rWys as When divide
the rooms which are not already provided WIN uOoIs
The whole of which necessary Tor the proper protec-
ton of the public.
MI EstelbIOok said that he probably would send out
other notices to owners of hotels to- day. He declined TO
say what hotels needed freescapes, and he requested
that In the future the reports OF examiners who Visit
hotels to procure information be not published until
action Is taken the reports The reports OF the e1-
aminers he said not important, and they might be
misleading TO the public the accompanying plans
on which he bases his action cannot be published
Mr. Esterbrook was asked yesterday if he had seen the
bin which Senator Trainor introduced on Monday night
In the Senate requiring all hotels over three stories III
height TO have al least reescape; that directions
10 the Horoscopes shall be posted IN every room ana
that the elevator shafts shall be protected from fire.
have not seen IT, he said but portion OF u was read
10 me by Mr. Trainor. His bill contains nothing which
is not in the hill prepared BY me more than year ago
suppose Mr. TIaiuOr wishes 10 push the holel clause
through Iii hurry. That portion of 1t which provides
for making the elevator shafts In hotels hre-roo is
good far as il goes but II does not 60 r enons
shafts ought to be made reproof In all buildings whete
human beings live or are employed ana here ogh, 10
be openings above the shafts 10 let OUT te sohI m
OF fire BY such an arrangement an ehuIo bAiIuilg
would not be filed with smoke IN case oil IRE III inc
Mr. Esterbrook called attention the proposed Build
ing law which, he prepared ana WHEN was le'cIpgu at
length IN THE lRlBl NJ about year ago, EnoiIS WSIe
made TO get the bill passed 10y the Legislature IN loo,
and il is said that o! with slight amendments
will he presented az Albany this year;
Alderman Waite at the meeting OF the BOARD OF Alder
III en- Yesterday presented resolutions called forth by the
Milwaukee fire. BY these the Commissioners are
directed to have made without delay searching exam
the means escape OF Inmates Ia case OF hIe and 10
cause direct connections TO be made Tor al such hu
ings with the electric system OF inc flIe DclaIth'n ~
They are also to have prepared and presented to the
Legislature at early date as possible sucn hlHv
ments or additions to the present laws rs viii make IL
possible COmnisso 10 compel ON inc part u
hotel and clearinghouse keepers the oDserFanc o. Ict-
ations which will make buildings absolutely sure
and such other regulations or lesisauuh ~ may oo
necessary 10 prevent attempts on the part or occupants
IN cxtincish fires without calling the Fire Department
The lessee OF every MOTEL or lodging mousse Is
also re1nired 10 place In each correct plan or
situated and the location Of the stnrways ana hees
and the approaches thereto In each passageway
TOO there is 20 be egble sign indicating the direction
the stairway, and there snail be ght OF suclent
comply with the provisions OF the proposed ordnance
shall DO punished by fine OF so The matter was re-
ferred TO the Committee Fire and buildings.
Henry Bergh has written letter 70 Inspector Ester
brook on the subject Of the safety OF buildings from Ire
He says that while nIe escapes hclS HHu .l'iC 20
there and balconies elsewhere may possibly mitigate ire
dangers si the sole remedy remains gnorcd iO-"lI
pgsi i've and comparative hIe-proof STRUCTURES
Mr. Bergh remarks that the sole difference " between
the private and public cdces OF oar cities ana the pow
der magazine appears be That the former Ignite less
rapidly than hitter" He severely criticses the con
etrucon Of theatres, hotels and dwellings, concluding
as follows: The difficulties Of your bureau must DO
conceded, you earncstly demand, but why plans;
draWinys end specifications submitted for approval
should be accepted with full knowledge of their defects
h q problem no average intellect can explain