Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-06-30
THE FIRE CHIEF
Gives Expression TO His Opinion In Re-
gard to YariOus Matters of Pub-
lie Interest.
Causes Of FIres-0bstructiOn of Flre-Es-
-, eapes-Necessity for Good and II.
Strict Building Laws.

''Do you find anything to interest you,
chief ?" inquired an APPEAL man yester-
day morning of Chief Cleary, who sat in
front of his office with bundle of old
papers upon his knees. Il have Just been
reading an account OF q fire on Front
street, in which three lives were lost" he
said, "from an old APPEAL dated away
back, s}eiore fire escapes were used even in
New York. The writer wants to know
Why it is that something in the way of
AN IRON LADDER
cannot be fixed to the sides of tall build
ings, so that the occupants can escape IN
case Of FIRE. The reporter would have
made a fortune if he had got out a
patent"
"Did you notice the cartoon in Puck a
short time ago on the uses of fre-escapes
in NeE York ?"
"Do you mean the practice of perveIting
them into hower-gardens and summer
night sleeping places? Yes, l saw that,
and it is not exaggerated. 1 never spent
out two days in New York, but l noticed
the evil and commented upon it. l have in
my mind three fire-escapes here which are
regularly used for the same purpose and
mean to put stop TO it. 1 shall ask the
Council to pass an ordinance making it a
misdemeanor to
oBsTRUCr FIRE-EsCAPEs.
They must be kept free of everything,
because they are needed when least ex-
pected, and then they are needed sure
enou.h There is no time to move old
beds and stoves and flower pots. Some
times piece of plank is secured directly
over the aperture in the floor of the little
iron balcony, effectually destroying its
usefulness for anything more than play
house for the children"
"The department is rcck ing along very
smoothly now, is it not :"
"Oh, yes; we are in the midst of our
| spring cleaning this week. All the houses
are being painted and renovated from Gel
lar to garnet and will be as
SWEET AND CLEAN
es you please by Saturday night 1 think
! every energy should be devoted to sani.
/ tary work, and mean TO set as good an ex-
ample as l can with my department
| withdrawing should be done on every
| square inch of implanted board in the
| city, and no more building or other i'm.
provements should be made until the
sanitary work is entirely completed. But
while they are building more atten
.ion should be paid to foundations. The
| foundation of one-story brick should not
he less than four feet under ground and &
foot above, laid in cement. Where cellari
are built,
THE FOUNDATION
should extend at least eight inches be
low the floor"
at takes up a good deal of your time,
suppose, looking after permits to build ane
mot great deal now" the chief an
| sWered. president Hadden grants mos
! of the permits him elf on specification
| furnished by the contractors, but when
ever he is in doubt ne refers to me. TheI
I have to made personal examinations, anC
if the request is for repairs and find thu
locality unhealthful or the house close t.
the ground, the re-ultis that the applican
| is required to raise the house before h'
can make other repairs, however slight
By this means large number OF houses
have been put in
FIRST RATE CONDITION"
The building laws have been very bene
| fetal TO the city, and they cannot be toC
strictly enforced. told an acquaintance
| a few days ago that Boston had only thir
ty-fve fires in about year, while We haC
as many in one month rscently. He wa
| curious to know the reason, and replied
| that they had building laws there and en-
forced them regardless Of elections. NJ
ran is exempt because he carries Ger
tain number Of votes in his pocket. Thel
they have
~ INSURANCE INSPECTOR,
and woe to the company who insures I
man for too great an amount. Nearly al
! the fires can be traced to ovennsuranc'
and defective fuCs. l started to say all o
Them, but there may be a few on accoun
of other things. II q merchant takes on
a policy for SIS, 0Go, sells down to S5c0C
and times grow doll, it is big tempt stiol
to him to set g slow match and 60 hom
70 supper. He still has his policy for SO,
coo, you knoy-a clear gain Of $4,000 If
burns.