New-York tribune., 1886-02-25
HOTEL FIRE ESCAPES
CRITICIsING THE TURRET PLAN.
A LETTER FROM w. p. EsrERBRo oOK, FORMERLY IN
sPRCToR OF BUILDINGS.

A LETTER FROM w. r. EsrERBR oOK, FORMERLY IN
sPECToR OF BUILDINGS.
To the EditOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: If all persons who put up at hotels
will take the trouble to examine the fire escapes or
Of egress in OF fire. before retiring for tie
night they would do we'll It would enable them to take
the best way Of escape in time OF troube if one avenue
O. escape were out thoy could to another, of
which they would have known but for their previous
examination
Mr. Eaton in his letter published in your paper the
7th Inst. states that he made lis examination after
nightmare" and do not wander that he feared not
blessed OF the occupants OF the hotels could get
away at all by OF the fire escare and concludes
that thoy useless
I differ with him this question. happen to know
that of people have teen saved by tho use OF
the fire escapes Mr.. Eaton says that " half OF the
escapes lead into courts and back passages from winch
there would be no exit" This Is an error Again no
says There is honest hotel proprietor in the
city who will not toll you the escapes are useless"
affirm tho contrary aud submit that such an opinion,
given worth nothing To prove that re escapes are
worthless it must bo shown that. In cases OF re no one
has ever saved by tho use OF ihom. 1t Is true
some hotel propretors aud others, owners OF houses
were (beiore the law enfOrcedl afraid that tue
erection of balcony Are escapes would iniure their
and pr roporty bat know dor many have told
e that to ~ have changed their minds ana 0unu that
rooms accessible to fro escapes were moro in deDand'
Besides ii il the occupants ana the guests OF tho hoteS
etc who appreciate tho value OF hIe escapes During
the year 1888 less than 927 appeals were made to
tho Bureau OF Buildings by tho occupants OF houses to
have fire escapes put up and hundreds OF letters have
been received persons stopping at hotels and from
pc!sOns all the country who VISIT tne clty on Dus
n,.s or pleasure commenting tho Efforts whch were put
forth increase tho facilities Tor escape III case o rn
Nov "a word 10 Nj. Eaton's plan oil tuIrets; Ia Tue
first place would impossible III most cases to carry
IT ont In the present structures, owing to the TACT tat
would he ground on which to Greet them 10 say
uotut Df
erected iu q location to Afford the needed means or
cgress. wnicn Mr. Eaton would really petfHGno H we u I'm nS 10
them Second, the abyInthine route a. shown ny nus
diagram, Is very Objectionable ana winung S.nrch1e I
ESPECIALLY a narrow one would he the worst PoSsnlo
Thing. A single person going down Que OF These spln
,thtoases, through many stories In huiry wOhil
bo in such condition from gddiness hat he would nOt
nc likely 'o reach the bottom except by ialhR LhlhK
OF a ho o o tlrr wRrrIinc down or rather tnmbline
nh wonld be vcTy great Third no person could render
any assistance to the escaping persons. which the IRE
have often done by means OF the balcony ana 'er
II is very clear my mind that tho writer OF the
article above to has not studied up the question:
knows very little of the faulty plans and sti more lau
construction OF the most OF city buildings IN which
hundred, OF people Iesdc and hence is cropping IN tho
dark admit 1t would be good thing II the fire escapes
could he dispensed with. bat at present they are
necessity arising from faulty plans ani methods OF con.
stTncun There many of the fishOuablc hotos ana
nat houses on fashionable thOrOugharss which greatly
need improved of egress, hut inc DWhcIs seem 10
bUnsrs during the night the loss OF life must he great for
they built to burn with great tapidy arr IN
fact tindor boxes There are. howevcr, many newly
but which arc safe, aud others which have greatly M
prov OF egrcss and which, no dOuDt Will pe we'll
patronzel by discriminating pubic. .. -
Until the time arrives when buildings are properly
constructed can conceive OF no better alrantonen or
escape ia case OF fire thnn the balcony An" hei Hro
escape. properly located, whicL Mf Eaton 80 ahohh
atcs aud know that my views on tIs M question Ireat are
peicnce an therefore best qualified TO- judge w,
the cme OF the Fire DoparmeR e o. Snay a"a MS
Ne,c- i ork, Feb. o. 1855.