Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-02-22
FlRN Eaeanen.

Last Friday night, after the annual
inspection Of the fire department. ref
erence was made bygOhairman Blake.
Of the Fire Committee, to the almost
total neglect In this city OF the law In
reference to FIRE escapes, and one of the
assistant engineers made the ASSERTION
that number of buildings In the oity.
Including several school houses were
not much better than death traps, and
that In the event of fire the result would
be appalling. He instanced two school
houses where the majority of the chill.
dren are in thsupper,hoors, andItAe only
means of escape a single wooden stair
way In each, and he said that In the
event Of FIRE breaking cut In the cellar
OF either Of these buildings, there was
nothing to prevent the teachers and
scholars being roasted in the flames.
Mr.. Blake eaid that according to the
law 1t Is the duty of the Chief Engineer
TO see that such buildings are provided
with escapes, and that although be had
started out In earnest in this matter a.
the commencement of his term, he
seemed to have become somew hat dila-
tory about this very important matter
now. He hoped, however, that during
the remainder of his term he won Ia
strictly enforce the law and prosecute
those, no matter who they may DO, that
Go not comply with its requirements.
In reply ths Chief Engineer sail that,
in the case of the school houses, he had
called the attention OF the Board of
Education several times to the matter,
and the answer had always been that
they had no money. He was willing to
enter suit against the board, or any in
dividual who persisted In refusing to
obey the law, and Mr. Blake not only
promised him the support of the com
mtttee, but said that it was his desire
that he should commence at once and
zee that the law Is enforced.
The act In question was pas sod by
tho Legislature In 1881, and I'd ads as
follows:
SECTION /. "rhat the owner cr own
ers of any building now erected, OF
hereafter to be erected, and being more
than two stories In height, and which
shall be used In the third or any higher
story, in whole or In part az a college.
seminary, school house hotel, hospital,
asylum, almshouse, factory or work.
shop, or as a tenement house, OF where
rooms are let to families OF dodgers, or
for the accommodation of organized as
sociations of any description, shall be
required to furnish such building with
sufficient permanent FIRE escapes from
| the third and all higher stories, and
which escapes shall be kept and main
tained in good order. Snch fire escapes
may be by means of stairways or lad
ders outside the building, or by stair
ways in q separate tower or structure,
furnished with safe and easy com mmuni :
cation with such building"
| Section makes IL the duty Of the
chief engineer of the fire department
TO see that the law Is complied with,
and examine such fire ESCAPES as to
their suitableness and sutficiency,
whether as to quality, location OF
humber"
Section 3 provides "that all public
school houses, theatres, lecture rooms,
churches and public halls where large
numbers Of people assemble, II more
than one story In height, shall be fur
nished with doors opening outward ly
aud hung in such q manner as to afford
the most convenient and ready meani
Of safe and spesdy egress."
| Section 4 says THAT every owner o
any such building as is sp. cified In thi
lact, whether an individual OF q bod,
corporate, who shall fail to comply witt
the provisions thereof shall be deemed
guilty of misdemeanor, and be liabl
to Indictment, and upon convic tiol
shall forfeit and pay to the State I'm
not exceeding two hundred dollars"