The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-05
A FAILURE TO OBEY The LAW.
Number Of Large Buildings In Richmond
Without Fire-EScapaS
As REQUIRED By A CITY ORDINANCE.
A Talk with Chief Fuller, who Shifts the
Blame Upon the Police Justice-lt Nay
lie Taken to the Hastings Court.

There has been considerable criticism OF
late concerning the failure Of the Richmond
authorities in enforcing the ordinance
! confirming the State law in regard TO the
erection Of fr~e-escapes on buildings IN cities
This ordinance was passed October B. logo'
| and amended November It'll.
The first day of January Of this year was
the time named in which the provision must
be complied with. under the penalty OF not
less than SIS nor more than ! 100 tor each
month that they shall fail to provide such
fre-escape. and the Board Of Fire Commits
sioners were requested to make it the duty
Of I G G ief Of the ire Department 20 see
that tie requirements of the ordinance ~ re
gard to placing the hre-escapes be complied
with.
cAsEs REPORTED.
In conversation with a TINES reporter last
evening Chief / ulier said that in accordance
with this provision he has reported the cases
not complying with the ordinance TO the 70
lice Justice. and having gone as far as MS
authority permits he felt that his skirts were
clear OF any charge OF neglect on his part.
Chief fuller fu ther stated that the most
important cases we're those OF the Baptist e
male institute. CorcOran Hall, belyIdere han,
Mozart Academy. the factory 4 Captain Max
well T. Clark on Twenty-f In street be-
tween Main aud Cary. and the Virginia shoe
factory, corner Of Thirteenth and Franklin
streets, Oh which the hre-escape only reaches
10 the third story instead OF TO the iOurth
story. as the law requires.
The Baptist emale Institute. the Retreat
and the Mozart academy have petitiontd the
Council to be relieved from the requirement,
aud Chief Fuller says the Justice declines 10
decide upon the case while the petitions are
pending. and that the other cases also rest
without any action being taken.
CHIEF uller and q prominent member OF
tie / GARD of lire Commissioner VINO vas
present were both emphatic IN their express
sions Of the importance OF the provisions m
regard 10 tre-escapes on these buildings ana
IL is PROBABLE that the matter will be taken
by this department TO the hustlngs court IN
less otherwise speedily settle q
The ordinance not only requires the Chiel
of the Fire Department TO see that its pro-
visions are obeved but says also that the man.
ner aud materials OF construction snail DC
subject to his approval.
THE REQUIREMENTS.
The principal requirements not already re-
ferred TO are contained in the first section as
follows.
There shall be placed by the respective own
ers on the outside Of each factory. workshop.
hotel. school building and hospital OF over
three g stories in height. each theatre and
public place Of amusement in tho city Of
Richmond a hre-escape. to consist Of iron
stairways with iron hand rails leading from a
platform at each story. and easily
accessible from the passageways Of each
story. the sad iron stairways shall
continue TO the ground. but when
erected over a public highway. the lower sec
ton shall be adjustable 50 a. to be kept at a
distance of not less than twelve I'D feet
above the ground. except when in use during
a fire. and the said lower section shall be kept
raised from the ground. except whom in use
during a ire"
Chief Fuller says that he and the Board of
Fire Commissioners have been severely criti-
cised for not u aking q uniform enforcement
Of the Law when il Is not their fault.