The herald., 1893-09-10
VISITOR ON FIRE ESCAPE
HE THINKS OUR LARGE BUILD
INGS SHOULD HAVETHEM.
Lessons which He Thinks We Should
I'll ave Learned from the Disasters
Which Have Visited Many
Other Cities.

The attention OF reporter was re-
Gently called to the almost total absence
of fire escapes upon the larger buildings
in this city, except the hotels, which
are we'll provided with them.
After considerable investigation it ap-
pears that the city ordinance, No. 2S7,
prescribing that all large structures be
provided with ample fire escapes is ig-
nored to large extent.
The ordinance regulating this matter
waa passed in 1889, and section 80
plainly says every large building must
have a fire escape reaching to at least
the window or door on every floor. That
the ordinance is practically dead letter
can be seen at glance. AT the time of
it's passage there was not the need of it
that there ia at present, for since that
time many very large buildings ha We
been erected in the city.
1t is a deplorable fact that some of the
large buildings have but one way of
escape, showing that the ordinance has
been almost totally disregarded.
True Los Angeles has had no great
fires, and possibly does not feel the fear
existing in other large cities, but a step
in the matter now may be the means of
saving hundreds of lives later.
It was stranger to Los Angeles who
has travelled extensively and been in
many of the large fires, who brought up
the subject in the rotunda of one of the
large hotels. He said he had several
times nearly lost his life by occupying
rooms in buildings with no fire escapes,
and he did not propose to run such risks
again. He had looked over Los Angeles
very critically and this was the most
serious complaint he had to make.
"You have the finest climate upon
earth; your soil is rich and productive /;
your people appear to be thrifty and
enterprising," he continued. "I can.
not help admiring the architecture OF
your handsome residences and business
blocks, and why your property owners
should neglect such an important pro-
tective and most essential factor for the
completion of their property is a
mystery l confess myself unable to
solve. Besides, the laws of your city
must be emphatic in demanding that
every two story or more public building,
such as hotels, lodging houses, Offices,
etc., should afford this protection to the
occupants.
"Los Angeles is most truly the poorest
protected by fire escapes of any i'm
portant city l have ever visited. True
you have an efficient fire department,
but go did Chicago, Boston, st. Louis
and other places which have experienced
big fires, and Los Angeles should antici-
pate this destructive element and her
officials should see to it that the lives OF
citizens and strangers are protected as
prescribed by law.
Zone who has never occupied an up
per story when the dread alarm of fire
awakened him to find his escape cut off
by way of the elevator and stairway,
cannot fully appreciate the horror that
takes possession of reason. have been
through it several times, and while L
was always 80 fortunate as to escape
with nightshirt and an unburned per-
con, l am not anxious to try my lnck
again. But in each case there were
others less fortunate than myself, whose
lives were sacrificed by the unlawful
property owners disregard for city ordi-
nances.
''The matter should be attended to at
once, and notify all property owners to
comply with the law before the respon.
sibility for the loss of human life shall
be placed to their disregard of the trust
the people have reposed in them by
electing them to Office"