New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-02
her death Il Is to be divided equally among ner
three daughters two Of whom are now married
COMFY ISLANDS BUILDING LAWS.
WHAT ia NEEDED is AN EXTENSION OF
FIRE LIMITS.

ru,hsnr Commissioner Bush Is or the opinion that
ebe danger from fire because OF the GROWING TO-
neither Of nhammable shanties ara sheus aohs
koard walks in Coney Island can only De ooVi"'o'
BY action on tho part OF the residents OF NoeS
island The present laws. he says. are being s'le.y
enforced by his Department, and. unless t'e
Coney Island people get the fire limits ex'enueu "
their bailiwck or unless new laws are passed. COM
pens the separation Of frame buildings there IS TO
ralief IN sght The Tribune has explained the loss
H life that might result II the buildings that ooiue
Couey Islands Bowery should catch fire wheh al vi
tn resorts are packed with humanity ana 'he o'iu
walk Is a slowly moving solid column OF poshi"s'
allowing plea.ure-seekers. If the danes at snch
&me were famed by strong WIND, II wouid oc II
&,,r.c,e ~ q large number OF victims were not
Altered I'D to the greed Of the individuals VINO eN-
Dhange amusement or indecency Tor money l" '''
modern Gomorrah.
..rhis Dapartment" said Commissioner Bush 70 a
Tribune reporter has enforced the ouiiohe ia .
With especial care in Coney Island The isiaho Is
$ar outside OF the city fire limits. and there Is no
violation OF law in constructing frame pu,iuihss
there There are no other restrictions In the matter
of building than that buildings snail De su"cie""s
stronx and we'll arranged for the purposes TOT "i0
they ara intended, and shall have proper h'e
escapea large number Of the structures at Coney
Island are OF q temporary character. being niue
more than open sheds. This Department Is Careful
N ascertain that every building put up however
small or insignificant, is sufficiently strong TOR us
intended purpose. and built In substantial hdi''ie
The Department has no authority to prevent 'he
building O, frame structures so long as tie! ieas
ure I'D to the above requirements.
How could the limits be extended 70 1nciuue West
Brighton?" asked the reporter.
The extension OF IRE limits. replied the commas
sioner Originates with the people living IN the us-
trict interested They must petition the common
Council to have extension Of the limits 10 incIune
their territory. After sufficient pubhcatoA the
Common Council and Mayor have the power to eX-
tend the limits The nearest fire limits TO Coney
Island at present are line 100 feet cas-; OF SIXTH
ave- and there Is nothing to justify the extension OF
the fire limits further at present Buildings OF 'e
character that are used at Coney lsiaho cou'"
scarcely be built of brick AS for the hotels along
the seashore. have taken the unusual precau'iOh
20 make them have plenty of fire-escapes.
.~rhe chief trouble around the Bowery is that the
buildings are crowded so closely together, ana are
thus a menace to the neIghborhood. But no Ia" Is
violated in this crowding II law could be enacted
requiring frame buildings to be pSoa be
sble and beneficial in a locality OF that character
ne4eh s made up of frame buildings is smaller
than in brick sections This may De que az 10
houses scarcely think there is great danger in fre
in the Bowery unless such re be h,t one
story. and there are many avenues of escape ~
The fact that the walks are built OF ''araS
The more recent of Coney Islands big fres nav
fortunately not occurred during the busy season al
re i<,a nd The big fire that took place about the
close of John Y. McKane's reign came IN me lai
after the rush was over; This fre II may IL, i
The Are last year occurred just as the season was
openinQ but before the rush had begun 80,
The Academy of Music and the Polytechnic lnsti-
tue both Of which Were ORDERED to comsdS' heir
buildings by the Building Department some weeks
ago, have not We; complied with the re9nesI,
Tribune reporter visited Police Headquarters
YESTERDAY to ask Commissioner Welles whal ne
thought of the dances which the police are permit
t;ne at the island The Commissioner was not ln
and Deputy Commissioner Crosby said mat ne
would prefer 10 his chief decide matter OF tn'
sors SUPERINTENDENT McKelvey was likewise out
and Deputy Superintendent Macke.lar said: lt m
decent dances are being given al Conty ls!ana my
c,rr,,nt morals Is a violation of the law