New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-09
NO FLIMSY BAZAARS HERE.
THE STRICT PRECAUTIONS THAT ARE
TAKEN IN NETWORK.
ANYTHING LIKE THE PARIS DISASTER 1MPossibLI
uERE-THE BUILDING COMMISSION AND
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WORK TO-

ANYTHING LIKE THE PARIS DISASTER IMfoeS'oHH
HERE-rHE BUILDING COMMISSION AND
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WORK TO-
GETHER TO PREVENT 1T.
While they admit that overconhdence IL always
a source of danger, the men In this city WIN az
I'm positions from which they may speak WIN
authority are unanimous In declaring the cnliKei-
hood of a Paris bazaar fire In New-York Repre-
sentatiyes Of the Building and Fire departments
and prominent architects, when asked ABOUT '"e
matter have all asserted that confagrauo"' ui
der such circumstances, would. In Iact' DC iIpos
sible here on account OF the sringency win WHICH
the laws regarding buildings are enforced.
Provision against such disasters begins. naturally
with the regulation of the kind of structures whic"
may be put up. All plans for buildings wmch are
to be used public purposes OF any sort must De
submitted to the Building Commission, when
passes upon their merits. This Commission Is com
nosed of several men, who represent different In
terests in the city There is. for instance mem
Der from the Real Estate Board, and Chiet BON
ner, another member, expresses the IDEAS y.
the Fire Department. No plan for building oi
such fimsy and trapke construction as that III
Paris would be considered for moment by the
Commission but structures are sometimes erected
which while violating Of the building laws
are viewed with some disrust by Chief Bonner
In such cases the old adage about being fore-
warned and forearmed comes into play. An extra
force of fremen is detailed to watch the Duuihss
which the Chief regards as being at all risky ana
the most vigilant supervision OF such places -
maintained 1t is n fact not generally known TO
tho public that the fire companies In some districts
have standing orders to go prepared for the most
desperate kind of struggle. In the event of alarms
from certain places within their limits ms
means that extra preparations would be made anu
that reserve supplies and achievements not ordi-
narily needed would be brought forward
Among the special rules which protect New-fork
from shelterng death traps within her borders may
be mentioned the following: reasonable number
of exits is insisted upon, and unless the Buildings
Department is satisfied with those provided, the
building Is ordered closed until more means OF
escape from it made. Another rule is that All
doors must swing outward that in case Of
panic. they would yield readily 10 pressure from
within SkyGghts, also, must be arranged TO side
easily and automatically, that they may be opened
quickly in the first moments of fire to give an
outlet for the smoke.
Fife Commissioner Sheffield, In talking OF the
matter to a Tribune reporter, said:
Besides the fact that they frowned upon by
the authorities. temporary structures such as that
which caused so horrible scene In Paris are not
much IN favor here any way. All large FAIRS ana
exhibitions held preferably In permanent build
ings. the Madison Square Garden being the best
example OF such place In the city: we nave az
ways felt very safe regarding the Garden; on &C.
count of It's solid construction and the admirable
arrangement of the exits. The fact that 1t opens
upon the street on all four sides Is great punt III
its favor. O.,
81 am usually more uneasy ABOUT theatre fires
pretty well built and watched. There IS Always
the danger OF a panic for the majority OF the au-
dience arc certain to lose their heads and start a
stampede. Fires in some of the large stores would
also be formidable affairs on account OF the grea
amount of combusble material which is gathered
together In them. But our Fire Department. Is
thoroughly up-to-date organization. tnlnk /
should be quite safe in saying that II Is superior 10
any other in the country, and that-aithough TINS
sounds a tri1e conceited-we really have not mucn
mere to learn in this particular line. 81,
Here is a bit of additional testimony 70 tne
truth OF this statement and 1t is especially inter-
esting too, in view of the Paris accident A year
ago last summer a commission from the FIRE De-
partment OF Paris visited this city. They made a
thorough examination of our method OF dealing
with fires going into all the details In the most
panstaking way When they had finished they
expressed nothing but praise for what they had
ment of New-York in every respect the best
they had ever found in any country, and they had
made extended tour. ~ ,.,
at the time we made a thorough lnvesu-
gation of their system, but could discover nothing
in 1t which we could adopt to our advantage
tary control. It's leaders army officers and the
fremen are privates in the line regularly ennsted
and drilled OF course, this insures admirable DIS
cpline and in far they are quite our equals
But their apparatus Is light and OF small power
as compared with ours, and many of their met ods
would be considered very old-fashioned here; In
the single matter of speed for instance the difter
ence is remarkable. The length Of time which the
Paris fremen consumed in reaching the place OF
the alarm is rather reminder of the days or the
old volunteer companies than q paraliei Oh tne
achievements of our modern fre-fghters