Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-14
Somewhat Startling Reports.

suHlclentIy equipped with hre escapes to
protect the lives of the people who live,
sleep or work in them.
Somewhat Startling Reports.
The larger hotels in the city are fitted
with some sorts of escapes, but there are a
few that are not so provided In any manner
or form. The smaller hotels as a rule are
without fire escapes of any kind. The
lives of the people who work or Office in
the big down town buildings are, as a rule,
in constant danger because there are either
no escapes or else they are inadequate. For
example, one hve-story building, used as a
factory and in which some 300 people are
employed. p has no outside fire escape and
the only means of exit the employees would
have In case of a fire is one stairway not
over six feet in width.
Chief Redell is arranging these reports
from his fremen In tabulated form. The
table will show the condition of every
building in the city in respect to fire escape
facilities. The chief expects to submit this
report to the Board of Fire and Police Com
missioners next Monday night. The board
will probably refer it to the mayor and
council. Upon the latter will then fall
the duty Of remedying the existing danger
Gus condition OF affairs.
The ordinances of the city regarding fire
escapes, while not considered very s~atisrac-
tory, are plain and stringent enough and IL
they had been enforced the existing condr-
ton OF affairs would not have been possible.
one or these ordinances Is as follows:
Section IS. All buildings, except such
as are used for private residences exciu-
sively, in the city OF Omaha three or more
stories in height, to be provided with annie
stairways, and four stories or more in height
to have metallic fire escapes and stand pipes
extending from the first story to the upper
story and above the roof, and to be placed
upon the outer walls thereof. For hotels
and other public buildings, balconies or land
ings tof these fire escapes shall be at least
twelve feet long and three and one half feet
wide.
Section 50. q q = All buildings having
more than twenty five persons living or en-
ployed above the first story shall have the
stairway fire escapes and other buildings
where less than twenty-five people are en-
ployed upright ladders and landings NAV
be used. Or in any of the above cases an
appliance equally available, strong, durable
and fireproof may be substituted for that
called for"
The stairway fire escapes mentioned are
iron stairways built on the outside of build
ings, according to the definition in the ordi-
nances. The character and strength of the
escape are specifically set forth. The con-
struction OF the ladders is also specified.
New State Law.
The new state law governing fire escapes
will soon be in effect. Chief Redell of the
fire department has already received a COM
munication from Labor Commissioner Kent
calling his attention to the law and asking
for the Omaha chiefs cooperation in en-
forcing it. This law says that all buildings
four stories or more in height of the char
acter of flats or apartment houses shall have
one or more metallic ladders or stair fire
escapes on the outer walls and one or more
automatic fire escapes for use inside. In
all schools, public institutions, hotels, manu-
featuring plants and other buildings of like
character two stories or more in height
there shall be an outside ladder or stair
fire escape for each fifty persons employed
in or occupying such building and also an
automatic fire escape within for each TWEEN
ty-ive people. In case of public halls two
stories or over in height the fire escapes
shall be determined by the labor commits
sioner, who shall examine each fire escape
erected and must issue a permit before it
! can be put in place. Fire escapes must be
| erected within thirty days after notice is
served. A failure to comply with the law
is punishable by a fine OF between 500 and
5000 and $50 a day thereafter until the law
to investigate If the law is being obeyed and
enforced; II it is not, indictments shall be
returned against the guilty parties.