Evening star., 1899-03-22
Hotels and Other Buildings in Dis
trict Well Equipped.
PROVISIONS OF THE Law REQUIRING IT
Stand Pipes Abandoned by Order of
the Commissioners.
OF STRUCTURES


law to be equipped with fire escapes said
Mr.. John B. Brady. the District inspector
of buildings, to Star reporter today, lis
so equipped with one exception, the Raleigh,
and that house was excepted by order of
the Commissioners because in their opin-
ion it is strictly freproof What l say of
hotels is also true of all other buildings
here required by law to be provided with
fire escapes. and while now and then Peo-
pie object to the requirements of the lae
we have experienced comparatively little
trouble in enforcing the regulations. 1 am
of the opinion, therefore. that the buildings
here are as we'll equipped in this respect as
are those in any other city
The act of Congress of January &c, 1887,
amended March ., 1888, makes it the
duty of the owner or owners, in fee or for
life, of every building constructed and used,
or intended to be used, as a hotel, factory,
mandatory. theater, tenement house,
seminary, college, academy, hospital, asy-
ium, hall, or place of amusement, and OF
the trustee or trustees of every estate, as
sociation, society, college, academy, school,
hospital or asylum owning or using any
building fifty feet high upwards, used
for any of the purposes herein above men
toned, to provide and cause to be erected
and affixed to said building iron fire escapes
and combined standpipes and ladders, or
either of said appliances as may be ap-
proved and adopted by the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia
The Stand Pipes.
The stand pipes were required on all such
buildings until. as stated by the inspector of
buildings it was represented to the Com
missioners by Mr.. Joseph Paris, chief of
the District fire department, that such ap-
piiances rather interfered with than as
sisted the work of the department as
hpcnplpS q frpmpn after
the stand pipes are connected with the hose
on the street, to haul the hose to the top
of the buildings in order to connect 1t to
the pipes there. Then, too, it is stated in
explanation of the representation of the
chief of the fire department, that it at times
becomes impossible to connect the hose to
the stand pipes because of rusty, immovabie
valves. and not infrequently because of
difference in size between the hose
couplings and those of the stand pipes. 1t
was because of these representations, Ii is
said that the Commissioners. December 81.
1895. ordered that thereafter stand pipes
shall not be required as part of the fire
escape system on buildings unless other
wise specially directed by them. 1t is
claimed. however. by the advocates of the
stand pipes that hose cannot be used on
top of buildings until carried or hauled up.
and that ii is much easier to carry or haul
up a piece of hose to be attached to the
end of the pipe on top of a building than
to carry or haul great lengths of hose from
the street to the hOusetops. Then, again. 1t
is pointed out that inspections of stand
pipes at regular periods would prevent them
from becoming useless, while such inspec-
tions would also prevent any pipes being
erected other than those easily and quick
" adjusted to the hose used by the fire de-
partment.
Further Provisions.
The acts above mentioned further pro-
vide that in all hotels, factories, manufac-
tories. workshops schools, seminaries. col
leges. hospitals. asylums, halls or places of
amusement. or other places mentioned il
this act. the Railways and stairways shall
be properly Hxhted when occupied at night:
and at the head and foot of each fight OF
stairs. and at the intersection Of ail hai-
ways with main corridors. shall be kept
during the night a red light; and one or
more proper alarms or gongs, capable of
being heard throughout the building, shall
always remain easy of access and ready for
use in each of said buildings. to give notice
to the inmates in case of fire; md there
shall he kept posted in conspicuous place
in every sleeping room notice descriptive
of such means of escape; and the building
inspector and chief engineer of the fire de-
partment shall haxe-the rignt o designate
the location of the said tire escapes ana
stand pipes in conformity with this act,
ard shall grant certificates of approval to
every person. firm. corporation. trustee and
board of school trustees complying with the
requirements of this act. which ccr'ificates
shall relieve the party or parties from the
liabilities of fines or damages imposed by
this act
II is also made unlawful to issue license
to the lessee or proprietor of any building
used as hotel, factory. manufactory the
ater. tenement house. hall or place OF
amusement. or other buildings used for
business for which license is required, un-
less the application for the license is ac-
companied with certificate of the inspec-
tor of buildings showing that the building
is equipped as required by law. Failure or
neglect to observe the law after sixty days
notice renders the owner or lessee liable to
a fine of not less than $50 nor more than
800 for each day the building remains un-
equipped.
In case IF such failure or neglect the
Commissioners are empowered, and it is
made their duty, to cause the erection of
the fire escapes, the cost thereof to be as
sessed as a tax against the property, the
assessment to bear interest at 10 per cent
per annum. The Commissioners may also
Issue tax lien certificate and turn it over
to the contractor for doing the work. The
lessee. owner or trustee. as the case may
he. is made liable to action for damages
for loss of life or personal injury resulting
from fire in buildings not provided with
fire escapes. The law finally provides that
as to any building which the Commission
ers shall determine to be fireproof they
may in their discretion require the erection
of fire escapes.
Heights of Buildings.
In this connection it is important for
those interested to take notice of the pro-
visions of the act of March l. 1899. reguiat-
ing the heights of buildings in the District
This act provides that from and after it's
approval no combustible or non-fireproof
building intended to be used or occupied as
a residence or as an apartment house or
hotel in the District of Columbia shall be
erected to height more than five stories
or raised to a height exceeding sixty feet
above the sidewalk, the measurement to be
made as hereinafter prescribed.
Buildings intended for business purposes
solely may be erected to a height of sew
enty-five feet without being of fireproof
construction.
All buildings. except churches hereafter
erected or altered to exceed seventy-five
feet in height shall be fireproof or nom
combustible and of such materials through
out as may be prescribed by the Commits
sioners. Churches must be of fireproof
construction up to and including the main
or auditorium floor.
Hereafter no building shall be erected or
altered on any street in the District of CO.
lumbia to exceed in height above the side
walk the width of the street in its front,
and in no case shall building exceed nine
hfigy