Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-16
A NATTER OF EXITS.
Clerks Remarks Regarding the
Census Building.

an the discussion of the census building
there is one feature which has been passed
over, and a recent occurrence in this bulio-
ing brought up the question to the cohsio-
Grafton of the clerks, at least said CEN
sus employee land that is the matter OF
exits in the of fire.
..There are three exits, one on 1st I'd ana
streets. respectively, but they are much
too small to permit of the rapid emptylng
of the building in the event or a nre. IL
this is doubted, it is but necessary to "alch
the clerks as they file out in columns AFTER
4 o'clock and observe how slowly they make
their way out by reason of the comparative
smallness of the avenues OF exit. II .ahsS
close on to ten minutes to empty the pulio-
ing. o,,,ta5 IN &C q
good means of getting out, as they are
close to the ground, were 1t not tor the iaet
that the sashes are of the revolving kliiu.
being attached to pivots In the center a,
top and bottom and not opening up al.
down. Windows of this kind offer nut nan
space and in the frightful panic Wnlcli
would surely result in the event OF nre,
would in all probability become iocAeo et u,rd
closed as they revolve rather than alioIo
a free space to leap out, as would DE 'ne
case If they raised up. The space, 100, ny
being thus cut in half, is scarcely te
to admit Of person squeezing through ~
hurry. a;,,,ons,,ns
that the entire structure could De emptlea
in two or three minutes by the Watcn ce.
tainly not over three minutes. Inc puiiu-
ing is by nature of its construction ana It's
highly inflammable contents one that Ire
would sweep through 1t from one emu 10 tne
other with great rapidity 1t would no.,
however be the danger OF hre more IMAM
the danger of the panic which would IN
eyitably result and the consequences OF
which are too fearful to contemplate win
equanimity. The rush for these three m =
ynty1d "a
they would no doubt become clogged with a
struggling mass of desperate humanity, IN
which scores would be crushed to DEATH
The building is practically one larse
ROOM where there are 1000 clerks at Work.
Exits of ordinary size are inadequate Iney
should be like those in a theater, only
much wider and more of them. to the emu
that opening from the inside, three or louI
spaees of fifty feet each could be created
by internal pressure. interceptihs ooois 'e
ing made an impossibility
detected the odor of burning paper when
a woman's scream or the cry OF FIRE!
would have been enough to have raised tne
panic without the presence OF actuai ire'
and the effects would nave peeh us
astrous. 49,, ,;o,,o,. &,
"Perhaps the attention of those nlsher IN
authority has not been called TO TINS hishiy
important point, and 1t VIII receive proper
Again. 1t is known by most of the clerks
that a considerable quantity OF gasoline Is
stored In the printing room, some say TOUR
ar Ave tanks Of the fluid, and this fact does
not tend to their peace of mind.
..The one consoling feature of the case
is" said the clerk to The Star reporter Win
whom he was conyersing. that the chances
of fire are comparatively slight. but they
are comparative only, and that Director
Merriam is well disposed to his large force
and has done and will no doubt do all with
In his mower to safeguard their interests.
It is, however. matter of prime import
ance and If special appropriation Is
necessary to secure larger permanent and
also emergency exits. now is the time to
get it."