Evening star., 1902-08-05
0FFICIAsI BUILDINGS
CANNOT BE INSPECTED By FIRE
DEPkRTHENT.
An Insurance Man Discusses the Inse-
qil ya -.
curity of Life andoProperty in the
Structures Owned or Rented
II no
by Disbursement.

II was very much surprised to learn
few days ago. said a-well-known insurance
man, that the fire department cannot in
spect, as l understand it, the public official
buildings occupied by the departments
either owned or rented, except upon request
of the proper authority. -
III this be the law 1t seems to me to be
a very great mistake. These buildings
ought regularly to be inspected by the fire
department, and, am informed, the hre
department is only too glad to comply with
any such request that may be made.
1t Will be recalled that few months
ago the fire department was called into con-
sultation regarding the fire appliances, ETC.,
OF the Capitol at the time when small
flre in that structure aroused official action
as to the great hazard there of a confiagra-
ton. 1t is my recollection that the recon-
mendations of Chief Dutton and Assistant
Chief Belt were adopted, that the report
OF the hre department was very thorough
and complete, and revealed that the Capitol
was, very poorly protected against fire, con-
sidering the almost priceless contents OF the
building and the value Of the structure
itself.
Recently, upon request of First Assistant
Postmaster General Wynne the fire depart
ment inspected the old building used by the
supply division of the Post Office Depart
ment known as the rink, on street be-
tween 9th and 7th streets A number of
practical suggestions were made to insure
protection against fire, and these were Or
dered carried out by Mr.. Wynne.
1T seems to me that the heads of the diff
ferent departments and bureaus In this city
should at once take official cognizance OF
the Willingness of the fire department to
lend its aid in offering practical sugges-
tions for, the improvement Of buildings in
genera! as regards protection from fire ana
escape of the occupants from the build
ings in the event of a confiagrat1on. FROM
my experience as an insurance man know,
and, in fact, it is generally known, that
some Of the old buildings used for office
purposes by the government, especially some
of those that are rented, are entirely made
quately supplied with fire extinguishing ap-
paratus and with means of escape In case
of fire.
These buildings which are crowded with
clerks, are most of them old, built Of COM
bustible material and filled with highly COM
bustible contents in the shape of old papers,
records and furniture. 1t Is simply matter
of good luck that enc of these buildings has
not taken fire, the consequences of which as
regards the loss of life and injury, to say
nothing of the loss of valuable records, is
not pleasant to contemplate.
LAS for the newer buildings I have been
in some of them and have noted that the
reels of hose in the halls were coated with
dust several inches thick, showing conclu-
sively that the hose has never been tested
since 1t was firstG wound upon the reels.
has also been conspicueusly absent. There
are, however, a hundred and one features
connected with this subject. the absence of
which would be apparent only to the trained
eye of fireman.
TT will be recalled that about five years
ago there was a small fire in the southeast
corner of the basement Of the patent office
which was extinguished with difficulty and
only after considerableJlos That this fire
did not spread and perhaps destroy the
building was mainly due to the fact that
there was luckily no elevator shaft ada
cent, otherwise ftS was the consensus Of
opinion of all INSURANCE men who saw it
that the building would have been in grave
danger. as4 |~- 1t --
Il am sure, upon consideration, it will
appear incongruoas that thal city fire Off
lures to the extent mentioned, but the the
ory is, Ii may be assumed, that the gov
ernment through its officials, will look after
these matters itself. The government, how
ever looks to the fire department to eX-
tinguish conflagrations, and the very least
1t could do, since the act may be performed
without expense to the government, would
be to have the fire department make period
ical examinations of the structures in ques-
t!on.
1T is probable that many of the heads OF
the departments and bureaus, since they are
changing constantly, are unaware that
their buildings may not be inspected by the
fire department except as stated and that
If they were aware of this fact, they would
quickly make the request. 1t is these pre-
cautions which often avert calamities A
chief clerk, or a superintendent of public
building, in my opinion, is derelict in his
duty if he fails to take all possible steps
to insure his building and those in it against
fire."