Evening star., 1904-03-17
NEW LAW PROPOSED
DRAFT OF BILL aoyERN1Na FIRE
ESCAPES
Congress Asked to Enact Measure
Proposed by cofporstion Counsel
Some of Its Provisions.

The Commissioners have received from
the corporation counsel the draft of a pro-
posed fire escape law for the District, which
was prepared by Mr. D1van upon sugges-
tions furnished by Building Inspector Ash
ford in tentative draft of bill on the
subject The bill presented by Mr. Duvall
to the Commissioners, IL is expected, Will
receive their approval and will shortly be
forwarded to Congress with a request for
its immediate enactment.
Among other things, the proposed bill
makes 1t the duty of the owner, lessee or
any person having control of any building
three or more stories in height or over
thirty feet high, constructed for use or
intended to be used as tenement house.
apartment house, hotel, Office building
store, hospital, seminary, academy, school,
college, institute, dormitory, asylum, sani-
tarium, hall or place of amusement. TO
cause to be erected on every such building
one or more suitable fire escapes, connect
easily accessible openings. The location,
number and style of the fire escapes are to
be determined by the Commissioners.
The owner or proprietor OF any building
already erected or which may hereafter he
erected in which ten or more persons are
employed in any of the stories above the
second story, where there are not provided
at least two stairways, each at least three
Acct Wiue, anu SepdTdlu Dy distance Oh
at least thirty feet. shall also be required
to erect suitable fire escapes. The bill also
requires that in such buildings as previous
ly mentioned guide signs guide lights. exit
lights, hall and stairway lights, fire hose
and extfnguishers, etc, shall be provided
In order to properly locate fire escapes the
Commissioners are authorized to require
any changes or alterations deemed neces-
sary In any building coming within the
provisions of the law.
Fireproof Buildings Exempted.
Section of the proposed bill provides
that on such buildings as the Commission
ers may determine to be fireproof the re-
quirements Of the act as to fire escapes
guide signs and alarm gongs may be
waived, but when the wall of any such
fireproof building is within thirty feet OF a.
combustible building all windows or open
ings In the wall shall be protected from
fire by automatic iron shutters or wire
glass in fireproof sash and frames Each
elevator shaft and stairway extending to
the basement of fireproof buildings shall
terminate in fireproof compartment, sep
arating the elevator shaft and stairs from
other parts of the basement
The bill requires that the halls and stair
ways and the openings leading to the fire
escapes shall not be ohstructed; that no
license shall be issued to any person to
conduct any business for which a license
Is required in any building mentioned in
the act until such building has been pro-
v!ded and equipped ,with.a sufficient number
of fire escapes and other appliances re-
quired by the bill. -
Any person failing to provide fire cscaras
or other safety appliances mentioned in the
act. SHALL upon conviction of such failure
be punished by, fine of not less thar so
nor more than 500. and for each week .ha;
he fails to comply with the requirements
after notice by the Commissioners a fire
OF 800 week shall be assessed against him.
The bill provides for the manner in which
notices shall be served upon the owners or
proprietors of buildings. and contains A
clause to the effect that zthe Supreme Court
of the District in term time Or in vacation
may. upon petition filed by the Commis-
sioners. issue an Injunction to restrtin The
use or occupation of any building in the
District In violatiopsof any Of sie provisions
of the act.