Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-02
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flreproof building. according to the best
judgment OF architects. is required of the
higher apartment houses In this District.
1T is unnecessary for me to add that the
Commissioners are without power to grant
a permit for an apartment house above five
stories in height that Is reasonably fire.
proof. Congress, We plainly see, had no
fixed form of building in view. The law.
as it stands on the statute book, means
that whatever brings the building nearer
and nearer to the point of absolute security
from fire must be adopted.
No Fireproof Apartments in District.
While on this subject / might say that
gentleman of large exerience tells me
that, In his Judgment, there Is not fire.
proof apartment house in this District. He
thinks that every such house should have
specially constructed door where the
apartment opens into the hallway. This
door should be sheathed in metal so as to
cut Off effectually the apartment from the
hall AS things now are, let fire get
under way in the absence of a family in
one of these apartments, and the smoke
pouring out into the hall, particularly at
night, alarms all the inmates on that floor.
woman finding smoke in the hallway
that she cannot readily pass through will
be very much inclined to go back to her
apartment and jump from the window.
Another gentleman, who has made fire.
proof building subject of special study,
tells me that there is crying need of re-
quiring all the stairways in an apartment
house to be inclosed. This is absolutely
necessary. never mind how carefully and
thoroughly precautions are taken else
where In the building against fire.
Need Of Strict Enforcement.
when we recall the fact that more than
two hundred million dollars worth of prop
erty is destroyed each year in this country:
and the further fact that last year 6.7T2
Lost he ra
that stringent building regulations i'm
peratively needed. An awakened public
sentiment will surely demand them before
long.
But 1 am not asking that measures of
this length, though reasonable, shall be re-
quired. While the act Of Congress may
fairly and properly be construed as de-
handing this full measure of protection for
the people Of the District, l am at present
combining myself to the single subject OF
the use of wooden window frames in tall
apartment houses.
ut is a significant fact. we'll established
by insurance statistics, that over 45 per
cent of fires in buildings have been COM
municated through windows. There can be
no better guide of what is a reasonable and
business-like construction of the term fire.
proof building in a law than that which is
set forth in the New York tenement house
act of April IL, 1901:
"A f1reproof tenement house is one OF
walls of which are constructed Of brick,
stone, iron or other hard incombustible mate
rails, and in which there are no wood beams
or lintels. and in which the floors, roofs,
stair halls and public halls are built entire
ly of brick, stone. iron or other hard in
combustible material, and in which no
woodwork or other inflammable material is
used in any of the partitions. furrings or
ceilings. But this definition shall not be
construed prohibiting, elsewhere than in
the stair halls or entrance halls, the use of
wooden foorings top of the fireproor
floors or the use of wooden seepers nor
as prohibiting wooden hand rails and hard
wood treads such as described in section
Is of this act
You will observe that no wooden window
frames and sashes are permissible under
this act.
Commissioners Difficult Task.
Il am aware of some of the difficulties I'M
der which the building inspector and the
Commissioners have to discharge the duty
of enforcing strict building regulations. An
unequal contest is going on between those
interested in getting large returns out of
new buildings and the handful of citizens
who realize the peril that threatens the
neighborhood where houses. and especially
large and tall structures, are not built as
they should be. The folly of exposing lives
and property to destruction by fire has been
pointed out from time to time. But the
warning is not needed.
Il would not say word to disquiet un-
uuly those VINO I'VE IN apartment houses,
but the vast majority of people care moth
ing whatever about looking into the con-
struction of the building in which they live
They seem to think, If they think at all on
the subject. that the building regulations
provide for safety. On the other hand, the
builder naturally enough tries to get along
with easy observance OF the regula-
tons as possible More people, however,
are now beginning to study the subject and
to see plainly the need of stringent build
ing laws. One way to bring about a bet
ter condition in this respect is TO make a
slow. steady advance. There should be no
step backward.
Let me say that l have not the slightest
doubt that under the act of March J. 1899
regulating the height of buildings, the Com
missoners have the power, and it is their
duty, to exclude from every building above
fro