The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-06-15
National Board Of Fire Under.
writers Urges Officials to Adopt
National Building Code.
FAVORED BY Underwriters
City Council will Take Up the Matter
at It's Next Regular Meeting and
Many of the Aldermen Favor
the Adoption of 1t.

For the purpose of better safe
guarding Kenosha against losses of
life and property by fire, and to have
kenosha in line with other cities of
the state and nation, the city council
mas oeen urged to adopt the national
building code which has been APP
proved by the National Board Of I'm
Iderwriters. While this movement has
not been started by the insurance
companies represented in Kenosha or
Dy their agents, it has the complete
approval of the local board of under
writer's, and it is probable that this
board will send some communication
to the council seconding the petition
OF the national board.
AT the present time the city has no
building code to be followed in and
out OF the fire districts, and to aid the
city along this line national code
has been prepared and copies of it
are now in the hands of Mayor Cor
man and other city officials for their
consideration.
In speaking Of the matter Friday
evening, Mayor German said: "This
is matter that the city should act on
at oncej and l shall be in favor of the
adoption of the national code as soon
as It IS practicable for the city.
There is at present no uniform rule
to provide for proper protection of
life and property in the building of
buildings in Kenosha, and some step
IN this direction should be taken at
once"
The purpose Of this code is better
Explained in the letter which has been
sent to the different officials. It is in
part as follows:
"The National Board of Fire I'M
derwriters, through the committee on
construction of buildings, has pre-
pared during the past year building
code designed to secure uniform
building laws throughout the country.
Every effort has been employed to
make this code as complete and com
| prehensive as possible, and the com
m1ttee has been assisted in it's work
by experts of the highest authority in
the art of building construction.
At the annual meeting of the Ma
tional Board of Fire Underwriters,
held in New York on May 18th, 1905,
| the code was unanimously adopted
and resolutions passed recommending
its enactment by the municipal au-
thofities throughout the United
States. A copy of the code is sent
you today under separate cover.
| AS outlined IN the Introductory re-
marks of the committee, found on
page 10 of the code, the purpose of
the National Board of Fire Under
writer's is to assist in the formation of
proper laws regarding building con-
struction, and this can be accom-
plished only through the cooperation
of city and town officials. On them
alone rests the responsibility of en-
acting and enforcing laws both for
the safeg harding of lives against such
dire calamities as the destruction of
the lroquois theatre in Chicago, in
, December, 1908, where nearly six hun
dred people persisted, and for the re-
duction of the appalling waste of
property by fire, which, during the
last five years, has averaged annually
the enormous sum of over $40, 900, 900.
In small towns and cities, where
there is no department of buildings,
the code might be enforced through
bureau of buildings under the iuris-
diction of the fire department, the
words Commissioners of Buildings"
being changed to Superintendent"
or inspector of Buildings" In like
manner other provisions could be
made to meet local requirements, still
maintaining the essential recon1men-
dations of the code. Laws governing
safe construction of hotels, theatres,
schools, hospitals, and other buildings
designed for public purposes, are
manifestly as important in small
towns and villages as in cities, and
should conseq uently be as rigid1y en-
forced.
In view of its Importance, we ask
you to take official cognizance of this
subject, and to recommend action
thereon to the proper authorities.
We shall appreciate an acknowledge
ment of this communication, and So
1icit advices of any measures which
may be taken. Respectfully,
n