Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-08
LOOKER.ON in IOWA !


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New Hartford, Dec. S-Recently :hc |,
S. r. Nj. A. sent out to the members a
communication regarding fire escapes
in hotels 1t also has an interest Tor
those outside of the army of travelling
men, In substance, the laws of loWa
are that 'hhotels or lodging houses of
three or more stories shall be provided
with steel or wrought iron ladder fire
escapes attached to the outer wall.
also with steel or wrought iron plat
form of such size and dimensions and
of such proximity to one or more Win
dows Of each story above the first. rs
to render access easy and safe. Red
lights shall In each case designate the
location of escapes. Ladders shall
reach to within five feet from the
ground, or drop ladder may be hung
at the second story in such manner
that 1t can be easily lowered in case Of
necessity.
In case hotels shall be occupied by
more than twenty persons a stairway
of steel or wrought iron shall be sub
stituted for a ladder above described,
Platforms accessible from each story
shall be erected with drop or counter
balance stairway from the second story
to the ground. or stationary stairway
may be carried down within five feet
Of the ground.
The fire escape laws in many of the
states are fully adequate for the pur-
poses intended, and, in at least twenty
of the states there are either no pro-
visions whatever or provisions so In
adequate as to be worthless: but, how
ever stringent the fire escape laws may
be, they are Of no advantage unless
properly enforced. There is more COM
plant from lack of enforcement than
there is from lack of enactment.
If the members of the association
would have these matters In mind and
report all violations or failures, to en-
force to the proper authorities. it
would do much to strengthen public
sentiment In favor of strict enforce
ment of the provisions of the fire es-
cape law"
Another thing of vital interest to ho-
tel owners is that in case OF loss OF
property or life the owners are finan-
cially liable in case their buildings are
not provided with fire escapes as pro-
vided by law.
Here in Iowa we have much to learn
OF the lessons taught by civic improve
ment societies. In one of our rice Iowa
towns, one where sidewalks are kept
up, where lawns are regularly attend
ed to, where the streets are sprinkled
in summer and sidewalks kept free
from snow in winter. the writer, riding
by In the city bus, saw the bill sticker
at work on his board monstrnsity, de-
lberately tearing off the old paper and
throwing it In the street to be scat
tered by the winds anywhere and ev-
erywhere. Yet this town has city
marshal that really and truly" wears
a blue broadcloth suit, stand-up linen
collar, and shines his shoes every day.
Marshal.
1t is claimed by close observers, that
successful men in any line always
have a hobby for doing something else.
entirely different from their
vocation or profession
Must be something in it, There's
Judge Lewis of Montezuma Years of
experience both as attorney and Judge,
as we'll as legislator would seem to
make the law his only enjoyment and
occupation. Not so. The judge has a
weakness, or call it strength, If it suits
better for mechanics. for machines
and machine repairing. He actually
has for the fun of the thing, ma
chine shop back of his law office, fitted
up with gasoline engine, lathes and
many fine tools, not ordinarily found
in the well equipped shops. Give the
Judge an old greasy apron and a brok-
en- part of his automobile, and require
him to fix it-then he's happy.
Then, too, there is DIR. Morse, OF Ell
dora, owner of fine hospital, big sur
gical practice, and he ought to be hap
py But he isn't. To see him at his
best, when the smile on his face don't
come off, go downstairs in TIE base
ment of the hospital. and see the big
doctor in his shirt sleeves, making a
table of three quartered oak. He
saws lumber as scientifically as bones,
leaves no joints the naked eye can see,
and more than scars after AN operation
The doctors office is fitted up with
furniture of his own personal handi-
work. Literally the work Of the sweat
Of his brow, and that's saying consid-
cradle.
It's not all professional men with
nobbies of this kind. There's ]. B.
Prescott of Hampton owner Of the
iced yard and barn one would think !