New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-26
In Many Dormitories Inadequate
Precautions Against Fire
Are the r ule.

Students OF fire losses throughout the world apre.
that the annual destruction Of property by fire In
the United States is in OF that recorded In
any other country. committee OF the National
Board OF Fire Underwriters reviewing fire losses
per capita declared that 1.-THE per cauita loss ot
the United States is appalngly greater than In any
other country The committees assertion would
appear to be justified. the average annual per
capita loss I'm Austria. Denmark France Ger
many, Italy and Switzerland being only about SO
cents. against average Of 81 a in the United
States.
In accounting for the excessive fire waste IN tb,,
country the national carelessness'' is commonly
put forth as comprehensive explanation II must
be admitted that until very recently reclxIessne,s
as respects FIRE dangers has been a national char
Acpensuc- But fortunately. a movement is under
way to check by scientific methods the needless
waste Of lives and wealth.
How little attention has been maid IN a.. rro.
tion even among very intelligent part Of the
pubic is shown by special reports on 500 educa
uonal institutions relative to conditions that No.,
the safety of students. We learn the lesson FROM
the colleges and universities that precapso,,
against fire have been neglected generally So :,
the question were asked. Are the young mon and
young women who are attending American colleges
iu universities well looked after as respects pro-
'ecuon from fire dangersy" the answer rnust ba
'hat they are not Unnecessary dangers. serious
inehaces exist The installation of better system,
VI hfe protection public and private must take
place IL conditions are to be improved
'HSAllutiOIS assume Of
p4i4Ies III oHering dormitory accommodations IN
STUDENTS From the point OF view of architecture,
beauty the buildings may lack nothing; they MAJ,
supply every home comfort; they may be In ar
tracuve localities. far from noisy cities Bu, tho,
IS not enough The beautiful buildings may be
under boxes. Fire escapes may not have been nro
Naeo. suitable apparatus for fighting even in
SlPIehe Inss may not have been supplied There
may not be watch service during The niqST to
nners may not be fire hydrants near ar hand
There may not be outside help tc depend on-esne
claAiy IRE department 10 be summoned 1ulct,i,,
by an alarm or fire. The question How seSa -
UNSAFE are the hundreds OF dorrnitory "bniIIinSs
attached 20 our universities and COLLEGES ? 1S az
sttutioDs 49, -'N"i tAie il-
The height OF the building is an important factor
IA considering the danger from fire and manic to
the occupants or dornftory. The lower the buil6
ing the greater are The chances that AN of The
occupants can be safe. and the easier will he m
%ofk or putting out a FIRE Many persons haye LOST
their lives through suffocation in fires in h1iIdine
ne burning or summer hotels Loss of life has
also occurred on the second floors of dwellings
Donese doriniiorles appear 10 be three and fou,.
stories In height mainly. height OF three storIes
Is reported ny l5I colleges of 800 heard from
era seFenty-nine say they have dornlitores oni,,,
fuo stores IN height Ninety-four have dorm,ories
four stories I'm height. IN sixteen nstftutione rs
students, of them live in buiJdngs S, ,ie
STORES IN height Two exceptionally high bl3idncs
hehuoaeo one or SIX stories and the other Of ten
are OF hreproof construction - 49,
Altogetner, reports respecting s74 dorrifnr, huIs
1ngs were received. OF that number Is2 ar arm,
Dsa CENT are OF frame construction fifteen being