The Washington herald., 1907-11-29
ASHFORD OUT OF
PATENT BUSINESS
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
ditons are such that the Standard land consequently
the Ashford be properly installed. No cogni-
zance whatever is taken Of such questions a. com
farative cost. designation. limited number Of per
sons 70 be protected. remote probability that the
escape VIII ever be used al all
The only apparent question considered Is: Can
the standard escape be instaliedg" There is pro
hibition however the Ashford escape. unless Il Is
in the prioo
Points Out Bad Feature.
Another bad feature Of the present regulations
Is that the chain escape. the competitor OF
the Ashford Is recognized al all il must be in
stalled midway between the tiers Of windows IA
very disailyantageous point, think and must
be provided with balconies Of the standard Upe.
which are not only unnocessary but approximately
double the cost and seriously interfere With the
free use Of the chain. Without the balconies four
persons may descend at one time whereas with
them only one can do practically.
Again. the regulations IN regard 90 the standard
escape properly cite specific drawing which glyes
all the details Of construction. But in regard
20 The chain escape the Only detail ~ c0nstruc-
tion referred 20 Is the trip wire. Such questions
as automatic brakes. tensile strength of the
escape chain, galsanizng, immunity % rust bind
Ing kink binding. aud belt binding number Of
persons % De protected by each escarc number and
strength Of life belts. annual inspection &c. are
left. 80 Ear a. We know. % the pleasure caprice
~ the executor Of the regulations who Is evidently
our comIctItOr.
According 20 the present regulations also no in
formation = allowed % ~ out Of the building
inspectors Office % who j. or viii be required
20 ipstan hre escapes. yet Mr.. Ashford. the cus-
tocian OF this information writes. Il viii Iut you
In communication with a former empioye Of this
oihoe who can manage the local business or supply
information.
would Make Details Public.
Possibly Mr.. Ashford can satisfactorily explain
that he does not refer 20 the forbidden iuiorma-
ti0n. but 10 information of peculiar value which
Mr. Rittenhouse understands. However this may
De. the incident serves 70 show that 50 long as
the publicity Of this information remains forbidden
It's custodian and his assistants have both the
opportunity and the incentive 10 sell it or use
u IN controlling contracts We believe that the
proposed legislation should require that this in
formation be made IHhlic c1incideut with its trans
mission 70 the landlords What c1nmensurate
good can accrue 90 the public by the suppression
oi tins Information collected az public ezpcnscg
We regret % state. in conclusion, that we have
often protested 20 various District officials but
all IN vain; and after coming into possession of
the Ashford kitteuhClsc letter presented IN
person. September 3. 1897 a formal protest set
I ting forth each of those bad features. % the
president Of the Board Of Commissioners iwho
transmitted II % the Engineer Commissioner and
used the Ashford letter n snow the necessity for
the changes requested.
To this g0 have recently received a reply 10 the
effect that Mr.. Ashford has been ordered ont Of
the patent business. our next step VAL be an
appeal % Congress. Respectfully.
z. F. GIBBS