The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-04-25
DETROIT At MERCY
Of FLAMES, SAYS
DALTON WELLS
Building Inspector Declares Heart OF
City Full of Fire Traps, and Charg
ing Aldermen With Criminal
Negligence, Resigns
Asserts Council Holds Up Building
Code and Cripples Commission by
Refusing Needed Money.

Dalton r. Wells. chief inspector In
charge OF the department OF build
ings has resigned his position after
one years incumbency. He is COINS
into business as an architect with
Marcus r Burrowes.
But the real reason OF Wells resrg'
narTOH r rnaT n5 dues UUr rect trfTTt
he is longer Willing 10 he Responsible
for conditions in a building way as
they are In this city. He believes
that Detroit is In such shape that
fire as disastrous as that which
destroyed the best portion or Baitl-
more is at any time possible here,
and he believes, further. that the al
dermen are willfully holding back
legislation and appropriations which
would remedy conditions.
Wells is an enthusiast. He has had
numerous differences OF opinion with
other city officials In his efforts TO en-
force better building conditions. The
department of building. OF which he
is the executive head under board
OF four commissioners. was created
in anticipation of the enactment OF a
completed last winter and has been
before the council since, with no ac-
tion taken upon IL except 10 have Ii
printed. The commission asked for
appropriations for a force of inspec-
tors 10 enforce the new code, and was
allowed by the council only four in
spectors. an inadequate number.
Seeing no prospect or better
ordinances, observing dangerous con-
ditions all around which he could not
remedy, and given only small force
TO aid in enforcing such laws as are
on the books, Wells got tired OF try
ing and resigned. The building com
mission has found no one TO take his
$4,000 position as yet.
Conditions are ripe for fire like
that in Baltimore says Wells. De
treit would burn faster than Baltimore
did, though The situation is rotten
that is the only way | can express II.
The present ordinances are ridiculous
and as full OF holes as sieve. we
ought TO have better laws right now,
without waiting for disastrous fire,
or for some building to collapse and
kill lot OF people. That is too ex-
pensive a lesson. | know how things
are and | am not going TO stand the
responsibility any longer.
What would have happened II the
Hunter & Hunter fire had occurred
few hours earlier? There would have
been great loss OF life. What would
happen II fire were TO break out In
some of the other department stores
A department store Is worse than a
theater as far as danger from ire is
concerned yet We have laws govern
ing the building of theaters and We
have hardly any control over stores.
| was in one store few days ago
and Ii is building that is not fire-
proof. and the aisles were so crowded
that the people could hardly have got
out in a panic. The doors OF that
store were partly oolted shut, and the
others opened inward. That is just a
sample of the danger.
IL could name any number OF nre-
traps, but | do not think il would be
fair 10 name only few and let the
others 20 unmentioned. There must
be 200 or more of them. Some dan
Rerous buildings are factories in which
girls are employed in upper floors.
The new building code Is being
sidetracked for definite reasons There
is an election coming. and the alder
men are afraid that the passage OF "A
strlct building code would offend a
great many people now constructing
unsafe buildings, aud owners OF build
ings in bad condition. They would oe
blamed, they think.
That is the reason why the force
Of the department was cut down with
the estimates cut as they are. this
department could not enforce the new
code for IL months from July, even II
it were passed The only betterment
by passing the code now would be 10
give laws that could be enforced 10
some extent instead Of having laws
which cannot be enforced at all.
We have done all that We could,
but three-fourths OF the things that
e have done have been by sheer blur
The other man did not know that we
die not have the power behind us.
The aldermen themselves do nor