The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-03
Removal of Business Mems Club
Delayed by Lack. of Fire
Escape.
OWNERS CLAIM EXEMPTION
Inspector Beck and Fire Chief
Joynes Refuse to Sign
Permit.

Failure to meet the requirements of
two city departments has delayed the
opening of the new portion OF the
American National Bank Building, and
the removal to its new quarters OF the
Business Mems Club. Building 1nspec-
tor Beck and Fire Chief Joynes are de-
manding the erection of an outside
thrown open to the public. and CITY
Electrical Inspector Speights reports
the electric wiring of the annex
.grounded,' condition which while
suits in a loss Of a large part of the
current, and is in violation OF the
electrical code. A force OF men Is
looking for the leak" in the current:
and it is believed that the demands OF
the electrical department Will nave
been met within few days
There is on file in the Office or the
Building Inspector a mass of CORE
spondence with regard to the erection
OF the,hre escape, going back for , years
was erected, one Of the first steel
frame buildings in Richmond, the City
Council by special resolution, exempted
1t from the general provision requlr-
Mayor Mccarthy vetoed the exemption.
and after acrimonious debate 1t was
passed over his veto, and the building
has since stood without an outside
means OIL eSTesS III ttoS VI llio'
Must Provide Fire Escape.
When plans were filed for adding an
annex or adjoining building AND for
erecting two additional stories over
all Building Inspector Beck wrote tho
bank that under the provisions OF the
building code, adopted since the Coun,
Gil resolution. the new building must
be equipped with fire escape running
up to the club rooms on the top moor;
Al number of letters We're exchanged
over the claim that the old exemption
extended to the annex and new part
Beck mentioned that he was member
OF the Board of Aldermen aud voted
against the exemption when the struc'
ture was first erected.
Not only doeai. the bHilding e1de re.
ouire FIRE escape Oh building OF
this character used for public PVT PVT
poses, but the laws governing the ttrt
Department are also specific. and 1t i
further provided that even thoush a
plans are filed and approved, and tn
building erected In conformity Will
Designs. the owner of any public struo
ture must secure written permission
from the Chief of the Fire Department
Endorsed by the Building Inspector an an
the City Electrician. before the build
ing can be opened for public uses
The bank having failed to provide tn
fire escape. both Mr.. Beck and chic
Joynes have declined to sign any per
Itlil iCI oi'SiillS a'llt -
while City Electrician THOMPSON ha
his own reasons for Withholding az
prevail
Chief Joynes is out of the city bu
Acting Chief RATIO fully concurs
his position, and has so Indicated
Erected on Steel Frame.
Inspector Beck says that while tn
entire building Is erected on a stet
frame, and has fireproof she'll theI
is much combustible material insid
the various sections of the buildin
not being divided off by fire walls {
metal doors.
He has in his office records OF f'rt
starting and burning for some time
steel frame buildings of so-called hr'
proof construction. Another elemel
of danger is the presence of ordinal
brick and tin roof buildings wit
wooden beams Just next door. whic
in case of extended fire might heat Il
metal of the frame of the building,
Officials OF the bank claim that Il
building is practically fireproof; TIL
1T is admirably arranged with sta!
cases from roof to the ground, fro,
and back, the stairs In each insten
being away from the elevator sha
instead of surrounding 1t, as Is Il
usual custom Ample means of egres
it is claimed, are provided In case
any alarm or panic in any part OF Il
building
s Cannot Opcn building.
Nevertheless Mr.. Beck says that &
provisions of the building code a