The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-28

main streets
 MT. Wheeler declared that he was of the city and the erection of decent buildings, especially those which af- ford life protection. He thought the code could not be too rigid in this re- spect. He noted that many people had become poor through the re- all the code could not be too strict in regard to some features of tene- ment construction. It was MT. Wheel CTS experience that air shafts, well holes and dumb walters were bad points of tenements, that fire and smoke rushing up the shafts, kill the tenants before they have chance to get away. MT. Wheeler stated that he did not believe in fire proof win dows and shutters, that they do more harm than good. He stated that since the installation of the auto chemical here fire hazard had been reduced by one half.
 Building Commissioner Botsford stated that the code committee in making up the code considered that there ought to be an inner fire dis trict, and that the code as it now stood was their best efforts, which caused MT. Wheeler to reply, ''It IS too good" Mr. Botsford stated that it was the third effort to have build ing code for the city, and that it was certainly time to place one in effect. MT. Wheeler thought there would be more of a gain for the city in post poning than adoption of the code.
 Without a code" suggested MT. Hurley fire traps would continue to be built. Builders can construct a five story building in the center with hall on the top floor. You cannot compel them to make fire proof building unless there is a law"
 icsy ,oh 1a I11i11 hI,o{ are most essential,'' said MT. Wheeler. ''What is required is means of escap- ing. These means are in the hands of the Building Commissioners. So far the commissioners have acted wise ly in such matters, but there is dan ger of you making it too expensive to build."
 When MT: Wheeler had left the meet ing it was explained what were the inner fire limits to which he objected, and reference was made to two struc- lures which he proposed erecting, one in Middle street, the other where Lee Bros. furniture store was located, Main and Golden Hill streets.
 s'As rule, MT. Wheeler builds quite we'll" said MT. Hurley, "but take all the buildings in Main street from Gil- bert to Congress streets, they are for the most part a poor class of con- struction. The code committee felt that should these buildings be altered or new ones erected in their places, that the builders should be obliged to put up constructions modern in every e.ail. The cheapness of fireproof material at the present time will ad- init of their doing so If the city is to build. it ought to build better than it is doing"
 MT. Hurley could not understand why MT. Wheelea. asked delay, espe- cially as the adoption of a building code has been the hue and cry of con- tractors and architects for years
 Should you adopt the code,'' sug- gested Commissioner Botsford, ''you should give the Building Commission discretion and powers as to what shall be done. There are so many varied parts in building and so many changes in material that the commissioners should be clothed with some such pOwerS.'
 MT. Botsford also stated that the committee should anyway pass an or dinance requiring that tile flue be built into every chimney, and that all windows or doors leading to fire es- capes shauld be on the level with the floor.