New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-06
HAD ORDERED FIRE ESCAPE
Bureau Of Buildings Sought
Changes Where Girls Were Hurt
ORDERS WERE UNHEE0EO
Corporation Counsel Has Case OF
Violation of Order Against
Aston Estate for Suit.

4 long standing violation and hre escape
order snpears on the files of the Bureau OF
puildinos against the owners OF the iolt
t,iId,rg at Nos SAG and 5ts Broadway. That
iS the building where nearly score OF
working girls were hurt on THURSDAY III
the panic which followed cry OF FIRE
when an awning blazed NJ in the rear o'
the building.
The building is owned by the John Jaoo'
Astor estate on the report ~ Inspector
William /. Nirrill Of the buildings Depai'
ment. on December "a. 1910. fire escape OF
der No 500 was Nled against the ouilnlhs'
and the owners were 80 informed me to'-
lowing dav. Various attempts we're mace
nv tho department 10 get the Astcr estate
10 comply with the order. but wi'hont SUI
cess The case was turned over TO the
CORPORATION Counsel for prosecution on
March T.
The contractor for the Aston estate AFTER
| ward wrote a letter 10 the Buildings b'
partment acknowledging the receipt OF inc
order 10 put a new FIRE escape on the pullu-
ing and make other precautionary improve
| ments but, so far as the records or 'ne
buildings Department show, the order mas
remains against the building.
Engineers and inspectors from the Buiid
ings Department made a thorough inspec-
ton Of the building YESTERDAY and 1t Is eS-
nected that other violations will be hled
to-day It was said that the stairways
were found to he entirely too mario" 10 al
| ford an adequate exit for the number OF
employees on the four upper floors OF the
building. The fimsy wooden balustrades
which gave way under the pressure or me
panic stricken girls and precipitated many
Of them into the stair we'll. fifteen or TWEEN
tv feet below probably will be replaced Nv
moro substantial ones. by order Of the de-
partmeni.
Obstructions were found az some Of the
windows leading to the old fire escape II
was said. which we're ordered removed "
was said at the Bureau Of Buildings that
Emo comnlairt against the condition or The
building had beer made 10 the department
hv the Fire Department or the state factory
inspectors
According 10 some Of the tenants Std'e
factory INSPECTORS visited the building In
AnriI and approved of the vorkrooms
Thomas A. Keith. Deputy Commissioner
Of the state IsHNbr l'fHdl Aiitli'f ''''N
terdav that any information in regard 10
the building would have to come from MS
chief Section So of the state labor laws
pertaining to factories. provides That proper
end substantial handras shall be provided
on all the stairways in factories, ana mat
all doors leading into the factories shaH
open outward The fact that neither o.
these provisions had been complied with
at tho Astor estate building was a con-
tributary cause to the injury of the girls
on Thursday.
Members of the staff Of experts of the
Committee on Safety of the city OF New
York are expected to make an investigation
into the conditions at this building ana
recommend various changes to AFFORD bel
ter fire protection, which the committee
will ondeayor To enforce.
4 large delegation OF citizens who have
intero sted themselves in the general move
meni for FIRE prevention, including mem
bers Of the Committee on Safety will go
10 Albany on Monday 10 confer with Gov
ernor Dix. in an effort TO persuade him TO
APPOINT q state commission 10 look into
the matter 81 fire prevention. particularly in
factories
Dr Charles A. Keyen. executive secretary
Of the Committee on Safety. said yester-
dav that it would be the object Of such =
commission to look into the whole ques-
ton of fire danger. and report and recon
mend such legislation would obtain bet
ter ami more adequate fire protection for
the workers III the cities throughout the
state. II would be suggested. lac said that
the proposed commission be made mp Of
.f Io ACSatnh T.
and some other prominent citizens in TN"
state
AS conditions exist now" said pr Key
en- We must get some enabling legislation
I'm order to carry on the work effectively
v hich We have set out to do Such com
mission would accomplish that purpose