New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-16

ARE COMMISSIONER JOHNSON be-
II ueves the annual loss by hre !"
l. New York to be not only tragic, out
declares that. were II not 80 serious
matter. It might we'll be termed ridicuious'
60 unnecessary is It. This waste he oe'
c,ares Is Enthusiastically American, ahu'
g., y NAV on a par with the unnecessary
waste OF human life in this country through
railroad accidents.
In the strife fer money getting, which
exists TO such a tremendous extent In Tue
United States in the present day, the Co'n-
missioner believes that In many cases ""'
man Ufe is regarded as being OF less I'M
or,orcs than the dollar. He announces
his intention Of attempting 10 lessen oS
every possible means the danger 10 me
nv fire IN greater New York. Pending ies-
isIat,on at Albany. II passed, ne thihhs'
will do much in this direction
| THE legislation now under consioefd'
| tion" he said. when | saw him al heao-
quarters is designed TO give the fHe
commissioner Of greater New York almost
police power IN the matter or IRE preNcn-
ton BY fire prevention ] mean not oniy
the removal OF conditions which invite hre'
but conditions which will also serve 10
guard against fires that endanger human
life. This IL Is hoped, may he largely
drought about by the establishment or =
bureau Of fire prevention, to work In coz
function with the present uniformed force'
The Asch Building fire. In University
Place. q few months ago, proved to inc
city authorities very plainly that bullo-
ling could be erected which complied with
all the existing requirements OF the Build-
ling Department laws and still was an
atrocious hretrap. Nevertheless, the Asch
Building was no better or worse than are
hundreds OF others in New York to-day
The danger TO the occupants - as great
: now as it was TO those in the Asch Build
ing.
"Of course, these buildings are termed
freproof, and. in fact, could not have beer
erected unless they conformed with the
building laws They had the approval OF
| the several necessary city departments
but. nevertheless, when the fire started
within the freproof walls OF the Ascf
, Building 14S men and women lost thei
lives as the result Of some )nes neglec
of duty.
1T will not do to say that this loss q
life was due solely TO the fact that thu
victims were not conyersant WITH TN
/, means of exit. nor that sufficient exit
, were not provided. or course. there shoui'
have been fire drills but other precauton
, should also have been taken. Just as ion'
, as lofts, as they are termed. are used II
high. freproof buildings, the fact that the
are nreproof should offer no excuse what
y ever for their not being equipped with mr.
escapes.
Q Now. the Fire Commissioner hopes L
have the power TO peremptorily correc
such conditions wherever found. 1t Is m
!, | intention to get at the facts ABOUT an
u conditions dangerous TO life and propert
e from fire in a thorough, scientific business
, like manner.
. I'm other words, we hope 20 .'revent
large number of fires by correcting cond
:, lions which are favorable to them Per
sonally, I believe, that very much mace
can be done along these lines, but Gel
, tainly this cannot be done unless .uil po"e
y Is given TO the Fire Commissioner.
/ ..Jn what way do you believe many fire
. can be prevented, as you suggest!
> "A very. large number OF fires are dl
y, simply TO the careless and uncean como
- ton in which the cellars OF houses az
:, kept. For instance. people pick up kindhn
:. wood on the street and store II in cellar
Then they take candles downstairs at nisi
for the purpose of obtaining kinding. wit
the result that the fame comes in col
tact with the kinding. The result is nj
=, which may cost the lives OF many person
: Such conditions can easily be remedied /
r thorough inspection on the part OF Il
-, Fire Department. although, Of course u
m department now does everything possible
r. that direction. but with greater powe
nv conferred on IL by law greater preventiC
would he possible.
Ia Another step In the safeguarding or u
at public from possible death or injury fro
fire would be the proposed systematic su