New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-21
TO PROTECT LOFT TO|LERS
Buildings Will Be Equipped with
Automatic SprlnklerS.
JOHNSON TO ACT At ONCE
Fire Commissioner Approves
Chief Kenlons Report-2OO
Structures Affected.

Two hundred or more loft buildings that
threaten the safety of human lie IN Ne"
Work CITY are 10 be equipped WIRE aUto-
matte sprinklers IN the near future az tle
recent decision Of the Supreme Court IN
the C'hristman and Winter cases upheio inc
royror NJ the Fire Commissioner 10 oroer
the installation OF such system in ouiiu-
iugs believed by the Commissioner 10 NC
dangerous 70 life and property
The inspection OF loft buildings was
among the first things carried out by Fre
chief Kenbon after he had been appointed.
Practically every building Of this tyre In
Manhattan was visited. and the conditions
especially with regard TO danger 10 ne III
case OF fire. were carefully studied
After the investigations Chief Kenlon sent
the following communication 20 the FIRE
Commissioner:
In order TO minimize as Ear as possloIe
the danger 10 life in loIt nul.uli'e :, he
ciaUv those loft buildings USED LOT ny
MANUFACTURING OF cotton fabrics anu SUI"
light clothing. I would respeCLL-ts ~ an
mend that YOU require the oWngIs oi o.
such buildings 70 equip theiH WE"
matte sprinklerS.
This recommendation was forthwith ap-
n-oved by Commissioner Johnson. speaking
about the proposed move on the parl oil lhe
Fire Department. chief Kfnlon said;
I'm my opinion had the building in WASH
frr+o7 Place been equipped with automatic
surinklers not a single life would nave 'eel-
LOST al the fire. When a fire starts IN
building equipped with automatic SPHINX
le-s the sudden rising Of the temperature
releases the thormostst OF the sprinAlers
CONTINENT and the flow Of water from the
sprirkIe- Immediately communicates the
alarm t, the Fire Department. AT the
same tine the deluEe Of water released
from the sprinkler pipes attack the FIRE
Tho fire" continued the chief Of the
fona~tmont. "fEurativelv sends I'm its own
alarm and the water keeps the FIRE N
check until The Fire Departments appa-
~atrs arrives. often. indeed. 10 eNtln-
s-.fsree the fire before The apparatus gets
there
AZ 1ees- so ner cent Of the loft build
,r~s in lower Manhattan are protected IN
trie manner. OF the lost buildings Wnich
te,o basu ine0ected the 40 per cent which
are UNPROTECTED 10y automatic sprinkler
service are without doubt the greatest
menace 10 human life bv fire now existing
en- >-e,v York city. These buildings are
more than TWO hundred I'm number. Most
% them are south Of ga street and west
OF Fourth avenue
Commissioner Johnson in speaking OF
the move saiu.
chief KenIou and 7 arc thoroughly IN
accord ir this matter. While 10 is not the
desire to bring about condition "here
a-v industries might be driven from me
CITY. tire fact remains that certain nuIi0-
,r-e exist in which a FAR better proteciloh
FOR EMPLOYEES is not only urgent bur nee
essarv. II is in these buildings that the
Fire department viii endeavor 10 lessen
tre danger 90 human life Immediately.
n de NOT want 20 be understood az en-
to-,rg mo any wholesale or indiscriminate
crusade. There may be lofts or the eA8c'
character Of the washington Place oulio-
ing lot. where there IS very little hTe
hazard on account OF the character OF me
work being done and the materials used
Wherever light. fimsy and highly iniiain-
mable materials are being worked over
especially fabrics vo shall Hav" 90 eNer-
else the closest scruintv 20 sec that every
safeguard is placed around the workers IN
such places