The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-28
DEATH TRAPS" SAYS HURLEY
 OF TWO LOCAL BUILDINGS IN HEART OF SHOPPING DISTRICT
s. N. Wheeler Protests Against Adoption of
 New Building Code

Declaring that Bridgeport housed many death trap buildings, former Building Commissioner R. F. Hurley last evening at meeting of the Ordi- nance committee, in emphatic terms stated that Bridgeport was an exceed ingly lucky city, that she had not been visited by such a horror as befell New York on Saturday The discussion came out at the conference of the building code committee, Attorney c. B.. Wilson, Building Commissioner Charles H. Botsford, and MT. Hurley with the members of the Ordinance committee to discuss the adoption of the building code
 MT. Hurley mentioned two large of- flee buildings in this city, in particu- lar, one in Main street near Fairfield avenue, and the other in State street, near Main. He referred to these places as certain death traps, where in there was but one means of egress in case of fire. Should that egress be cut off, life preservation could only be secured through means of jumping from windows and inadequate fire es- capes.
 While the discussion was in progress it was asserted that the State Armory d building code committee were very much surprised men when it was shown that the doors at the arnory open inward, in direct violation of the State laws. What would happen should a panic occur at the big build ing which can hold thousands, is prob lematical.
 to have fire drills among their help, just as are held in the schools" said MT. Hurley in commenting on fire proof buildings and the means they afford for the safety of life. 'If such 1 drills were held,' he continued, "and 1 means were not afforded for getting out then they would have to find a way. Of course, in a panic there is no remedy; the people always seem to rush for one place, that in which they came in
 ''The proposed building code,' he said, 'is designed to meet the build ing requirements of the city for some drew up the code is anxious to have the city adopt their measures. AL though very few of the code measures relate to freproofing, most of the time last evening was taken up discussing such conditions"
 builder of The Stratfield and the Security building, was present and urged the committee to delay action on the adoption of the code, stating that most of the cities in the country, are causing such delays, until the time when some city shall hit upon a code that will be ideal in every re- spect. MT. Wheeler did not believe the people of the city were clamoring for immediate action. It was MT. WheeIer's belief that the code as it now stood, would make it a hardship on the poor of the city. MT. Hurley replied that the code would work no real hardship on the poor, that it was designed to secure better buildings for the city. @
 .HThe committee felt" he said, that Bridgeport, is about the poorest built city of its size in the country. There are very few buildings of any account here. If all were made to conform to some one building law, then there would be none of this pinching and squeezing to get by. The result would not only be a benefit to the city, but to the builder himself, but the latter cannot see it. The code is not grinding on the poor man, it is striking at the rich, those owners of the buildings which now line our