New-York tribune., 1912-03-02
TRACE FIRES TO NEGLECT
Factory Proioers Say Most N. 7.
Disasters Are Preventable.
WAR ON CELLAR BAKERIES
Investigators Declare Iney
Should Go, and Propose Other
Radical Reforms.

Albany, March I'm its preliminary
port submitted 70 the Legislature to-o'S
the New York state Factory InVestisat'nS
Commission makes recommendations i"'
improving conditions surrounding the "o,
ing mon and women OF the state lilH
commission was created by law pass''
nv the Legislature this year for the pun
pose of Investigating factory condlt'onS w
first and second class cities. Tie PreSe"'
Legislature has made provision for conuh-
ming its work and extending it's powers ~
include every municipality.
Tho commission declares that from ~ -
:; ner cent Of the fires in New YORK ,ltS
are caused by carelessness. including u"t
ithouehtIess use of matches ana Hsn'''
cigarettes and cigars and exposed gas Je'''
Among the recommendations Ar" 'ho"'
for the abolition Of all cellar bakeries !"
New York City: the registration and hcenS
ing Of all establishments manufacturing
food products except hotels. restauraii'H
and boarding houses: more stringent en-
| forcement OF the labor laws hy lncreas'hs
the force of factory Inspectors more r'S 81"
nhysical examination Of children seeking
| amplovment; the registration OF all ia'-
tories and the extension Of the jurisdiction
~ tho state Commissioner Of Labor 10 All
factories and all articles Of manufacture;
that provision he made for providing seats
for women working in factories hotels an !
restaurants; to prohibit the eating OF meais
! {, vorkrooms where poisonous gases or
fumes are generated in process Of manu-
fac,ure. and compulsory fire drills In all
! factories at least once every three nohthS
Factory Buildings Dangerous.
Dealing with conditions In New YORK
| CITY. the commission finds that I'VE kih1s
| Of buildings are there used for Factory p"l 70
! noses: First. converted tenement or dwell
ing houses: second non-freproof loft build
ings: third. nreproof loft buildings less man
| 40 feet I'm height: fourth. freproot puhd-
ings over 80 feet In height. and. fifth. fac-
| tory buildings. constructed for factory pur-
noses. freprosf or non-hreproof. TIL" hrst
| ,breo types are found 10 be especially dan
rerous. the third type being that to which
tho building where the Triangle waist
! Company was located belonged.
| The commission finds that from tho point
q, view OF the prevention of loss OF life the
nrcproohng OF buildings cannot he en'lreH
rolled on. Even when the building itself is
| constructed HccOfulIlE W NV i'''N ''N''''
nroproof standards. the result is merely 10
| limit the fire to certain area, out wItnih
that area owing 70 the conditions Of man
ufact,ire now prevalent. the IRE may hurn
brisklv and loss OF life may ensuc. Tho
! adop,ion OF few not too burdensome ruies
and the making Of n few alterations IN the
buildings would reduce the loss of hfe
from fro in manufacturing establishments.
even OF non-lreproof character, 70 n
minimum.
The most radical recommendations made
| are those that windows and doors leading
| TO outside flre escapes must be az least Two
feet in width by five in height. and should
be constructed Of wired glass. and tha'
automatic sprinklers be Installed In factory
buildings over ninety feet high In whict
wooden floors or trim are used and more
than two hundred people employed above
the seventh floor. Free and easy access
should be afforded 10 fire escapes and doors
should open outwardly or slide. 4 goose
neck ladder should lead from the top noo'
balcony OF outside FIRE escapes to tho roof
and a balanced drop ladder from the low
est balcony down TO a safe landing place
which should he provided with exits 10 tn
street or adjoining premises.
Would Limit Working Space.
The commission further recommends tha
the number OF people allowed In factor,
buildings be limited In proportion 70 th'
floor space-allowing 60 square feet OF fool
space per person in non-fireproof and q
SQUARE feet in ireproof buildings. and. ftr
thermore. UP 10 the maximum of the Lrs
: limitation, in proportion 10 the exit facili
ties-allowing fourteen persons for ever,
eighteen incnes OF stsrways. additona
people being allowed II there are fireproo
landings fire walls. exits 10 adjoining build
ings or automatic sprlnklers. Wooden stair
WAYS should be inclosed by freproof parti
tlons and fire escapes constructed where
more than ffty people are employed
| Asto buildings to be erected In the future
the commission recommends that all build
ings over two stories in height used f"l
factory purposes. where more than twenty
five people arc employed. should be rre
proof.