The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1913-07-31

There are laws Ia New York
uhieh we're drawn for the special
purpose OF making safe the lives OF
persons employed IN factories Some
% these laws we're on the statute
books before the Triangle waist fac
tory fire 10 New York City took a
dreadful toll OF human lives. 9th
ers have been passed with a view
10 correcting conditions which that
disaster disclosed and which were
known 10 be duplicated Ia many fac
tory buildings The state fire mar
shat has almost unlimited power.
NOT only with respect 10 seeing that
the laws are enforced, but in the
matter Of ordering the establishment
OF additional safeguards.
A Law passed In 1911 covers the
case OF the Binghamton factory IN
which many women and girls were
burned 70 death. This law esiab-
llshed the office OF state fire mar
shall. II thus describes the duties
OF the office
IL shall be the duty OF the state
fire marshal TO enforce all laws and
ordinances of the state, and the
several counties. cities and political
subdivisions thereof. except In cities
having over 100000 inhabitants,as
| follows
The prevention OF fires.
2-The storage, sale or use OF
combustibles and explosives.
3-The installation and mainten-
ance OF automatic aud other fire
alarm system aud the fire extin-
gushing equipment.
i-The inspection of steam boil
ers.
( 5-The construction, maintenance
and regulation of fire escapes.
C-The means and adequacy OF
exit, In case of fire, from factories
asylums. hospitals, churches. school,
halls theaters, amphltheaters and
all other places in which numbers OF
persons work, live or congregate
from time to time for any purpose.
1t is perfectly plain that the
q.
means OF exit at the Binghamton Ia :
tory were inadequate. There was
one stairway and 1t burned like TIN
der. The fire marshal and his as
sistapts should have known that II
would burn like finder. There were
fire escapes, but they were useless
A deputy state fire marshal said al
ter his examination OF the burned
building that the fire escapes had
been built on a smaller scale than
the laws for factories OF that class
called for. Both platforms ana
drop ladders We're too small, ne
said "and the tubing and steps were
likewise of a pinched pattern. The
side hold arms were both too small
and TOO Iowa point which Is OF par
ticular importance where women are
using the escape" This Illuminating
statement comes too late. The mis-
been done. The fire mar
shall had the power to see that con
ditions OF which his deputy no"
complains were remedied.
Edward + Croker. former CHER oil
the New York fire department, VINO
Is one Of the most competent experts
In the world and who knows actuai
conditions. gays that the factory
districts Of New York are filled VIII
buildings In which such horrors as
that at Blnghamton might be repeat
ed He recommends that com
mittee of experienced fire Officials
draf, laws regulating the building OF
factories Any recommendation com
ins from him must command respect
but the Immediate duty in New YORK
and elsewhere Is to see that exist
ins laws for the protection OF per
sons employed in factories are en-
forced. Such disasters as that al
Binghamton are preyentabie, ana
being preveniable. they are re-
proach 10 civilization. Rutland hrl
aid