The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-29
Big STORES PRAISED
FOR FIRE PROTECTION
kenlOn, Croker and Guerin Say
Hazards Here Are Com.
psratively Small.
LEGISLATION NOT NEEDED
Factory Investigating Commits
sion Hears Experts on
Prevention Methods.

Fire Chief Kenion. ex-Chief Croke,
and former Deputy Chief Guerin wer'
among those who discussed the fre haz
ard In department stores at yesterday
session OF the State factory investigating
commission at the City Hall. Speaking
generally the big stores. none Of which
were mentioned by name, got prett,
clean bill Of health. although Chief Ken
ion and ex-Chief Croker differed fatty
~ to whether the department store firs
hazard was something to worry about.
The commission has conducted an In
vestigation and In holding hearings &c
find out " legislation based on facts dis.
closed Ii necessary. Mr.. Croker said
right away that he didn't think 30. He
said that as things stand now the laws
work hardship to many property owners
and business people and have driven some
out Of the state. He advised the estab'
lishmsnt Of a board Of standards. which
could provide requirements for each
building.
"No two fires are alike. and it's the
same with buildings" he asserted.
Mr.. Croker said that he didn't con-
slider the fire hazard In department stores
great, and had never worried about them
much, except in the holiday PUSHES.
Danger In Poor Insulation.
Speaking Of the fire hazard in mer.
camille establishments generally. he said
that the greatest danger came from poor
Insulation of electric current carrying
wires. The danger here. he said. was
greatly increased by the fact that most
persons thought they knew how to dc
wiring Jobs and were ready to tamper
with systems that had been passed upon
and approved by the authorities.
The ex-chief went on record. rs did
all the other experts. as being opposed
to revolving doors and commended bridge
platforms connecting buildings as the best
type of fire escape. He criticised the
choosing of fire prevention experts by
civil service examinations. saying that
what was wanted was experience instead
OF book learning.
The question Of whether or not rotundas
in big stores were danger in case OF
FIRE came up. and Mr.. Croker asserted
that II all depended on how they were
guarded by sprinklers and other special
devices. He said that the danger from
rotundas. was not necessarily great. He
advised sprinkler systems for all factory
and mercantile buildings seven or more
stories in height.
Chief Kenlon said that he certainly did
consider the department stores TO be a
great fire hazard. although in his ex.
perience In the department no hre mad
made trouble during shopping hours The
hazard arose. he said. from the great
amount Of goods piled on counters. the
large areas without SUBDIVISION anu the
great crowds.
Chief Kenlon also differed with Mr.
Croker about the danger from rotundas
which, he said, were now regarded py
: firemen az the most dangerous form oil
construction. He was questioned at some
length on this point by r. W. Blooming
dale. who was present as the representa-
tive Of the Retail Dry Goods Association
Two Great Causes Of Fires.
Accommodations of waste and careless
ness the chief asserted. are the greatest
causes Of fire in this city and country.
abolish waste and cigarettes" he said
"and you will do away with 90 per cent
Of the fires in New York"
Chief Kenlon said that while he didn''
Nke to disagree with his predecessor In
Office he did want to say that book knowl-
edge was not the only requisite for
place In the Fire Prevention Bureau. Eek
per1ence counted so per cent. in the ex
aminations. he said.
J. o. Hammitt. chief OF the Fire Pre-
vention Bureau. told of the difficulty In
getting efficient inspection and of Tho
overlapping OF authority In the various
city departments.
Mr. Bloomingdale read from the repor,
OF the committee. on fire patrol TO sho1
that in 1912 there had been only thres
fires In department stores. and remarked
that almost the whole day had been spent
IN the investigation Of almost non-exist'
ing conditions
2. NJ. Schwarts. representing commit
tee of the Retail Clerks Association. told
Of the department store fire hazard as
=. Nlalo 1nnt
Of adequate means Of escape In two stores
which he did not name
Miss Frances Perkins. secretary OF the
committee on safety. pointed out that the
difficulty in framing safety laws for the
big stores arose from the fact that they
usually housed two or three factories. a
restaurant or two and a small theatre oil
concert hall.
She criticised the way many stores are
constructed and maintained. mentioning
tho dumping Of rubbish In the cellars. non
hreproof waste chutes. lack Of adequate
exits and the obstruction of aisles ant
stairways by displays Of merchandise
Her criticisms extended to upstate storei
~ we'll as those here.
Former Deputy Chief Guerin. tn,
organizer OF the Fire Prevention Bureau
urged that means be taken 10 enforc,
existing laws before resort was taken L
new leglslation. he sided with MI, Croker
on the question Of danger from rotundas
They could be guarded by special ap
paratus 70 as 10 remove extra hazard I
said.
He spoke enthusiastically OF the perfec
tion of the hre drill In one department
store and said that when he was in tn,
Fire Department he had found the owners
Of the Dig stores always ready TO NEE
him In a spirit Of fairness on all matter
pertaining to safety. He said that tn
constant supervision maintained In the de
partment stores was large factor In the!
safety.
Mr. Guerin praised sprinkler systems n
the greatest aid in fire prevention. VI
said that IL the system ever failed in
big building existing means Of fghtin,
the fire would DO found to be inadeq,iate
but added that the record OF the sprinkler
showed them to be 80 per cent. effective